The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-07-31

Major Jack Downing and MIR. Polk,
"The Major'' has written along letter to the
National hteAigeacer, about "Young Hickory.n
lie met the green sopling at New York, and
alter considerable trouble got into his presence,
he details his interview as follows:
When | got into the Presidents chamber he
was lying down on the bed to rest, and look.
ing as tired as a rat that had been drawed thro'
forty knot holes. But, as soon as he saw me-,
he jumped up, looking rather wild, and says
he, "Major Downing, how are ye? l didn't
think of seeing you back from Mexico so soon
as this How does things go on there now?"
Says l, "Colonel, they don't go on hardly at
all They are waiting for more help. Scott
and Taylor both are growing rather red and
angry to think you should chuck 'em AWAY
into the middle of Mexico there, and then not
send 'em help to fight their way out again.
And it 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 guerrillas will
eat our little armies all up. Why, Colonel,'
says ], eff tais war had come on in the time Of
the old Gineral, my old friend Hickory, he
would a had them Mexicans half whipped to
death by this time. But here's a letter from
Scott, to tell ye what he thinks about the
business. | come on post-haste to bring it,
lie says he won't stir from Puebla till you
send on more men to take the place Of all them
that's coming home"
The President took the letter and read a
few lines, and. threw it down upon the table:
and, says he, "It's no use; Scott may grumble
and growl as much as he' a mind to, but it's
no use. This war is a concern of my W
getting up, for my own use, and shall manage
it Jest as l please" Says he, "Maior Downing,
there's reason in all things. don't want them
Mexicans whipped too fast, especially when
them upstart Generals get all the glory of it.
When l found Taylor was swellin up too large,
l meant to a stopped him at Monterey and
draw off a part of his glory on to Scott. But
that Taylor is a headstrong chap, a dangerous
man. He OVERSIGHT his duty and Numbered on
to that victory at Buena Vista, that sot every
thing all in a blaze. | shan't overlook it in
him very soon. If the selfish creature had
only let Santa Anna given him a handsome
licking there, We might a had peace in a little
while, for | had things all arranged with Santa
Anna to wind the business right up in such a
way that we might each of us have made a
handsome plum out of it. But that unpardon-
able Taylor must cut and slash round with his
handful of men, untutored volunteers, that |
thought were as harmless as a flock of sheep,
and c%ontrive, by that awful blunder at Buena
Vista, to pour all the fat in the fire.
swell, then, Scott hasn't behaved much bet
ter, He's licked the Mexicans too fast by a
great sight, and is swellin himself up in the
eyes Of the people shamefully. / thought if |
could a sent Col. Benton on there, he would a
squeezed the glory out of both of 'em in a lit
tie while, andsettled lem down SO they wouldn't
a been dangerous. But that vagabond Senate
wouldn't let me do it. That was too bad
Major, when them two Generals were attract
ing all the glory that belonged to me, that the
Senate wouldn't let me do anything to offset
them. But III let 'om know that Young HEX
DRY isn't to be bea: any more than Old Hickory
was. I've sent Mr.. Trist on to look after mat.
tiers, and to see that the armies don't go too
fast; for am determined Scott and Taylor
shan't whip the Mexicans any faster than is
prudent. All the glory that's to come out Of
this war fairly belongs to me, and I'll have it.n