Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-17
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IN me otme " 4huthe, otHy D, Iof1-
Mr.. GALES d. SEAToN :, NY Dear Old Friends /:
My letter TO you on board the steamboat on Long
Island Sound was cut off so short by the BELLS ring
ing for us to get read TO 60 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 shant
be able TO tell you onehalf nor quarter ont in
letter. 1t would take whole book to give you
good notion of the whole story. But the Pres-
dent will be back to Washington before you can get
this letter. for he started 10 90 back last Saturday
so YOU get the whole account of the Journey
from him. He'll be delighted to set down and tell
you all about 1t for he's been amazingly pleased
with the whole Journey, from top to bottom He's
been on his high-heeld boots all the way. Instead
of CROWN more stoopin by bowling much it
seems as ii he stood straighter than ever. He told
the Governor, i'll his speech al Augusta, Saturday,
Z" 1t seldom happens that the course of any mans
life is markd by so distinguished reception as
has been accorded TO me to-day" Well, so it has
been all the way along; hurrahing, and compli-
menting and firing, and speeches, and dinners, and
suppers, and shaking hands. On board the steam
boat from Portland 10 Augusta got little breath
ing time, and had good long talk.
Says the President to- me Now, Major, says
he, want you 10 be candid No one is a true
friend TO one in high station unless he will be
candid and speak the truth. And now, Major,
don't want you to fater me; want you to be can
did, and tell me Jest what you think. You went
along with President Jackson when he made his
tower down East and had chance to see the whole
operation; and 2ow want you to tell me candid
~, if you think the people was any more fond Of
him than they of me-
Well, now Colonel, says |, not wishing to hurt
your teelns al all, but, seem you've asked my can
did opinion, wont deny but what the people are
very fond of you, amazinly fond, perhaps fond
as they can be- But after all, these times amt ex-
acty equal TO old llickory's times.
But what do you mean! says he
Well says |, the people all seem to be amazn
fond, but some how it seems to have sort of mo-
her-ul-ia,c ShOtC about it; it don't seem to be so
real hearty as they showed to old Hickory.
Well now, Major, says he, and he redeemed a
little when he said this: says he, that only shows
how strong your prejudces set in favor of the old
Gineral. But thought you was man of a strong
er mind and sounder judgment. cant agree with
you against the evidence of my own senses. Did
you notice all the way along how thick the crowds
tlock'd round me to shake hands with me
Yes, says |; but they didn't go it with such a
rush as they did when my old friend the Gineral
come this way. They damned around him so they
had to climb over each others heads get al him.
And had to take hold sometimes by the hour tore
ther and help him shake hands with EN-, or he never
would have got through with one-half of 'em.
Well them says he did you mind how loud they
cheered and hurrahed wherever we come along
Yes, Colonel, says heard all that; but, my gra
cious wherever old Hickory made his appearance
the crowd roared right out like thunder
Well, Major. says he, they couldn't beat them
cheers that the Democrats and Capt. Rynders give
me at Tammany Hall, | know: thunder Itself
couldn't beat that. It's use, Major for YOU TO argue
the pint no President ever received such marks of
honor from the people before, am sure of that:
mean the whole people, Federalists well as Dem
ocrats that is, if there is any such people as Fed
scalists now days, and Mr.. Richie says there is.
Only think, the old federal State Of Massachusetts
did the business up as handsome and seemed to be
as fond of me as Governor Hills State; | couldnt
any difference. You must confess, Major, that
even your old friend Hickory didn't receive so
much honor in Massachusetts as have.
Well now says |, Colonel, don't want to hur, your
feelins, but you Jest much mistaken YOU
was when you sent old Rough and Ready into
Mexico Have YOU forgot how they took the old
Ginera into Cambridge College and made Doc
tor Of him!
Who cares for that says the Colonel says he,
turning up his nose, Didn't the Democrats and
Captain Rynders take me into Tammany Hall and
make Tammany of me! No, no, Major Downing
it's no use for YOU to argue the pint against my
popularity; for I've got eyes and can see ; and
tell you, and want you to mark my words, | tell
you, I'm 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 hold upon the aifec.
tons of the whole people as have.
Here the President got up and walked about the
floor, and seemed in deep study for as much as
FIVE minutes. At last says he Major, missed 9
igger in my speech there at Baltimore 'tother day
| see it now, and don't know exactly how to ge
over il.
How so says |.
Why, says he, | ought not to have said, right "
and down, pint blank, thatl should retire when this
term was up. ! should only talked aboutmy desire tc
retire 10 private life was too hasty, and committed
myself too soon. There never better chance
Tor any body to be elected than there is for
II hadn made that unfortunate remark. jackson
stood twice, and Jefferson stood twice, and | sup.
pose il is really my duty to serve my country al
long as they did. But if ! should undertake to run
agin, spose they would be throwing that Baltimore
speech in my teeth.
Well now, says |, Colonel, can't YOU see YOU
way out of that? You wasn't born down East so fun
as was. It's no great of Job to get over thattrouble
AT that the President Frightened up good deal