The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-04-06
From As National Iastligsner
18th Dcspntch Of Major Downing


PRIVATE
To Jdmss H. Polk, President of ,he United
Sfafes. and nedriy half Merieo certain,
rnh pretty toirabie fair ehanee yet
for the rhole.
CIrr OF MrsIco DousrrrL Tsn.rro.r,
February IL, lets.
DEAR COLONEL; II soy body ask. you
iha, impudent question again. "What are
you ishtin Cor T. jest toll him he. goose,
and don't knos what hos talking about. for
We ain, fi.htin o, Ill we've 20. peace nov ;
got an asnislice, they call il; so there's no
sense at oil 10 their putin. that question to
you any more. We've gnt the opposition
fairly on the hip upon that question, Il 90
other; fs,tly gagged EN-; they can, say Ia
you sny longer no~, What arc 90 h2hiin
for1' This is conc consolation for the shah.
By trick TriM has served Us. That fellow
has made q bargain with The Meaicans to
stop the var. in spite Of the orders you sent
10 him to come RICH, home and 10, things
alone. | Eel, uneasy about 1t When ] see
him hanging about hofe 90 long after he
rot his orders TO come home. and said TO
him, once or twice, +" Mr.. Trust, what's the
reason you don't 60 of home and mind the
President This unlawful boldness OF yourn
is shameful"
"Why Msjof," says ho, "he tina, does
his mns,cfs will. does right, whether he
goes according TO orders or not. The Pee
slden sent me out here TO make peace, aud
ne q wonder to me Il don't Tx II yet,
somehow or other, before I've done With IL"
And then he put his finger to the side OF hts
nose aud give me sassy look, as much as
to say, MAJOR Do~ning, you better no, try
to be looking into diplomatic things that's
too deep for you.
Says "Mr. Tfis,. I'm astonshed at
you; thought YOU VAS man of more juds.
meat, aud looked deeper into things. Don't
you see wha, advantage i, gives the Pfesi.
den, to le, things now stand jos, as they be?
He's offered peace to the Mexicans, and
they have refused II. Therefore. the oppo.
siilsn at home cant cry out agalns, him any
more II he goes ahead ~uh the war. He's
shet their mouths up on that score. Hes
made The war popular, and can 60 into the
Presidential campaign now With gond
chance OF being elected another term. And
now il you 20 TO dabbln in the business any
more, I'm suro you'll do mischief As
things nov stand. peacc is the las, thing 10
the world that the President wants. You've
done your errand here and 30. your answer,
and IT'S turned out jes, right; We can 20 on
with our annexin all Mexico now, without
such an everlasting growlu among the OPP
at hone, for ws'vo offered tho Mex
leans peace. and they wouldn't take 1t. So
you've no,h,n to do now but 10 be of home,
for the war is Jest in Tho right shape as II It,"
Well now, after oil this plain advlce--ior
fell il my duty to be plain with blm-he
still kept hanging about here, day after day
mud week aiicr week, and the FIRST knew
We vas took all sback by being told that
Mr.. IRIS, bad made treaty snd General
Scott was to order an armis,ice. couldn't
hardly believe my ears at first. ! posted
-,ghl off to General Scott to know What It
III meant.
General" says l,"arc you going to
rider an armislice "
"Yes, Major Downing" says he; Mr..
rrisi and the Mexican Commissioners have
gned the prclimisaries Of treaty, 90 Of
course we shall have an armistice."
"Well. nov, Ginsrsl." says ], III don't
hiuk the Presiden, will thank you for that
"Csn't help that" snys he, al must O. I
10Y the orders Of the Government, thanks {
e no thanks. Aud when Mr.. IRIS. was I
en-. GU, here 10 make . treaty. was diroc.
cd, whenever the plau Of treaty should {