The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-16
LETTER FROM JACK DOWNING.

| To the Editors Of the Nev York Erprsss, the sdnns
paper my old friend, Mr. DUight, printed spell
ago:
wAsHINoroN, 7th Oct, l64l
Mr.. Eltols-I and Captain Tyler have been think
ing and talking considerably about this Currency
question" and FYscaities" and things OF that ma
tur; and this seems to be the notion that we come TO-
and twist il and turn il as we may always land at
the same pint In the first place. Captain Keeps
his eve on the good old Constitution, and the darker
the night and the harder the wind blows and crooked
or the Channel there you find him watching the Con
stiuion just as close as C9ptan Tyler OF the w0
was telling him toher day that some folks Were
making terrible and shocking noise about his Vstoes
and if we did not look out sharp they would run Us
ashore. Well" says he, Major, if we 60 on
shore the tack we are steering we shall 60 Consi-
:" that's putty much what Captain Jumper telld me
one stormy night off Cape Hattrass. The Two
Pollies" was pIunging along, heading about N. T.,
close in the winds eye-and asked Captain Jumper
il he coudn off leette and let her 90 more free
for the deck was pIagy wet" Not pint" says be,
" or we 90 plump on the Cape" And then he took
another look at the Chart and cast his eye at the bin
acle. "Well," says j, "Captain Jumper suppose
that Chart and Cumpuss amt true" says l, how
then" "Why" says he, /" if accident comes it amt
underwriters and he hung on that tack like dog at
root As soon as telled this story to Captain Ty-
ler WELL" says he, Major did the Two Polles 60
on shore or not that time 7" "No," SAYS l. " she
went clear and slick ribbon, and the next morn
ing that pesky Cape was away astarn of U.s."
And now as to Captain Tyer's notion about Sour
rency Matters" he says that National Currency"
and " State Currency" ought to be of that natur-
that will work together-just as National LaW and
State Law works together-he don't want to see a
no more than he wants to see National Law destroy
good State Law: but if any State Currency is not
good-then a good National Currency ought to de-
stroy it just bad State Law ought to he destroyed
by a good National Law. Law and Currency, he
says are pretty much one and the same thing in one
respect-that is, must have National Laio for all
the States and State Lalo for each particular State
just as we must have good National Currency for
the of Government and folks who trade and travel
over all the States and good State Currency in every
State for those who deal only in their State, any
using both either according to their notions or
necessities to say that folks in any particular
State shall use National Currency and not their own
State Currency-or SO fixing National Currency asto
to me-" says he, that it would be about the same
thing to shape National Law as to prevent folks
from using their own good State Laps. Now" says
he my notion and desire is to shape this Nation
al Currency matter as to make it work in harmony
with all good State Currency, and then all things will
90 smooth. The General Government must have
safe bridge to 60 all the streams in the Union
that is CONSTITUTIONAL and there is objection to let
all the folks in all the States 60 over the same bridget
then so desire H-but to say that they must 90 over
our bridge OF SO fix our bridge to make il impos-
sble for them to pass by any of their own, Is
not constitutional, neither is it constitutional for any
of the States to say thrt the General Government
shant build this bridge for its own safe crossing in
any of the States because the General Government,
(Which belongs TO all the people must have safe
crossing place at any rate-an as the General Gov
eminent can't regulate the building Of State Bridges
nor their toll gates it must look its safety and
build bridge Of its own and safe and strong enuf
for its own crossing and all creation besides If they
ctuse to use it and don't injure it. And now" says
he, eff Congress can't fix this Currency matter on
this principle it amt my faulthat is the chart and
cumpus' Says he "Major the Constitution points
out for my guide and if leave that tack we may
with flowing sail, but shall fetch up on Cape
Hattrass before morning"
"Well," saysI, Captain Tyler, that is what
call considerable sound doctrine and tho the wind is
just now blowing right in our teeth on the tack
are steering hope all good and considerate folks
will look at the chart we steering by, and come to
the notion have come to, and that s, that tho
hard wind is paguy hard thing, yet that breakers
and rocky shore are a COMPOUNDED deal harder.
intended to say something in this Letter about the
real natur and duty of the great Wing party" as
motion-motion, the country through" according to
the good old song) but must leave this matter for
the next Letter-ony reminding good folks that the
wizzing noise they hear is only the escaping of extra
steam not the bursting of the biler; and also to re-
member that when pot biles over very apt to put
out the fire under it-so the evil cures ITSELF and that's
all for the present from
Your friend and feIlow-citizen,
J. DOWNING, Major, &C., &c.