Daily American telegraph., 1852-07-23
I mean Mr.. John Van Buren," SAYS /.

right up in Tammany Hall and made n speech
about it; and he said he would go the nomna-
ton and he'd stand the platform at all events
he'd stand the platform for tbs election, any how
You needn't be at all afraid Of the Freesoilers,
Uncle they amt so stiff as you think for, and
they are anxious to get the Offices as anybody,
and will work rs hard for EN-. Now let MS go
to work and get up our ratification, and blow it
out straight. The Democracy Of the country eX-
poets Downingyille TO do its duty"
"Well, Major" says Uncle joshua" you've
made out better case of it than | thought you
could. I'm willing to take hold and see what We
can do. But | declare | emit help laughing
when / think it's Gineral Franklin Pierce, OF
New Hampshire, that we've got to ratify. |
wish we knew something about him something
that we could make u little flusteration about,
and wake up the Democracy"
"Good gracious, Uncle Joshua, says I, have
you been postmaster of Downingville this twenty
years, and always reading the papers, and don't
know that Gineral Pierce was one Of the heroes
of the Mexican war;"
At that Uncle Joshua hoped up out of his
chair like boy, and says he Major, is that
fact?"
"Yes," says |, 'tis fact You know Mr..
Polk sent me out there as n private ambassador
to look after Gineral Scott and Mr.. Trst And
Gineral Pierce ,oas out there; l knew all about
it, and about his getting wounded"
"Good !" says Uncle Joshua, swapping his fin
gers 'that's lucky then we've got something
to go upon ; something that the boys can hurrah
about And if we don't have too strong n team
agin us we may carry the day yet. Who do you
think the 'tother party will put up"
"Well," says |, sits pretty likely to be Mr..
Webster or Mr.. Fillmore, and they can't either
of 'em hold candle to Gineral Pierce.
"Of course not" says Uncle Joshua, +" if he
was the hero of the Mexican war. 'spose it
was General Scott's part of tho war that he was
in, because that's where you was Which of the
battles did he fight the bravest in, and NOW
down most of the Mexicans? Did he help storm
that Gibraltar castle at Vera Cruz"
"No." says |, i" that little matter was all over
before Gneral Pierce got to Mexico"
"Well, the great battle of Cerro Gordo come
next, said Uncle Joshua 81 dare say Gineral
Pierce was foremost in marching up that bloody
Bunker Hill, and driving off Santa Anna and his
fifteen thousand troops"
Pm sure he would been foremost, if he'd
only been there" says |, "but he hadn't got into
the country yet, and Gineral Scott wouldn't wait
for him. 1t seems as if Gineral Scott is always
in a hurry when there is any fghtin' to do, and
won't wait for nobody"
"Well, the next great BATTLE if | remember
the newspapers right, said Uncle Joshua, was
Contreras; and after that came the bloody and
hot times of Churubusco and the Kings Mill
and Chepultepec, and marching into the city of
Mexico These was the battles, spose, where
Gineral Pierce fit like lion, and become the
hero of the Mexican war. But which battle did
he shine the brightest in, and cut down most of
the enemy?"
"The truth is" says |. " he got wounded Mt
Contreras and 80 wasn't able to take part in
them bloody affairs of Churubusco, and the King
Mill, and Chepultepec."
"Then he acas in the battle of Contreras, said
Uncle Joshun, and that can't be disputed?"
so yes," SAYS l. :" he was certainly in the
first part of it, when they was getting the battle
ready, for there's where ne got wounded.
Good said Uncle Joshua: 4" he was in one
battle and got wounded; that's enough to make
a handle of, anyhow. Whereabouts was his
wound p
"Well, he had several hurts, said !. 81 be-
lieve in his foot and ancle and other parts
"Rihe balls ?" said Uncle Joshua, very earnest.
80 no, nothing Of that kind says |.
What then sword cuts? Or did the Mex
leans stick their bayonets into him ?"
"No, no nothin of that kind, nother,' says /.
Then it must be grape or bombshells," said
Uncle Joshua chow was it,
"No no, 'twasn't none of them things, says
/: "the fact was, when they was skirmshing
round and getting ready for the battle, his horse
fell down with him and lamed kim very bad
Uncle Joshua colored II little, and sot and
thought. AT last he put on one Of his knowing
looks, and says he, "Well Major, wound Is y
wound, any how, and we can make handle Of
it without being such fools as to 60 into NIL the
particulars Of how he came by it. | say let's go
ahead and ratify Gincral Pierce, and who knows
but what we can make something out Of this
Mexican business ?"
Well, Mr.. Gales & Seaton, the thing was done.
We ratified on the 2lst of June, in the evening
and it was tall piece OF business. When be-
gun, meant to give you a full account Of 1t,
with some of the speeches and resolutions. But
I've made my preamble 90 long that can do IL
in this letter We had grand torchhght pro-
cession Cousin Ephraim took his cart and oxen,
and went into the woods and got whole load OF
birch bark and pitch.pine knots, and all the boys
in Downingylle turned out and carried torches
The school house was illuminated with fifty can
dies Uncle Joshua presided, as usual banners
was hung round the room, with large letters
giving the names of all the great battles ia Mex
leo; and the enthusiasm was immense. When
we'd got about through, and was just winding
up with three tremendous cheers for the Hero
of Mexico" a message came in to Uncle Joshua
from the post office, stating that the telegraph
had Just brought news that the Wing Convention
at Baltimore had nominated Gineral Scott for
President. 1t gin the whole meeting the cold
shuggers in minute. Uncle Joshua looked very
serious, and, says he "Feller-D Democrats, to pre-
vent any mistakes, / think you better give them
three last cheers over again, and put in the name
of Gineral Pierce" So we did, and gin three
rousin cheers for Gmerol Frdnhlia Pierce, Of New
Hampshire, The Hero Of Metico.
Downingville is wide awake, and will do her
duty in November. So remain your old friend,
MAJOR JACK DOWNING.
A"sign of the Times"
The Union of yesterday, under the head OF
Z" Signs of the Times publishes series OF items
to prove the desperate position OF the wing parry
and the glorious attitude of its own. The fol-
lowing scrap is the first in the list: