Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-03-17
Fia4lhs National Ia,eHigsHecr
Fourth Despatch Of Major Downing.

[PRIvATE1
10 James X. Poll, President Of he Uafcd States
and nearly hoifof lHerico certain, rim a pref
" tolerails fair chance pei for Tic rhole.
CRY OF MnxIco, DOUBTFUL TrR-
RiTonY, February II, isis.
DEAR COLONEL II any body asks you that
impudent question again, " What are we fight
in for 2" fest tell him he's a goose, and don't
know what he's talking about, for we amt tghiin
all all we've got peace now go. an arnistiec,
they call Il 20 there's no sense at oil in that
question to you any more. We've rot the OPP
position fairly on the hip upon that question, II
no other, fairly gagged 'cm they cant fay io|
you any longer now, "Whnt are hghiin
for?" This is considerable Of a consolation for
the shabby trick Tnst has served us. That fell
low has made bargain with the Mcxieans to
stop the war, in spite Of the orders you sent to
him 10 come right home and let things alone. i
felt uneasy about il when ] sec him hanging
about here 80 long after he got his orders to come
/ home, and said TO him, once or twice, Mr.
! Trisi, what's the reason you don't 90 OF home
and mind the Prcsidcntf This unlawful bold
| ness Of yourn is shameful
( Why, Major, saws he, " he thAtf tbes his
masters will, does right, whether he ~ accord
ing to orders or not. The Prcsidear sent me
out here 10 make peace, and it's wonder to me
! if dou't fix IL yet, somehow or other, before
z
I to the side Of bis nose and give me sassy look,
as much "a to say, Major Downing, you better
not try 10 be looking into diplomatic things that's
too deep for you.
Saws ], Mir Trisi, I'm astonisbcd at you,
thought you was a man Of more judgment. and
looked deeper into things. Don't you see what
advantage Il gives the President TO let things
now stand Jest as they be He's offered peace
TO the Mexicans and they have refused it,
ThaNof.sra the NJ haffn fnfff ~
against him any more il he goes ahead with the
war. Hes shct their mouths up ON that score.
Hes made the war popular, and can go into the
Presidential campaign now with good chance
of being elected another term. And now IL you
20 10 dabblin in the business any more, I'm sure
you'll do mischief. As things now stand. peace
is the last thing in the world that the President
wants. You've done your crrand here and go,
your answer, and its turned out jest right VIC
can go on with our annexin all Mexico now,
without such everlasting growlin among The
opposition n, home, for we've offered The Mexi-
cans peace, and they wouldn't take IL. SO you've
nolhin to do now but 10 be off home, for the
war is jes, in the right shape rs il is
Well now, after all this plain advicc--for ]
felt it my duty TO lie plalo with hiui-he still
kept hanging about here day ailer day and
week AFTER week. and the first knew we was
; took all abaek by being told that Mr. Tnst had
made a treaty and General Scott was to order
an armstice. couldn't hardly believe my ears
at first posted right off to Gineral Scott TO
know what il all meant.
Gineral." says !, " are YOU going to order
an arnlisticc z"
Yes. Major Downing" says he Mr. Tnst
and the Mexican Commissioners have signed the
prciiminaries OF treaty, 20 Of course we shall
have mn armisticc."
d" Well now. Gineral," says !, ] don't think
the President will thank You for that
Can't help that" says he - must o5ey the
$ orders of the Government, thanks or thanks
And when Mr. Trist was sent out here TO make
n treaty, | was directed whenever the plan Of a
treaty should be signed on 10th sides, to order
!, an armistice, and wait for the two government,
/ to raiify the treaty. Wei, Mr. Trist and thu
n Mexicau Commissioners have at las; fixed uT
some kind Of bargain and signed it, and O
> course according TO my orders have nothing
+ to do bat 10 stand still and wait for the two gov
ernments to clinch the nail"
/; I" But says ]. Gineral, You know Mr. Iris
has no right to make treaty any more than
> have for the President has ordered him 10 cont
Y home and IL he has made a treaty, its bet
c ter than piece Of blank paper, and you slould'n
Q mind it,
a. Don't know any thing about them matters,
saws he. " can't 70 behind the curtain to in
quire what littls maneuvers are going on between
c the President and his Commissioner. Mr. Iris
5 came out here with his regular commission tt
make a treaty. He has brought me a treaty
signed by himself and the Mexican Commission
: ers and my orders are TO cease hostilities-
!, OF course we can do nothin else but halt ant
?, stack our arms.
q " Well,- saws I, " Giuoral, It amt right IL
bad business il II break up this grand anncxil
plan that was jest going on 50 nice that we nigh
n a got through with il in year or two more
It aud then il will bother the President most Il
death about his election for the second term
That treaty mus; be stopped il mustn't be sen
home and Ill 60 right and see Mr. Trist abou
it."
So of went and hunted up Mr. Trist, an,
nj had talk with him. Says l. " Tris,, hows this
= They tell me you've been making treaty viii
!, these Mexicans."
h Shouldn't wonder Il had says he ; a that
= jest what come out here for
n a Wei, ! mus; say, SIR" says I. " think thi
:, is a pretty piece of business How do you dar
10 10 such thing You know the Presiden
has ordered you home"
/ Yes SAYS he, land mean to GO home a
e soon as get through the job he sent me TO do.
a Well now" saws ]. " Trist, claim to know
what the President is about, and what he want,
and I'm his confidential friend and private an
bassador out here, and shall take the liberty b
2, interfere in this business This high handed Dc
i ings Of yourn must lie nipped off in the bud
What sort Of bargain have YOU been making
Jest let mo look Al the treaty"
y - Can't do IT. saws he I" It's half way TO Yer
e Cruz by this time l sent il off yesterday"
d I" Blood and thunder r says !, " then yo'
= have knocked the whole business in the head
" sure enough. You've committed an outrageous
C crime, sir, and great shame and don't yol
know, sir that great crimes deserve great punish
a mcnts ? don't know what Col Polk will do
=, but know what my friend Old Hickory wouls
z do II he was alive he would hang you right ~
g TO the first tree he could come at"
What, hang me for doing jest what ] wa
sent here TO do u says he. " For I've mad,
!. Jest such bargain Us the President told me Il
make only leetle better one"
!. " That's nothing here nor there" says /, "yoi
- know circumstances alters cases And you know
d well enough, or ought TO have sense enough I,
C know, that, as things now stand, the Prcsiden
d don't want treaty Now, says ], Mr. Trist