Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-11
% rtmaln your OIU IfIeHU-
MAJOR JACK DOWNING.
Ne. Ito JAMES X. Polk, President Of The
United States and all annexed countries.
ItUUIttVttI9, VHJ y -'1eN'tU,
dnnered United States October 25, lS47.


Head1uar2ers, City Of Nerico,
Anasred United States, October %, lS47.
DEAR COLONEL: Things is getting along here as
well as could be expected considerin the help we
have, but are altogether too weak handed to
work TO profit. If you want us to hurry along
down south, we need good deal more help and
more money. 1t wouldn't be no to give that
three millions of dollars TO Santa Anna now, for
the people have got so out with him that he could
make peace if he had six millions. He's skulking
about the country, and has as much as he can do
10 take care of himself. So think you had bet
ter give up the notion about peace altogether, it'll
be such hard thing TO get, and send us on the
three millions here TO help along in our annexin.
It's dangerous standn still in this annexin business
It's like the old woman's soap; if it don't 90 ahead,
1t goes back. 1t would be great help to us in the
way OF holdln on to what we get, if you would
carry out that plan OF giving the Mexican land to
settlers from the United States fast as we annex
1t. I've been very impatient to see your proclama-
ton offering the land to settlers to come out here.
You've no idea how much help it would be to US
If we only had plenty of eur folks out here, so
that, as fast killed Mexican or drove him
off from his farm, we could put an American right
on TO 1t. If we could only plant as we CO. in this
way, we should soon have crop of settlers here
that could hold on to the slack themselves and
leave the army free to go ahead and keep on an
nexin. / thought, when | left Washington, you
was going TO put out such proclamation right
away. And think you are putting it of a good
deal too long, for we've got land and farms enough
here now for two hundred thousand at least: and,
if they would only come on fast enough think we
could make room for twenty thousand a week for
year to come. But I'm afraid you're too delicate
about doing your duty in this business you
such sckler for the constitution. I'm afraid you're
waiting for Congress TO meet 10 let them have
finger in the pie But would mt do it if you do,
I'm afraid you'll wish your cake was dough again.
From all | can hear from home things is looking
rather squally there. Our party seems to be tall
ing off; in New York State they are all faded
away into Barnburners and Hunkers, and il looks
al over the country as if the Wings was coming
into power and if they should it would be a ter
rible calamity, for they are too narrow-minded and
too much behind the age 10 understand the rights
of this annexln business, and it's ten chances
to one if they don't contrive some way to put a
stop to it.
I've got good deal more that want to say, and
some advice should like to give you, but shall be
obliged to leave ii till my next despatch. needn
stop 10 tell YOU about Gineral Scott in this cause
spose he'll speak for himself. But must tell you
ii went out tother day to see Gineral Gushing, and
found him awfully tickled about being nominated
for Governor of the Old Bay State. Al first he
was good deal amazed al it; he was as much
surprised az you was Colonel when you first heard
YOU was nominated for President. What amazed
him much was that he'd always been thinking
all along that he was a Whig till the nomination
come, and then he jumped up and snapped his fin.
gers, and said he believed, after ALL the Democrats
was the right party. He's III great sperits, and
says he's no doubt he shall be elected. He goes
for annexin the hottest OF any of US and
says he takes the great Alexander for his model
and goes for anuexin as long there is any coun-
try left to annex. His ankle is quite well, and
Gneral Pillows foot is good deal better.
have the honor to be your private ambassador
and faithful friend from fifty -four forty on one side
down TO Cape Horn on tother.
MAJOR JACK DOWNING.
Following Official example, we defer the letters
from Major Jacks relations, which he speaks of,
to some time when we have more room for them
than can spare to-day.-EDuoRs.