Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-03
NATIONAL lNTELLIGENCER.
EDIroRS CORRESPONDENCE.

lowing Letter from the fuDllc olu lrlenu mayor
Jack Do,oning, who seems to have written it to us
for the purpose of communicating to the Public, in
his plain way, some views of President Polk
Young Hickory, as he delights to call him-which
that distinguished unctionary had not thought neces-
sary to confde to his most confidential friends be-
fore he met with the Major.
On board the Steamboat on Long Island Sound,
bound 10 Connecticut and DoWn East, June
20, ls47.
Mr.. GALES IL SEAToN:
Nh Dear old Friends: and Mr.. Buchanan and
the rest of us overlook the President last night at
York, where we found him pretty well tuckered
out having got through with all his blrds-eggng IN
that everastn great city, and ready to push this
morning down East | was going to write line
to friend Richie, as he's the Government Editor,
as soon as could ketch up with the President, and
let him know how the old gentleman stood the jour
ney But happened to look into your paper, and
| see brother Ingersol OF Philadelphy sends his
letters to you This puzzled me little at first
because knew he was on Mr.. Riches side. But
/ looked along, and | he called your paper a
powerful journal y and then the thought struck
me that had read somewhere that Z" there's power
behind the throne greater than the throne ITSELF
WELL thinks |, that Ingersoll is cunning Teller, but
d
the power behind the throne, will too. &c. if Mr.
Richie complains and says ought to wrote to him.
/ wish you would just smooth it over to him, and
tell him the reason of it, and tell him when the old
ship gets on 'tother tack, and his paper gets on be-
hind, I'll write to ham.
AS had come right on from Mexico the shortest
cut and had brought letter from Gineral Scott to
the President, as soon we got TO York | run
right up to the tavern where he stopped to give him
the letter. Folks told me he was at the Asor
House--that great tavern made out of hewed stone.
So went up, and went in, and asked one of the
walters if Colonel Polk put up there!
:" Is it Jenny Polk we mane Young Hickory,
the President" says he.
'Sartain,'' says |.
yes" says he, he's here; up stairs i'll his
room.
Says |, Show me his chamber as quick as you
can | must see him.
You can't see him tonight, says he /" Young
Hickory is tired out, and can't nobody at all at
all. Why wasn't we on hand in the Governors
room if we wanted to see him. All the boys had
a chance there.
Says |, !" that's nothing TO the pint; was on
the road from Washington then, and I'm going TO
see the President tonight if have~to go through
the stone walls Of this house for it,"
Then along come Mr.. Sntson: and says he,
Patrick, what's the row here -
g Here's Teller getting wrathy,' says Patrick,
"because | won't let him 60 up to the Presidents
ROOM"
At that Mr. Stutson turned round to me- and, as
soon as he see me, he ketched hold of my hand,
and says he, Major Downing, am very happy to
see you. III show you right up to the Presidents
room myself. I'm sorry you wasn't here before.
We've had some very pleasant tea-partes since the
Presiden's been here"
7 Al ~, ii, ba
laying down on the bed to rest, and looking tired
as rat that had been drawed through forty knot
holes. But, as soon as he see me, he jumped up,
looking rather wild, and says he, /" Major Down
ing, how are We! didn't think of seeing you back
from Mexico soon as this. How does things 60
on there now =!
Says |, Colonel, they don't 90 on hardly at all.
They are waiting for more help. Scott and Tay-
Tor both are growing rather red and angry TO think
you should chuck em away into the middle of
Mexico there, and then not send 'em help to fight
the way outagan. And il seems to me, Colonel, you
do hold back in this business little too much. If
you don't send EN- help pretty soon, them guerrlas
will eat our little armies all up. Why, Colonel"
says l. /" if this had come on in the time of the
old Gineral, my old friend Hickory, he would had
them Mexicans half whipped to death by this time.
But here's a letter from Scott to tell We what he
thinks about the business | come on post-haste TO
bring it. He says he won't stir from PuebIa till
you send on more men to take the place of all them
that's coming home"
The President took the letter and read few
lines, and threw it down upon the table; and, says
he, It's no use Scott may grumble and growl as
much as he's a mind to, but it's no use. This war
is concern of my own getting up, for my own
use, and shall manage it jest as ! please" Says
he, Major Downing, there's reason in all things.
| don't want them Mexicans whipped too fast,
especially when them upstart Generals get all the
glory Of it. When | found Taylor was swellin
up too large, meant to stopped him at Monterey
and draw off part of his glory on to Scott. But
that Taylor is headstrong chap, dangerous man.
He OVERSIGHT his duty and blundered TO that VIC
tory at Buena Vista, that sot every thing all in
blaze. | shant overlook it in him very soon. If
the selfish creature had only let Santa Anna given
him handsome licking there we might had peace
in little while, for had things all arranged with
Santa Anna to wind the business right up in such
way that we might each of us have made hand
some plum out Of it. But that objectionable Tay-
Tor must cut and slash round with his handful of
men, untutored volunteers, that thought were as
harmless as flock of sheep, and contrive. by that
awful bunder at Bucna VISTA to pour all the fat
into the fire.
" Well then, Scott hasn't behaved much better.
He's licked the Mexicans too fast by great sight,