The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-08-25
LETTER FROM MAI. JACK DOWNING.
HEAD d sAlr RIvER, July 10, I84g.

LEAD VI OALA NlFEh9 July w. lOH0' II
Dear Mr. Ritchic: | can't keep from writing
TO you no longer. | must say we are getting
most out Of patience up here in this Salt River
territory, and are beginning to feel a good deal
disappointed TO think Gineral Taylor is holding
on TO the Presidency 80 long. | was in hopes
after you concluded to stay down there to
Washington and fight the battle out, that you
would a routed him out by this time, and gin
our party a chance to come back again! Not
that I've got any thing dgin General Taylor;
and ! don't say but what he's a CLEVER sort Of
q man enough, and folt we'll in Mexico; and !
don't KIN W but he and the folks round him IL
carrying on the government all smooth ard
regular. But all that's nothing 10 the pint.
The whole nub Of the argument is, they've got
our places, and we want'em. This Salt Rivet
country is o tiresome place to stay in. And
we've been waiting here now d ntrhbeF Of
months, hoping you would upset the whole
apple-cart ofthe Administration, and give us a
fair chance to pick up the fruit. But we've
been disappointed. ! don't see as you are any
nearer getting Gineral Taylor out Of Office than
you was three months ago. We've had a num-.
Der of.meeiings up here about it, and talked
the matter over, md some of our friends ale
quite put out with you about it, and fing out
about your being old, and lost your spunk, and
don't fight with the gr you used to.
/ took your part strong, and told 'em twas
no SIGH a thing; If you was older than you used
to be, you was as tough as a pitch-not yet, and
had as much grit in you as ever, and only
want'd rousin to make you fight like a tiger.
They finally agreed if ! would write 10 you
and stir you up, so as to make you come down
upon the Administration hot and heavy, as
though you meant to do something, they'd be
Z patient a little longer. Bur if not, they'd kick
, the sUnion' over, and take up another organ
for the party. l asked 'em how they thought
they could better themselves by that, and
I where they thought they could find an organ
to be compared 70 the Union2 &
; Why says Bill Jones, says he, we'll take
4 the Salt River Herald.'
sBut,' says i, you know the Salt Rive
Herald can't hold a candle to the Union fOl
responsibility sss g
Il don't care for that,' says he, She HERALD
IS q smarter Paper; il can tell Two lies to th'
Unions one, week in and week out, and put
sting in the tail of every one of 'em.' W
We'll, | amt going to bragg says i : abou
the Unions talents for Matching 6bs, bu
there's one thing you ought to remember, III,
! Herald's truths are ahcays Oapersng, whilst tn,
q UniOn's Jbs are ahrays nell stood 10; and yOl
know, according to the old sayin, which is con
sidered worth the most.' @
n think | rather got ahead of Bill in the argu
o ment here, for he couldn'g answer me a word
And now, my dear Mr.. Richie, you see VIVA
sort Of q pickle we are in, and ! hope you vii
spunk up and put your bestfoot forward go
the AdministTatioa in arrests take hold of'en
like a cstsmOunt, and give them such clawi
! that they'll be glad 10 clear out in hurry an
"a let our party come ~, and have the rights agai
le that have belonged to US this / enfy years
n Now, | don't want to find fault or complain
yon know il amt my natur; but + must sa
that | think you havO been quite too tame
long back, and too mealy mOuthed, as If 20
was afraid to speak out your mind. The fac
u is, you must 90 at Gineral Taylor in real arnes
! He's the head Of the Administration, and 70
know II we can cut This head off the critter'
i.a dead. But you must give hardsrblows tina
'ls any you hayeused yet. / don't deny that yo
have used some considerable smart words u
wards him; l don't deny but what you hav
calIedhim atdolt, ,and a cheat, anda fool
Of and a stool3 and - mere cypher,' and di
cd grace to the country and an : imbecile, igno
ant tyrant; and 'whitened sepulchre,' and
man who lis disgracing HIMSELF and a fra