The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-01-05
From the National Intefigencer.
A Letter from Major Jack Downing.
Mason AND D1xoN's SIDE OF SALT RIVER. !
October %. 1880

elS uettab VIII W
for some time, thought would send afew lines
by him to let you know how matters are getting
along here, We are talking sharp about forming
a state government, and some are for doing it
right Oft and sending senators and representatives
to this Congress But the majority was in favor
of only sending delegate now, and waiting to see
what Congress win do with the other territories
chat are sprouting up round; for, as things now
look, we couldn't seem totell whether state
Mason and Dixons side of the river would be al
lowed to come in So we called a meeting to
choose delegate, and to fix up the instructions
for him to follow when he gets there.
After the meeting come to order, and Col Jones
was appointed cheerman, Uncle Joshua got up
and said the common practice of choosing a Repre-
sentative delegate first and then tying his hands
afterwards with instructions, he didn't think was
hardly fair shake He thought the Instructions,
ought to be agreed upon first then if the repre-
sentative had mind to tie his own hands he
couldn't blame NOBODY else for it. The meeting
seemed to take the idea at once, and agreed to
go right to work upon the instructions first
The cheerman said, at was evident from the
newspapers, and the way things looked at Was
hington and all over the country, that this was
agoing to be hot Congress. There trouble
a brewin about the Wimot Proviso and about adj
hitting California as a state; and then that mon
ster Modification, that every body thought gener-
al jackson had killed. years and years ago, wasn't
by no means dead yet. He seemed to be more
alive than ever, and showed ten times as many
heads now as he did in Old Hickory's time. He
was hard animalto handle then, as my worthy
friend there on the right can testify for he had a
hand in it. (Here the cheerman pointed to me
and made every body look at me.) I say, says
he, if Old Hickory and Major Downing had their
hands full to master nullifcation when it was on
Ily a young critter and hadn't but one head, the
country may well tremble and ask what is to be
done with him now that he has growed up SO large
and tuf, and shows so many heads
At that Bill johnson jumped up, as quick as a
flash, and says be, "I1l tell You what, Mr. Cheer
man. jest send old Rough and Ready arter him,
and III resk him if he had twenty heads. If he
wouldn't scatter and run as fast as Santa Annadid
at Bona Vista, I'll pay the toddy."
"Well," said the cheerman that amt the ques
ton before the meeting. The question is What
instructions shall we give our delegate about the
Nilnaot ProYiso, and the State of California, and
Notification, and such. troublesome censarns-
Gentlemen will pleas to speak their minds on the
subject
When Col Jones sot down, the whole meeting
turned and looked towards uncle Joshua; for they
think he knows more about these matters than any
body else in the territory; and besides, he's con-
siderable speaker when you once get him started
They kept looking and nodding to him, an at last
uncle Joshua got up.
"Mr. Cheerman,, says uncle Joshua, says, he @if
you know Jest how thingswo In one case, you can
pretty commonly tell pretty near how them same
things will work in another case; for I've always
obsarved in my life time that VIII en- things worked
jest so inone case, them same things would most
always work Jest SO in another case. Now, when
was a boy, l knew a case good deal like this
ERE case you've been speakin about And if /
should tell you and this meeting how things work
ed out in that case may be you could judge better
how things viii work in this here case. and then
you can instruct your delegate accordingly. The
case Mr.. Checrman, was this:
Old Mr. Sam West, very clever respectable
old gentleman-eyery body used to call him uncle
Sam he was very stirin, tarivin man, and a
good farmer-he owned a large farm and picked
up good deal of property.
His oldest son, Jonathan, lived on the northern
half of the farm, and his other son, john lived on
the southern half; and they both of 'em had large
families growing up around 'em before the old
gentleman died. One day, some time before he
died, he spoke to histwo sons, and said:
Boys, cant 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 youand your
children and your grand children, and greatgrand-
children; and l charge you to always keep the
families together on the farm, and live in peace,
and help each other along. There's no knowing
what sort of neighbors you may get around you !:
therefore cling together andtake care each other
The sons promised that they would mind him,
andswrete it down in book, and showed it to the
old gentleman, Hhosad he was satisfied and could
die in peace.
Well, after the old gentleman was dead and
gone, the sons continued to thrive, and prosper
and grow rich Their large families had enough
to eat, drink, and wear and plenty of fat turkeys
for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and every
thing they wanted. The two brothers carried on
the farm, as brothers should do, and peace and
harmony and helped each other along. What
one didn't raise, tother did, and between em they
always had enough of every thing. There was
only one thing that they ever had any jarring a
bout, and that was Haishes. Johns half Of the
farm was covered with thstles. And from some
cause other, John had strange fancy for thist-
les, and would never allow EN- to be dug up or
rooted utof his half of the farm. But Jonathan
hated the idea of thistle he couldn't bear 'em
no how. There used to be some on his part of
the farm when it was new, but he kept moving
of them down. and diggin of'en up. and rootin of
'emout, till there wasn't one left. Jonathan used
to talk to John and try to get him to do the same
He told him it was a disgrace to farm to
to have thistles on it. But John declared they
was the glory of farm, and no farm could
be perfect without thistles Johnathan said
that besides scratching and hurting every body
H. 8. IL = Il a.