Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-12-19
A LETTER FROM MAJOR JACK
DOWNING.
Mason AND DIxoN's SIDE OF SALT RIVER,
OCTOBER 2j. 1919.

OCTOBER 25. 1919.
My DEAR ME. RICHIE: Tomorrow
Uncle Joshua. our Delegate to Congress
from this Territory, starts for Washington;
and, as haint writ to you for some time.
thought would send few lines by hin,
to let you know how matters are getting
sharp about forming State Government.
and some are tor doing it right of, and
sending Senators and Representatives to
this Congress. Blu. the majority was in
favor Of only sending a Delegate now.
and waiting to see what Congress will do
with the other Territories that are sprout-
ing UP round; for, as things now look, we
couldn't seem to tell whether State on
Mason and Dixon's side Of the river would
he allowed to come in. So we called
meeting to choose a Delegate. and to fix
10 the instructions for him to follow when
he gets there.
After the meeting came to order, and
Col. Jones was appointed cheerman. In
Gle Joshua got up and said the common
practice OF choosing Representative or
Delegate first. and then tying his hands
afterwards with 'structions, he didn I think
was hardly a fair shake. He thought the
instructions ought to be agreed upon first;
then if the Representative had a mind to
tie his own hands he couldn't blame no.
BODY else for it, The meeting seemed TO
take the idea at once, and agreed to 60
right to work upon the instructions first
The Cheerman said, cit was eviden!
from the newspapers, and the way things
looked at Washington, and all over the
country. that this was agoing to be hot
Congress There was trouble brewIn
about the Wilmot Proviso, and about adj
uniting California as State; and Their that
monster. Notification, that every body
thought Gineral Jackson had killed. years
and years ago, wasn't by no means dead
vet lie seemed TO be more alive than
ever, and showed Ten times as many heads
now as he did in Old Hickory's time. lie
was a hard animal to handle then, as my
worthy friend there on my right can testify.
for he had hand in it. (Iere the Cheer
man pointed to me, and made every body
look at me) say. says he. if Old HEX
DRY and Major Downing had their hands
full to master notification, when he was
only young critier and hadn't but one
head. the country may well tremble and
ask what is to be done with him now thai
he has growed up 50 large and tuif, and
shows 50 many heads
At that Bill Johnson jumped up. as
quick as a flash. and says he, ''l'll tel
you what, Mr.. Cheerman, jest send olt
/ Rough and Ready arter him. and III resi-
him if he had twenty heads. If he
wouldn't scatter and run as fast as Saint
Anna did at Bony Vista, III pay the
toddy."
We'll" said the chcerman, ''that ain
the question before the meeting. The
question is, What instructions shall we
give our Delegate about the Wilmot Pro
vso, and the State of California, ant
Notification. and such like troublesome
consarns. Gentlemen will please to speal
their minds on the subject
When Col. Jones sot down the Who'll,
meeting turned and looked towards incl,
Joshua; for they think he knows NOR,
about these matters than any body else il
I the territory; and. besides, he's a consi
derable speaker when you once get hin
started. They kept looking and noddin;
to him. and at last uncle Joshua got up.
..Mr. cheerman." says uncle Joshua
saws he, Elf you know jest how things worI
in one case. you can pretty commonly tel
pretty near how them same things will
work in another case; for I've Away:
observed in my life time, that when thing:
worked Jest so in one case, them same
things would most always work jest so ir
another case. Now, when | was bov
knew a case good deal like this ere cas-.
! you've been speakin about. And if
should tell you and this meeting how
/ things worked out in that case, maybe you
could Judge better how things will work
+ in this ere case, and then you can in
struct your Delegate accordingly. The
/ case Mr.. Cheerman. was this: Old Mr.
/ Sam West, a very clever respectable ole
gen,leman-every body used to call hin
uncle Sam; he was a very stirrin, thrivir
man. and good farmer-he owned a very
/ la &c farm and picked up good deal o
property. His oldest son, Jonathan, livet
on the northern half Of the farm. and hi:
other son. John lived on the southern half
and they both Of 'em had large famlie.
growing up around 'em before the ole
gentleman died One day. some time be
fore he died. he spoke to his two sons
and said; "Boys. can't be with you
much longer | shall leave the farm and
all the property to you and your children
The farm is under good way now. and
there's plenty Of land for you and YOU
children. and your grandchildren, ano
great grandchildren; and l charge you te
always keep the families together on the
farm, and live in peace, and help each
other along. There's no knowing wha
sort Of neighbors you may get round you
therefore cling together and take care o
each other'' The sons promised tina
they would mind him. and wrote it dowr
in a book. and showed it to the old gentle
man. who said he was satisfied and coul,
die in peace.
Well. after the old gentleman was deae
and gone. the sons continued to thrive
and prosper. and grow rich. Their large
families had enough to eat, drink, ant
wear; and a plenty Of fat turkeys 70
Thanksgivin and Christmas dinners, ano
every thing they wanted. The two bro