Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-04-15

the escape steam of the boat as she was put
under way again, by the captains hearty
sGo-a-head.' Barnard and his men Joined
in the laugh, and returned to their boat to
laugh over again, the success of their joke.
Fourth Despatch of Mai. Downing.
EpaIyATr.l ~
To James Il. Polk, President of The United
States, and nearly haifof .Nerico, certain,
Nth aPrei'y far chance yet for the 'saole
acorld.
CIrY OF MEXICO, DOUBTFUL TERRIToRY,
FEBRUARY IA, lsAS.
DEAR CoLoNEL:-lf any body asks you
that impudent question again, "N hat are
we fighting for?' Just tell him he is goose,
and don't know what he's talking, for we
amt fghtin' at all; we've got peace now;
got an armistice, they call it so there's no
sense at all in putting that question to you
any more. We've got the opposition far
| ly on the hip on that question, ifno other
fairly gagged 'em they can't say to you
any longer, now ''What are we fighting
for;" This is some consolation for the
shabby trick Trist has served us. That fell
to stop the war in spite of the orders you
sent to him to come home, and let things a.
lone. felt uneasy about it when see him
hanging about there so long after he had got
his orders to come home, and ! said to him
once or twice, 'tMr. Trist, what's the rea-
son you don't go off home and mind the
President? This unlawful holiness ofyourn
is shameful"
"Why, Maior,'' says he. she that does
his masters will does right, whether he
goes according to orders or not. The Pres
ident sent me here to make a peace, and 1t
I is a wonder to me i'll don't fix it yet, some
how or other before Eve done with it."-
And then he put his finger to the side OF his
nose, as much as to say, "Malor Downing,
YOU better not try to be looking into things
that's too deep for you"
SAYS !, Mr.. Trist, Pm astonished at you;
thought you was a man of more Judgment,
and looked deeper into things. DON'T YOU
see what advantage it gives the President
to let things stand jest as they bel He's
offered peace 10 the Mexicans and they
have refused il? Therefore, the opposition
lat home can't cry out against him any more
If he goes ahead with the war. He's shet
their mouths on that score He's made the
war popular, and can 90 into the Presiden-
iial campaign now, with iiarcha Of be-
ing elected another term. and now, if you
90 to dablln in the business any more, Pm
sure you'l do mischief AS things now
stand peace is the last thing in the world
the President wants. You've done your
errand and got Your answer, and it's turned
out jest right; we can go on now, with our
annexin al Mexico now, without such an
everlasting growing among the opposition
at home, for we've offered the MeXicans
peace, and they wouldn't take it. So you've
nothing to do NOW but to be off home, for
the war is jest in the right shape as it is.
Well, now, after all this plain advice, for
felt it my duty to be plain with him--he
still kept hanging about here, day after day
and week after week, and the first knew
I'VE were took al aback by bein told that Mr.
I'rist had made a treaty aud Gineral Scott
was 70 order m arnlistice. couldn't hard
" believe my ears at first. posted right
Of 70 GineraI Scott 20 know what it all
meant.
"Gineral," says /, care you going to or
der an armislcc"'
ayes, Major Downing" says he: "Mr.
Trist and the Mexican Commissioners have
81 gned the pseli8inaries OF treaty, so of
course we shall have an arnisfice."
"Well, now, General" says !, 81 don't
think the President will thank YOU for taNt.r
"Can't help that" says he, 81 must sbrg
orders Of the government, thanks or no
thanks, and when Mr., Trist was sent out
here to make treaty, was directed when
ever the plan of treaty should be signed
L.. IL. A
wait for the two governments to ratify the
treaty. Well, MIR. Trst and the Mexican
commissioners have at last fixed upon some
kind of bargain, and Of course, according
to my orders, we have nothing to do but to
stand still and wait for the two governments
to cinch the NALL
"But," says J., "Gineral, you know Mr..
, Trist has no right TO make treaty any
more than have, for the President has or
dered him to come home; and If he has
made treaty it's no better than piece Of
blank paper, and ynu shouldn't mind IT.
':Don't know anything about them mat
ters,' saws he, 81 can't 20 behind the cur
tain to inquire what Ettle mannuvres are
going on between the President and his
Commissioner Mr.. Trist came out here
with a regular commission to make a treaty.
He has brought me treaty signed by him
self aud the Mexican commissioners; and lpv
orders are 10 cease hosiiliiies. or cnur-e
we can do nothing else but halt aud stack
our arns.''
"Well," says !, " Gineral, it aini riqht;
It's bad business; il III break up this grand
anBexin plan that was jest going on so nice
that We might have got through with ~ q
year or two more; and then il viii bother
the President most 10 death about his cleo
ton for the second term. That treaty must
be stopped; it mustn't be sent home; and
III 90 right aud see Mr. Trist about H."
30 off ! went and hunted up Mr. Tris,,
and had a talk with bin. SaYsI, "Tri.t.
how's this' They tell ne you've been rsl.
king treaty with three Mex.ran-a
- Shouldn't wonder If b-81 . .