The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-08-17
Well, Major, says he, they couldn't beat

ident ever received such marks ofhonor from
the people before, | am sure of that; l mean
the whole people, Federalsts as well as DEM
ocrats; that is, If there is any such peopleas
Federalists now days, and Mr.. Richie saws
there is. Only think. the old stale of Mass
achuseits did the business up as handsome &
seemed TO be as fond OF me as Governor Hills
State; couldn't see any difference. You
must confess. Major, that even your old friend
Hickory didn,; receive SO much honor as
have.
Well now says ], Colonel, dom; want to
hurt your feelings, but you are jest as much
mistaken as you was when you sent Old
Rough and Ready INTO Mexico. Have you
forgot how they took the old Gineral into
Cambridge College and made Doctor oil
him.
Who cares for that says the Colonel says
he. turning up his nose. Didn't the Demo
erals and Capt. Rynders take me into Tam
many Hall and make a ,Tammany Of me
No, no. Major Downing, it's no use for you
to argue the point against my popularity; Tor
have got eyes and can sec and tell you,
and want YOU to mark my words. Tell you,
am more popular with the whole people
than ever old Hickory was in all his life. He
was very popular with the Democratic party.
but am fully persuaded he hadn't such a
hold upon the affections Of the whole people
as have.
Here the President got up and walked a.
bout the floor and seemed in a deep study
for as much as five minutes. AT last says he:
| missed a fgger in my speech there at Bal
timore toIher day, see it now, and don't
know exactly how 10 get over il.
How SO ! says |.
Why, says he, ought not 10 have said.
rig hi up aud down, pint blank, that should
retire " hen this term was mp. should only
talked about my desire 10 retire 10 private life.
was too hasty and committed myself 100
soon. There never was better chance for
any BODY to be elected than there is for me
now, if | hadn't made that unfortunate re-
max. Jackson stood twice. and Jefferson
stood twice. and suppose it is really my duty
to serve my country as long as they did. But
III should undertake 10 run agin, ] spose they
would be throwing that Baltimore speech IN
my teeth.
Well now, says l, Colonel, can't you see
your way out Of that! You wasn' born down
East so fur as was. LIS no grea, Of job
to get over that trouble.
AT that the President frightened up good
deal and says he. well Major, ifyou'l get
me over that difficulty handsomely, when we
come TO have another shuttle for officers, you
may choose any card in the pack, and you
shall have it
Well. says ], Colonel. about that remark
of yourn at Baltimore, that yon should give
up when this term is out. all you've got 10
do is 10 get Mr.. Richie 10 take il back in
the Union, lei him declare that il was only
sort Of speculation, hastily thrown out with
out much consideration, and that, so far as he
understands, neither The President nor any
of his cabinet entertain any such views.
Then you can go along jest as smooth and
safe as if nothing had happened.
Fact, that's it, SAYS the Colonel, swapping
his fingers; strange didn't thing of that be
fore. Major, you do beat all for working out
of difficulties | believe I'll make up my
mind to 60 ahead another term; | don't see
ANYTHING in the way. III tell ye how ! think
Of working it. l've been reading over this
letter Of Taylor's to the Cincinnati Signal.
He's an old head. but he amt agoing 10 come
another Bono Visto blundcr over me. III
don't take the wind out Of his sails before
long, I'll engage 10 mako him King Of Mexi
CO. And I'll try him on bis own tack TOO.
I'll come out and declare that won't be The
candidate of no party neither; and throw
myself upon the people. I'm convinced from
what I've seen on this journey, ihat the wings
will go for the almost 10 a man. Van Buren,
and Wright. who say I'm not The man for the
Northern Democrats, may 60 10 grass. go
for the people, the whole people. and nothing
but the people.
Well, says |. Colonel, that's the road and
wish you a pleasant and prosperous jour
ney.
We had some talk about the war before
We reached Augusta, hut haven't got time
10 explain to you the Presidents views about
ii in this letter. He says he means TO keep
a tight rein over Taylor, and not lei him o
much, and when he does do anything, make
him report il TO the Government through
Scott. asked him if he wasn'i afraid DINA
king too tall a man out of Scott by placing
him on Taylor's shoulders, and he said no. he
should look out for that, and If lie secs any
danger of it he should make Scott report to
the Government through Mr.. Trisi.
After we visited Augusta. and HaIIowell.
and Gardiner, tried 10 get the President to
go out TO Downngvile but be said he didn't
mum ~ "ONio w " sup dHN
this time, though there was no place in The
country he was more anxious to see and he
promised. the first leisure time he could get
10 make flying visit ihete. | asked him if
lie didn't think II would do fof me 10 90 out
and stop day or two, as hadn't seen uncle
Joshua or aunt Kesiah or any of them there
for long time. He said certainly, by all
tneans, and he would hurry back to Washing
ton and look round Two or three days and see
what was best 10 be done about this Mexican
war business, which. according to the letter
/ brought on from General Scott, seemed to
be getting into something of snarl. He
said he would have things all cut and dried
by the time | got back along 10 Washington,
so that we could make up our minds at once
what is best TO be done.
Your old friend.
MAJOR JACK DOWNING.