Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-03-24
From The Na'ioaqi Lnteiigenecr.
Despatch of Major Downing.
PRIVATE.

PRIVATE.
To James Il, PoAf, President nj Tie United
States, md marty htE@ N.rieo c@erfaia,
wiM a pretty ioleradh Jar chance gel for
the UAyis.
Cry or Mexico, DorBTFuL TERRIroRY,
February II, 1918.
DEAR COLONEL If any body asks you
that impadent question ag1in, "NVhat are we
fighting lorl" Jest tell him he's a goose, and
don't know what hes talking about, for
we aint fighting at all; we've got peace now;
cot an armistice, they call it; SO there's no
sense at all in their putting that question to
YOU any more. We've got the opposition
fairly on tho hip upon that question, if no
other; fairly gagged 'em; they can't say 10
YOU any longer now, "NVblt are we fighting
ior!" Iais IS some consolation for the shah
by trick TRIsr mas served us. That fellow
has made Il bargain with the NleXicans TO
stop the war, in spite Of the orders you sent
- him to come right home and let things d
lone. | felt uneasy about it when | see him
hanging about he re 50 long after he got his
orders - come home, and | said 10 him, once
or twice, mir. Trlst, what's the reason you
don't go oil home and mind tile President
This unlawful holiness Of yourn is shame
full
wv Nv, NldI0I, SG1S IICs lC tllAL uONS us
masters viii, does ri5at, whether he goes
according to orders or not. The President
sent me ont here to make peace, and IFS a
wonder to me ii | don't fix it yet, somehow
or other, before I've done with it." And
then he pat his fingers to the side of his nose
and give ina a sassy look, as much as 10 say,
Major Downing, you better not try TO be
looking into diplomatic things that's too deep
Tor YOU.
Says |, MIR. Trisi, I'm astonished 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 10
let things now stand just as they be! He's
offered peace TO the MeXicans, and they have
refused it. Therefore, the opposition at home
can't cry out against him any more If he goes
ahead with the war. He's shet their mouths
UP on that score. He's made the war popu
lar, and can 80 into the Presidential cam
pairu now with a good chance of being cleo
ted another term. And now if you go Il
dabblin in the business any more, I'm SUR
You'll do mischief. As things now stand
peace is the last thing in the world that In
President wants. You've done your errant
here and got your answer, and its turned ou
lest right; we can 20 on with our annexation G
all Mexico now, without such an everl istin
growing among the opposition at home, f.
we've offered The MeXicans peace, and the
wouldn't take il. So you've nothin 10 d
now but to be off home, for the war is jest
the right shape lSit is"
Well now, after all this plain advice-f
eel, it my duty to be plain with him-l
still kept hanging about here, day after da
and week after week, and the first | kne'
we was took all aback by being told til,
Mr.. Tlist had made 4 treaty and Gintri
Scott was to order an armiStice. | could'l
hardly believe my ears at first. ! poste
right oil 10 Gineral Scott 10 know what tia
meant.
"Gioeral," says l, are you going to ord'
an armisiico :"
.'Yes, Major Downing says he: an
Ttist and the Mexican Commissioner hav
signed the preliiniuaries OF a treaty, so
course we shall have an armistice."
"Well now, Gineral," says !, IL dou
think the President will thank you for that
s'Can't help that says he, Il must obj
the orders Of The Government, thanks or
thanks. And when Mr.. Trist was sent O
here to make a treaty, ! was directed, whe
ever the plan Of a treaty should be sigaed
both sides, 10 order an armlstice, and wait
the two Governments to ratiGy the treaty.
Well, Mr.. Trist and the Mexican Commit
sioners have at last fixed up some kind Of
bargain and signed III, ana OF course acc
ding to my orders we have nothing to do b
10 stand sill and wait for the two Goyer
ments to ciinch the nail"
But" says !, "Gineral, yon know \
Trist has no right to make a treaty any me
than ] have, for the President has order
him to come home; and if he has made
treaty, it's no better than a piece Of bla
paper, and you shouldn't mind H."
''Don't know any thing about them IN
ters,'' says he, II can't go behind the curt
10 inquire what little manGuvres are goi
on between the President and his Comm
sioner. Mr.. Trist came out here with
regular commission TO make a treaty.
has brought ma a treaty, signed by hims
and The Mexican Commissioners and my
ders are TO cease hosiilities. Of course
can do nothing else but halt and stack
arms"
"Well," says I, "Gineral 1t amt right;
a bad business; it II break up this grand
nexation plan that was jest going on so n
that We might a got through with IT in a y
or two more; and then it willbother the Pre-
dent most to death about his election for
second term. That treaty must be stoppe
it mustn't be sent homeI and vi go righta
see Mr.. Trist about it,"
So off ] wen, and hunted up Mr.. In
and had talk with him. Says |, "FEi