The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-08-07
From the National Intclligenccr.
Major Jack Downing's Second
lie tier.

1t was with real satisfaction that we re-
cogniZcd again, yesterday, among our let
tiers from the Post Office, the hand writing
ofour friend .Hqior jack D0raing. His per-
sonal associations, as our readers know, have
always been with those who have made il n
mortal offence in us--even TO the extent of
denouncing it rs moral Tcason--that we
lave not always approved of their princi-
pies or their measures: but, some how or
other, orr feelings have always ycarncd 10
the Major. There is such a transparent hon
esty in all his thoughts, and such lindli-
ness of heart perceptihie in all his motions,
that we would rather at any time receive c.
ven Il rCbukc from him than the praise of
some folks. Ifit be a pleasure to us as it is,
to be able to differ from public men, to can
vass their measures, and even TO censure
them, where censure is deserved without
chcrishing any thing like personal malice
towards them, the reader may imagine what
value we place upon the correspondence of
a true hearted man like .Najor Do,cning, who
has not suffered his friendship for us TO he
sundered or even shaken, by the many diff
ierenccs of opinion about men and measures
that have grown up between us for the last
twenty years.
We arc right glad to understand, from
what he says at the close Of the following
| letter, that il is not the last we expect from
the Major.
DOwSISGYILLE, AWAY DOWN EAST,
~ THE STATE OF MAINE, July6 1917.
Mr. Gales & Seaton: My dear Old Friends:
My letter to you on board the steamboat on
| Long Island Sound was cut off short by the
bells ringing for us to get ready to go ashore
that | didn't get half through telling you the
talk | had with the President that day; and
we've had so much talk since and seen so
much on the journey, that | shaG't be able to
tell you one haltuor quarter ONT in letter.
1t would take n whole hook to give you a
good notion of the whole story. But tho
President will be back to Washington before
you can get this letter, for he started to GO
back last Saturday; so you can get the VIII ole
account ofthe journey from him. He'll be
delighted to set down and tell you all about
it; for he's been amazingly pleased with the
whole journey, from top to bottom, He's
been on his high heerd boots all the way
Instead ofgrowin more stoupn, by bowling
so much, it seems as if he stood straightel
than ever lie told the Governor, in his
speech at Augusta, Saturday, at seldom hap.
! pens that the course ofany mans life is mark.
d by so distinguished reception as has
been accorded to me to day" Well, so il
has been all the way along; hurrahmg, and
compimentng, and firing, and speeches
and dinners, and suppors, and shaking hands
Augusta we got little breathing time and
had good long talk.
Says the President to me: Now, Maiol
says he. want you to be candid.
| No one is true friend TO one in Il high sta.
ton unless he will be candid and speak the
truth. And now, Major, don't want you tc
hatter me: want you to be candid, and tel
me Jest what you think. You went along
with President Jackson when he made his
tour down East, and had Il chance to see tho
whole operations; and now | want you TO tel
me candidly. if you think the people was any
more fond of him than they are Of me.
Well, now, Colonel, says |, not wishing t.
hurt your feelins at all, but, seein you've ask
ed my candid opinion, won't deny but wha
the people are very fond Of you, umazingl,
fond, perhaps as fond as they can be. But
after all, these times aint exactly equal to ole
llickorys times.
, But what do you mean? says he.
Well, says |, the people all seem to be a
, mazing fond, but some how it seems to av
n sort of mother in ld,O ShOiU about it; it dom
t seem to be so real hearty us they showed It
, old Hickory.
Well now, Major, says he. and he redlIcn
ed little when he said this; says he, tina
only shows how strong your prcjudices sc
; i'm favor of the old Gincral. But though
, YOU was man ola stronger mind and SCUM
der Judgment. | can't agree with you a
gainst the evidence ofmy own senses. D
: YOU notice all the way along how thick til
t crowds flocI,d round me to shake hands wit
f me?
Yes, says I; but they didn't go it with sue
a rush as they did when my old friend tn
Ginera come this way. They TANNED q
round him so they had to climb over each 9th
ers heads to get at him. And had to tax
, hold sometimes by the hour together an
help him shake hands with 'ern, or he nevc
/; would have got through with one half often