The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-08-24

left, and sometimes knock down frienas
as well as foes. TO be sure they don't
make a very great impressions upon the
enemy; but then there's this advantage IN
il if he don't kill or beat of the enemy,
he keeps the administration SO perfectly
covered up with smoke tha. the enemy
can'tsee half the time where TO fire at US.
On the whole, Mr.. Richie is valuable
man to my administration, notwiihsiand-
ing all his mistakes and blunders.
Jest then the door opened, and who
should come in but Mr.. Richie himself.
As he opened the door he ketched the
sound of the two last words the President
was saying.
mistakes and blundersr' says Mr..
Richie, says he: what, have you got
something more of Scott and I'aylor's
laundering in Mexico!
Nothing more to-day, says the Presi-
dent. was only telling Major Downing
how their bIunders there have come pref
ty near running the country, and how II
is absolutely nece ssary to get the staf out
of their hands somehow or other before
they quite finish the job. I'm gong now
to try one more plan, Mr.. Richie; but be
careful that you don't say any thing about
Il in the Union, and blow il all up. |
tried once to send Col. Benton on for the
same purpose, and Congress blowed that
up. Then sent Trist OH for the same
purpose and Scott has blowed him up
Now I'm going to send Major Downing,
not as regular Chaplain. but as sort of
watch upon them, yon know, to work
round and do the business up before any
body knows it. He isn't to go to Scott
nor Taylor, nor have any thing 10 do
with 'enl, but work his way into Mexico,
and 90 right 10 Santa Anna and knock up
a bargain with him. ] don't care what
he gives. The fact is, Mr.. Richie, the
country needs peace, and III have peace,
cost what il will.
An excellent idea, says Mr.. Richiet an
excellent plan. sir. I'm for peace at all
hazards, if il is to be found any where in
Mexco-that is, five can get hold Of it
before Scott or Taylor does. And /
think Major Downing sjust lhe man fcs
ia true sianch democratic Republican;
and whatevee he does will 90 for the ben
eft Of the Administration. Now the
counlry's shins are aching pretty bad
with the war, if we can fix up good
smooth peace right of, and not let Scott
nor Taylor have any hand in it, who
knows, Mr. President. but it might make
our Administrator SO popular that you
and | might both be elected 10 serve
another four years! But when is the Ma
lor to start!
Right off tonight, says the President,
or, rather, in the morning before daylight
before any body in Washington finds
olt that he has got back from Downing
vile. | have forbid his calling at the In
tellgencer office, and / don't want they
should find out or mstrust that he's been
here. If they should get wind of the
movement, they would be sure to throw
some constitutional difficulty in the way.
and try to make bad botch Of the busi-
ness.
The President shut me into his room
and charged me not to leave the house
while he sent for Mr.. Buchanan and Mr..
Marcy to fix up my private Instructions.
While he was gone, MIR. Richie fixed me
up nice lille bundle of private instruc-
lions TOO, on his own hook, nodded. he
said, on the Virginia Resolutions of '9S.
Presently the President came back with
my budget all ready. and give me my in
structions, and filed my pockets with
rations, and told me how TO draw when
ever | wanted money; and before day
light was of'a good piece on the road
10 the war.
To-day | met man going to carry let
ters to the Government from Gineral
SCOTS side of The war, and | made him
stop a little while TO take this letter to
you; for ! was afraid you might begin to
think was dead. He says Scott is quite
wrathy about the Trist business, and
wants TO push right on and take the city
of Mexico, but Mr.. Trist is disposed to
wait and see ifhe can't make a bargain
with Santa Annals men. shall push a.
long as fast as | can, and get into the
city of Mexico if possible before Scott
does, and if | only once get hold of Santa
Anna, have no doubt | shall make a
trade.
| don't know yet whether | shall take
Scots road or Taylor's road to 90 to the
city of Mexico; it will depend little up
on the news get on the way. Two or
three times, when have been stopping
TO rest, have been looking over my pri-
vate instructions. They are fust rate,
especially Mr.. Riches.
| remain your old friend, and the Prcsi-
dents private Emhassador.
MAJOR JACK DOWNING.