Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-07-15
Letter from Jack Downing.

Major sets forth much interesting ana .'mpof
lani lnfmssstsn as 10 the views ct The IRE"
iden,. We give an ex,rac, below -
80" When ! got into lhc Presidents
chamber he was laying down on The bed ''
rcst, aud looking as tired os rat That had
been drawed through forty knotholcs. But.
as soon as he sec me, he jumped up, looking
rather wild. and says he, MAJOR Downing
how are yef dld'nt think oi seeing you
back from Mexico so soon as this. How does
things go on there now 2 .'.4r,. !.
Says !, Colonel, they don't go on hardly
ut all. They are waiting for more help
Scott and Taylor both are growing rather
red aud angry to think you should chuck EN-
away into The middle Of Mexico there, and
then not send 'cm help TO fight the way oul
again. And il seems tO me, Colonel, you do
hold back in this business a little too much
If you don't send 'em help pretty soon, them
puerrillas W i'll eat our little armies all up
Why, Colonel. says if this war had come
on in the time of the old Gincral, my old
Hickory. he would had them Mexlcans hall
whipped to death by this time. But here's
letter from Scott, to tell ye what he thinks q
bout the business. ] come on post haste t.
bring it. lie says he won't stir from Pueblo
ill you send on more men TO take The place
Of all them that's coming home
The President took the letter and read o
few lines, and threw il down upon the table
and, SAYS he, it's no use; Scott may grum'
BILE and growl as much as he's 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 rs ! please Says he, Ma
\ jor Downing, there's reason in all things:
don't want them Mexcans whipped too fast
especially when them ups,art Generals get
all The glory of il. When ] found Taylor
was swellin up too large, ] meant to a stop
ped him at Monterey and draw of part ol
his glory on to Scott. But that Taylor is n
head strong chap, q dangerous man. Tie
overs,eps his duly and blundered on to tina,
victory at Buena Vista, that sol every thing
all in q blaze. | sban't overlook II IN him
very soon. II the selfish creature had only
le, Santa Anna given him handsome lick
ing there, we nights a had peace IN little
while, for had things all arranged with San
"a Anna 10 wind the business night up IN such
way that we might each OF us haze made a
handsome plum out Of II. But that unpar.
donable Taylor must cut and slash round
with his handful of men, uniDtored volun
teers, that thought were as harmless as n
flock Of sheep. and conlrive. by tha, awful
bunder at Buena Vista, 10 pour all the fat in
to the fire.
well, then, Scot, hadn't behaved much
better. He's lcked the Mexicans too fast
by great sight. and is swellin himself up in
The eyes Of the people shamefully. thought
if | could a sent Col. Benton on there. he
m ,ab ha rln mi at hot Ia nj 70 m
IN llllle while, ard settled 'em down so they
wouldn't been dangerous. But that vaga
bond Sensle wouldn't lc, me do it.
That was too bad, Major, when them two
Genernls were attracting all the glory that
be onged to me, that the Seoaic wouldn't let
me DO anything to Offset them. But III let
'em know that Young Hickory ISN'T to be
beat any more than Old Hickory was. I've
sent Mr. Trist on to look after matters, and
to see that the armies don't go 200 fast for
J am determined Scott and Taylor shan,
whip the Mexicans any faster than is prn
dent. All the glory that's to come ont OF
this war fairly belongs to me, and III have
it, a.
But, says |, Colonel, you are going ,'
send on more men, ain't you? Or what are
you going to do ? How are you going Il
wind the business up I?
Says he, Pm too tired to tax over my
plans to. night Bu, there's TO Iced Of your
going right back to Mexico yet. Mr.. Trlsl
is there, and | can trust him TO look after
matters, and you better jump into the boat
with us in the morning md take trip down
East, and we can talk the subject over at oui
leisure
About five O'Clock in the morning, the
President ratified away at my door and walked
me out of q sound sleep; and when he found
| wasn't up. says he, Major, you must be
spry, or you'll be too late, for we're offatslx
was up and dressed about the quickest,
and went out, and fact, there was a quarte,
of q mile Of sodiery. all ready TO escort IT,
to the boat. And down we went. through
whole streets full of men and women, and
boys and gals, of all sorts and sizes, some
running and crowdlrg, and some hollerlng
and huuahing, and in few minutes we were
aboard the steamboat, and the bell rung, and
the steamer puffed, and off we went on th,
Sound towards Connecticut.
The Presiden, has little room oil 10 him
self, and he made me GO right into It with
him, and he sat down in an easy chair, and
put his feet upon another, and savs he, MA
jor am glad to get out OF the crowd again !;
wen take q few hours o. rest and comfort on
this voyage, This being President, Major,
is mighty hard work but, after all, like IL
I've had glorious time Of it in New York
Every body was running after me. and u
seems as though had seen every thing. !
feel as though had lived through whole
year in these three days, and don't believe
any body ever received more honors in so
shor, space Of time in this country
'Wcll.' says J, Colonel. 1t seems to me o
pity you told the folks at Baltimore the other
day that you should retire when this term
was up. You might go two terms. as old
Hickory did, jcs, os well as not, you are ST
popular.
Al that he gave me tuck in the ribs and
n sly wink. aud, says he, 'Mejor. don't you
understand that? Telling Of EN- shouldn't
stand another term is jest tho right way
to make 'em the more fierce 10 have me.
Don't you know Anthony sald Cesar refused
the crown three times, jest so as TO be more
sure Of having it placed on his head ? Ano
jes, see how Santa Anna is working II now 10
Mexico. When he gets prctly near run
down, and shivcrng in the wind and nothing
to stand upon, he sends in his resignation.
with long patriotic speech about shedding
The last drop of his blood for his county, anC
"a. Al. -. l.,s. he