Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-12-09
Private Letter to GIneral Pierce.
DowN1NGvILLE, state Of Maine,
Nov. IS, ;52.

DEAR GINERAL: I guess you little
thought when we was having that scratch
in Mexico that it was going TO make
President of you. But time and chance
happens to all men, and why shouldn't
luck come to You as well as any body
else7 | didn't expect when lost dear
old Gineral Jackson, that should ever
have a chance 10 write to another Cine
raj in the Presidents chair. President
Polk was only Colonel, and somehow
it didn't seem half so natural for me 10
say "dear Colonel" as it did TO say
"dear Gineral," had been so used to it
in old Hickory's time. And | can't
help thinking that nobody lower than
Gineral ever ought to be President
But that's neither here nor there; you are
President and have got to go ahead and
make the best of it. And as | had a
good deal OF experience in Gineral Jack
sons time, and you are kind of young
in Government matters, | felt it my duty
10 write TO you and try TO encourage you
along, for don't expect you know what
darksome and trying times there is in
going through the Presidency. The
first thing that is necessary is to keep
stiff upper lip. 1t was keeping stiff
upper lip that carried Gineral Jackson
through a greatmany hard trials. There
was so many hands to the bellows that
blowed you into the Presidency that Pm
afraid when they come TO settle up ac-
counts, there'll be squabble that will
make more trouble for You than ever old
Hickory had. When the old line Dino
Gratis, North and South, and the Hunkers
and the Barnburners, and the Freesoil-
ers, and State Rights Dimocrats, and the
Union Wings, and the secessionis:s. and
the Carolina Nulliiiers, and the old Fo-
pies and Young America, all get you by
the throat, and every one crying out
"pay me that thou owest," | almost
tremble to think what will become of
you, unless you have good deal fthe
true old Hickory grit. You must put
on the stifest kind of upper lip and take
the responsibility, or it'll be gone goose
with you, You had better shake them
all of, and advertise that you won't pay
no debts of their contracting.
You must remember that the Wing
party is dead and buried, so you haven't
got to fight agin that no more. And you
must remember, too, that the Wing par
ty has left considerable valuable proper
ty, and that the Dimocratic party is the
natural heir TO it. So you can take up
the Bank, and the Tariff, and Internal
improvements, and such kind ofnotions,
and use 'em quietly for the benefit of the
great Dimocratic party, and say nothing
about it. Only you must take care to
fix 'em over into Dimocratic Bank, DIM
ocratic Tariff, and Dimocratic Internal
improvements, and then nobody won't
say word agin 'em.
Well, now, about the Cabinet. That
is hcklish kind of business, and l feel
uneasy to know how you'll get along
with it. Uncle Joshua thinks you'd bet
fer take one out Of each party that went
for you, and give 'em all fair chance.
But you can't have but seven members
in the Cabinet, unless you conclude to
have Kitchen Cabinet too, and | don't
suppose you'll do that, for they amt
apt to work very we'll. Old Hickory
himself got rather tired of his before
'twas over. So if You haven't but seven
members, there won't be enough to give
one to each party, and them that's left
to suck their fingers will always be BIZ
ting their thumbs at you. And then
you know the rule is, that the Cabinet
should always be a unit. But I'm afraid
If you get one in from each party it will
be very quarrelsome kind of unit, and
YOU will have no comfort of your life.
And then if you was to give the whole
10 one or two parties. you would OF
course have about dozen parties up in
arms agin you. and squalls and harry
canes blowing from all quarters. Just
see how il would work. II You should
nick out a sound, wise Old Fogy to take
hold with you to help cook matters up,
The Dimocratic Review would be down
upon you like thousand Of brick, and
biackeuard you like pickpockst for
irving TO hobble along on the ''mere
beaten horse.'' And then if you was to
look 'tother way and set Young America
TO tie helm, the Old Fogies would be
afraid some of the mad caps would run
81 aR1 eond ne cl sfr,