The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-03-25
Miscellaneous.
From the NaiiOnai Lateltigeeer. s.
Fourth Despatch of Major Down.
ing.

TO James X Polk, President Of The United
States, and nearly haLf Of yMerico certain, tOith
apretiy tOleraJte fair chance gel for The toIioIe.
CIlY OF Mexico, DouBTFUL TER .
RIToRY, February ID, 1949.
DEAR COLONEL. fany body asks you that
impudent question again, "What are we
fghtin for?" jest tell him he's a. goose, and
don't know what he's talking about, for we
aint fghtin at all we've got peace now got
an armistice, they call it so there's no sense
atall in their putting that question TO you any
more. We've got the opposition fairly on
the hip upon that question, if no other; fairly
gagged 'em they can't say TO you any longer
now, "What are we fightin for ?" This is
some consolation for the shabby trick TRIsr
las served us. That fellow has made bar
gain with the MeXicans to stop the war, in
spite OF tile orders you sent to him TO come
right home and let things alone. felt unea-
sy about II when ] see him hanging about
here so long after he got his orders TO come
home, and said TO him, once or twice, MIR
Trist, what's The reason you don't go off home
and mind the President? This unlawful
boldness of yourn is shameful"
"Why, Major" says he, che that does his
masters will, does right, whether he goes ac-
cording to orders or not. The President sent
NE out here to make peace, and it's IL wonder
10 me if don't fix it yet, somehow or other,
before I've done with it." And then he put
his finger to the side of his nose and give me
a sassy look, as much as 10 say, Major Down
ing, you better not try TO be looking into di-
pomatic things that's too deep for you.
Says ], "Mr Trist, Pm astonished at you
thought you was man of more Judgment,
and looked deeper into things. Don't you
see what advantage II gives the President to
let things now stand jest as they be +? He's
offered peace TO the Mexicans, they have re-
fused it. Therefore, the opposition at home
can't cry out against him any more fine goes
ahead with the war. He's shut their mouths
upon that score. He's made the war popu-
uar, and can go into the Presidential cam
mgn now with good chance OF being cleo
tea another term. And now if you 20 10
dahhtin IN the business any more, Pm sure
youth do mischief As things now stand,
peace is the last thing in the world that the
Ipresdent wants. You've done your errand
here and got your answer, and it's turned out
Jest right; we can go on with our annexin all
Mexico now, without such an everlasting
growlin among the opposition mt home, for
we've offered the MeXicans peace, and they
wouldn't take it. So you've nothn to do now
but to be off home, for the war is jest in the
bright shape as it is"
Well now, after all this plain advice-for
tdt it my duty to be plain with him--he still
Kept hanging about here, day after day and
week after week, and the first i knew we
was took all aback by being told that Mr.
,Trist had made treaty and General ScoTT
was to order an armistice. Icould'nt hardly
believe my ears at first. posted right off
10 Gineral SCOTT TO know what il all meant.
"Gineral," says |, 'are you going TO order
an arnlistice ?"
Yes, Major Downing" says he: "Mr
Trlst and the Mexican Commissioners have
signed the preliminares of treaty, so of
course we shall have an armistce."
well now, Gineral," says ], ~ don't think
The President will thank you for that"
"Can't help that" says he, 81 must obey
the orders of the Government, thanks or no
thanks. And when Mr. Trist was sent out
here to make a treaty, was directed when
ever the plan of a treaty should be signed on
both sides, to order an arinistice, and wait for
che two Governments to ratify the treaty.
Well, Mr. Trist and the Mexican Commits
soners have at last fixed up some kind of
bargain and signed it and of course accor-
ding to my orders we have nothing to do
but to stand still and wait for the two Gov
ernments to chnch the nail"
But" says /, "Gineral, you know Mr.
'Irist has no right to make treaty any more
than have, for the President has ordered
nm TO come home; and if he has made u
treaty, it's no better than piece of blank pa
I per, and you shouldn't mind it."
Don't know any thing about them mat
EterS says he. 81 can't go behind the cur
tain to inquire what little man@uvres are GO
lngo on between the President and his Com
MIR Trist came out here with his
regular commission to make treaty. He
has brought me treaty, signed by himself |
and the Mexican Commissioners and my
orders are to cease hostiIties Ofcourse we |
can do nothin else but halt and stack our
arms .H 90 Ias- 80
SWELL" says ], "Gineral it aint right it's |
bad business; it'll break up this grand annex
In plan that was jest going on SO nice that
we might got through with it in year or
two more and then it will bother the Presi-
dent most TO death about his election for the
second term. That treaty must be stopped
1t mustn't be sent home and I'll go right and
see Mr. Trist about it,"
So off went and hunted up Mr. Trist, and
had talk with him. Says |, "Trist, how's
'hls They tell me you've been making a
treaty with these Mexicans"
shouldn't wonder if had," says he
that's jest what came out here for"
. "We, must say, sir" says /, 81 think this
is pretty piece of business. How do you
n n to do such thing? You know the
resident has ordered you home." a
YES" says he, sand mean to go home
do" ~ "e'' "
swell now" saysI, "Trist, Iclaim toknow
what the President is abeut and what he |
wants, and Pm his confidential friend and
private ambassador out here, and shall take
l,ne liberty 10 interfere in this business. This
'ilghhanded doings ofyourn must be mint off
lln the bud. What sort of n bargain have
you been making? Jest let me look at the
treaty" domestic s1,'I.7 ~"