Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-09-04
Taylor into Mexico; didn't know my

MT. Richie QlQn seem u sec Cuis
no matter how hard they fired at me.
he didn't seem to hear ii !; and when !
called to him to fire back, he would
rouse up and touch off few squihs
with about as good aim as the boys take
when they fire crackers on the 4ih of
July, and did about as much execution.
At last found out way that | could
make the old veteran fight like bull
dog. 1t was by giving him a notion
at any time that he was fighting with
iederaIisis Since made that discov-
cry he's been more help 10 me. When
ever see The enemy entrenching him
self around me, and bringing up his
batteries to fire into my administra-
ton, all have to do is to whisper 10
Mr.. RICHES ear and say, Mr.. Richie
the air smells of federalism: you may
depend upon it there is fcderalsts a.
broad someu here" In a minute, you've
no idea with. what fury the old gentle
man flies around, and mounts his heav-
lest guns, and sets his paper battery in
a roar. His shot fly right end left
and sometimes knock down friends
as we'll as foes. To be sure they don't
make very great impression upon the
enemy; but then there's this advantage
III il; if he don't kill or beat off the en-
envy, he keeps the administration so
perfectly covered up with smoke that
the enemy can't see half the time
where to fire at us. On the whole, Mr..
Richie is valuable man to my admin
istration, notwithstanding all his mis-
takes and plumbers.
Just then the door opened. and who
should come in but Mr. Richie himself.
As he opened the door he ketched the
sound OF the two last words the Presi-
dent was saying.
Mistakes and blunders!" says Mr..
Richie, says he; what, have you got
something more of Scott and Taylor's
laundering in Mexico?
Nothing more to day says the Pres
ident. | was only telling Maj. Down.
ing how their bunders there have
come pretty near running the country,
ana how it is absolutely necessary to
get the staff ont of their hands some
how or other before they quite Gnish
the job. Pm going now 20 try one
more plan Mr.. Richie; but be careful
that you don't say any thing about it
in the Union. and blow it all up
Then ] sent Trist on for the same pur-
pose, and Scott has blowetl him up
Now I'm a going TO send Major Down
ing. not as regular Chaplain, but as
sort of watch upon them, you know,
TO work round and do the business up
before any body knows it
He isn't to go to Scott or Taylor,
nor have anything to do with 'em, but
work his way into Mexico, and go
right to Santa Anna and knock up a
bargin with him. | don't care what
he gives. The fact is, Mr.. Richie,
the country needs peace, and I'll have
peace, cost what i. will.
An excellent idea, says Mr.. Richie:
an excellent plan, sir, I'm for peace
at all hazards, if it is to be found any
where in Mexico-that is, if we can
get hold of it before Scott or Taylor
does. And think Major Downing is
Just the man for it-a true staunch
democratic republican; and whatever
he does goes for the benefit of the adj
ministration. New the conntry's shns
are aching pretty bad with the war, If
We can fix up good smooth peace
right off and not let Scott nor TAYLOR
have any hand in it. who knows Mr..
President, bnt it might make our adj
ministration so popular that you and I
might both be elected to serve another
four years. But when is the Major 10
start?
Right off tonight, says The Prcsi-
dent. or, rather in the morning b. fore
daylight-bcfore anybody in Washing
ton finds out that he has got back from
Downingville. have forbid his call
ing at the Intelligence Office. and I
don't want they should find out or
mistrust that he's been here. If they
should get wind OF the movement,
.hey would be sure to throw some con.
stitutional difficulty in the way, and.
try to make bad botch of the busi-
ness.
The President shut me in his room
and charged me to not leave the house,
while he sent for Buchanan and Mr..
Marcy to FIX up my private instruc-
tons. While he was gone, Mr.. Rich
lie fixed up a nice little bundle Of pri-