Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-07-22
FROM THE NATIONAL INrELLIGENcER
Another Letter from Major Jack Downing
Do,cningriiie, a,cay dozen East,
IN the State of Maine. July 8, 1917.

ringing Tor us 10 get ready 10 GO ashore, that
didn't get half through telling you the talk ha,
Win The President that day; and we've had 81
much talk since, and seen 50 much on the Journey
that shant be able TO tell you one-halP nor qua
ter ONT in 4 letter. Ii would take whole book {,
give you good notion OF the whole story Bu
the President will be back to Washington before
you can get this letter, for he started to 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 it for he's been
amazingly pleased with the whole journey, from
top to bottom. He's been his high heel'd boots
all the way. Instead of CROWN more stoopin by
bowling SO much, 1t seems If he stood straiohter
than ever. He told the Governor, i'm his speech at
Augusta, Saturday, ''lt seldom happens that the
course Of any mans life is maIk'd by SO distin.
gushed reception as has been accorded TO me to
day" Well, so ii has been all the way along ;
hurrahing, and complimeniing, and firing, and
speeches, ana dinners. and suppers, and shaking
hands. On board the steamboat from Portland to
Augusta we got little breathing time, and had
good long talk.
Says the President TO me Now, Major says
he, want you 10 be candid. No one is true
friend to one in high station unless he will be
candid and speak the truth. And now Major, |
don't want you to ilater me | want you TO be can
did. and tell me jest what you think. You went
along with President jackson when he made his
]
whole operation; and now | want YOU to tell me
candldly, if you think the people was any more
fond OF him than they are of me.
wen, now Colonel, says L. not wishing to hurt
your feelins at al, but, seem You've asked my can
did opinion, wont deny but what the people are
very fond OF you, amaznly fond, perhaps as fond
as they can be- But after all, these times amt ex-
actly equal to old Hckory's times
/ But what do you mean? says he
We'll saws | The npnnln all soon, In mo ouno.,;n
fond, but some how it seems to have sort of mo
her-m-tdac sk0,c about it it don't seem TO lie 50
real hearty us they showed to old Hickory.
We'll now, Major. says he, and he reddened a
little when he said this; says he, that only shows
now strong your preudices set in favor of the old
Eineral. But thought you was IA 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
Ho.kId around me to shake hands with me?
Yes, says | but they didn't 90 it with such a
rush as they did when my old friend the Gineral
come this way. They jamed around him so they
had TO climb over each others heads TO get at him
And had TO take hold sometimes by the hour to-
gothcr and help him 10 shake hands with 'em, or
ne never would have got through with one-hali
of 'em
Well then, says he. did you mind how loud
they cheercd and hurrahed wherever we come a.
long?
Yes, Colonel, says l. heard all shat but. my
gracious wherever old Hickory made his appear
ance, the crowd reared right out like thunder.
wen, MAJOR, says he. they couldn't beat
them cheers the Democrats and Capt. Rynders
give me at Tammany Hall, ] know thunder IL
self couldn't beat that. It's no use, Major, for YOU
to argue the pint no President ever received such
marks OF honor from the people before, I am sure
OF that; ! mean the whole people FederaIsts as
well as Democrats; that IS, if there is any such
people as Fedeyalists now days, and Mr. Richie
says there is Only think, the old Federal State
OF Massachusetts, did the business up as handsome
and seemed 10 be fond Of me as Governor Hills
State; l couldn't see any difference You must
confess, Major. that even your old friend Hickory
didn't receive 50 much honor in Massachusetts az
| have.
/ Well now, says |, Colonel, don't want to hurt
your eeilns, but you are jest rs 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 Doc
Tor OF him?
Who cares for that says the Colonel saws he.
turning up his nose, Didn't the Democrats and
Captain Ryndcrs take ne into Tammany Hall and
make Iammany OF me? No. no. Major Down
ing, It's no use for you to argue the pint against
my popularity; for ive got eyes and ! can see ;
and tell you, and want You TO mark my words.
tell you Pm 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
iuiIy persuaded he hadn't such hold upon the af-
fectlons 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
hye minutes. AT last says he Major, | missed
iigger IN my speech there at Baltimore 'tother day
see 1t now, and don't know exactly how to re-
over it.
How so? saysI
why, says he, ought not to have said, right NJ
and down, pint blank, tina! should retire when tii
term was up. should only talked about my dc
sire to retire TO private life. was too hasty ant
committed myself too soon. There never was
better chance for any body to be elected than Their
is tor me now, if hadn't made that unfortunat
remark jackson stood twice. and Jefferson stoo
twice, and suppose il is really my duty to serv
) my country as long as they did. Blu. if shou
undertake TO run agiu, 5pose they would be throw
ing that Baltimore speech in my teeth.
We'll now, says J, Colonel. can't you see you
way out OF that YOU wasn't born down East s
iur as was It's no great of job 20 get oyc
that trouble.
At that the President frightened Up 4 rood deal
and says he, Well, Major, IN tell you what It's,
you'll get me over that difficulty Handsomely
when we come to have another shuttle for the off
ces, you may choose any card in tho pack, and yo
shall have it.
Well, says !, Colonel about that remark Q
D., yourn at Baltimore, that you should give UP whe
this term is out, all you've got to do is to get Nj
Richie TO take it back in the Union; let him de
clare that it was only sort of speculation, hast
thrown out, without much consideration, and that
50 far he understands, neither the President no
\ any Of his Cabinet entertalns any such views
4 Then you can go along jest as smooth and safe as
J nothing had happened.
Fact, that's it, says the Colonel, swapping hi
; fingers strange didn't think of that before
Major, you do beat all for working out Of difficul
a tiesl believe III make up my mind 70 go ahea'