Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-12-06
LETTER FROM MAJOR DOWNING.
Letter of instrretiona to Presid<nt Pierce and

LETTER FROM MAJOR DOWNING.
Later Of ins,ruetioss to President Pierce and
Cabisst.
OAsrrSp OCTOBER 90, 1884.
DEAR GENERAL: We are all prowlin round here, and
DUNG the best though haint made out to fetch
matters to head yeti but guess In pretty fair
way or it. Our teams got grit enough, aud, by jngo.
they haul the load they hitch to, else somethns
got to give way. Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. Macon isn't
quite spry enough; they llo the old fogy FASH
on and not always ready to come to the scrach but
with Mr. Sickles spurrn up sde and Mr. Sanders
spurrn other side and Ar. Souley drvin up behind
make out to get pretty good pull out Of them
times. We've got things so ahead here that Mr.. Sic
kes and Mr. Sanders thinks better write despatch
you aud the Cabinet home and give you some usruc-
tions how to go
III tell you what Ills, Ginera when call you Ginera
sometimes eenamost feel as If written Ginera
jackson agan;) say Gnera Ptell you what it's them
three So (Siekles Sanders and Souey) the three
chaps that growed In North America. They
make Europe stan round, and no mistake. Mr.. Soulsy
holds old Spain between his thumb and fuger and whsk
her about just he's mind Queen and all; Mr. Sanders
lays down tho Democratic law to France and STAINS pref
y fair chance to be chose President Of the French
Bull III be licked II think the crtter dares to stir an
inch while Sickles holds him by the horns.
l suppose you've seen them letters-hew Mr.. Sickles
suubbed Peabody the great merchantbanker about the
18th Of July dinner. Capital wasn't il Ye sce Mr. Pea
body gin 4tn Of July dinner He's always doing SIGH
things giving money away for somethn or other for
|
he invited Mr. Sckcs 10 come aud ue the est and
have good down. But ye see, Mr.. Peabody didut
know how much patriotism aud real Democratic grit there
slowed away in Mr. Sickles breast be had idea
ont aud that the rock he split You'll hardly
believe me- Gncra when say it, but it's fact Mr. Pea.
body had Eughman there to help to eat that dinner
It's melancholy fact, but it's true. II he had had halt
table full OF cauibals could all stood it and fit
through but Mr. Sckles couldn't stand Englishmcn. He
had much Democratic blood in him for that. To mix
up Democrats and Engshmen at the Same table was
full But that wasn't the worst of il. When Nj. Sckls
got there he couldn't hardly believe his for there
portrait ofthc Queen hung right in the
with Gineral Washington Wasn't that a stumper! No
wonder Mr. Sickes's Democratic blood billed all over
But that wasn't the worst of it. When they give
the they toasted the Queen The rest Of the folks
stood up drink the toast but Mr. Sckles grit his teeth
aud sot down hard thousand of brick and he felt
disguised he couldn't another mouthui. Aud when
the music to increase the insult struck up GOD the
Queea Mr. Sickes took his hat and marched out There
| spunk that Young America ought to be proud -
That Mr. Buchanan didn't take his hat and march too
| only shows that he's old fogy
We've held Congress, and got things in mddlng
good train though, ss said before, haint brought
matters quite to head yet. We managed better than
your Congress does. We didn't stop mako many
long winded speeches. but talked right the pint and
got through in few days. The members chose Pre-
sdent Of the Congress the first thing; for they said
akin to Gneral Jackson Of of EN-, aud the
honor belonged to me; had take tho cheer.
turned thanks for the honor of course and then proceed
cd to business. bssiuned by calm for the reports Of
the committees that had the business in hand afore
| met.
called for the report on England FIRST out of respect
to her being venerable old mother Mr. Sickle who
the head of that committee reported that Johu Ball
obstinate old iogy aud he had found very hard
10 make impression upon him. The people all seem
ed be tied the Quceus apron strings and didn't APP
pear more about Democracy than horse does
about his grandfather Still he had faith to believe that
they could be made to take it, and whcn the time comes
he ready oil and roll up his sleeves ard whip
| il into 'em. Cheers
Upon the question Of accepting Mr. Sckes's report Mr.
Buchanan and said he objected TO the term old fosy
he did like the term, aud he thought would do
than good In the report, aud he moved that
il he struck Mr Sanders said that the very
Of the report aud he objected TO its being struck
II then put to vote, aud Mr. Buchanan aud Mr
Mason voted strike out and the voted keep
it in old fogy stands in the report by strong
| jori:y.
| then called for the report on France.
Mr. Sanders made loug report but tho substance
that the Democratic crop France wasn't quite ripe
enough to harvest Napoleon had filled the peoples
heads full of the Eastern aud glory that they could
think Of nohin else But, Said Mr. Sanders "heies
[Cheers.
Nj. sindersr report was unanimously accepted. with
| proyiso that while we had wait little longer
| ing to get up n somehow possible.
then called Tor the report on Spain.
Mr. Soucy rose, with fire in his eye and honey and
thunder his tongue. He reported that il there was
any SIGH thing getting sunbears out OF cowcumbcr
he could do 1t; aud he had pesky kndn the
flame of Democracy from one end oil Spain to other He
uad churneu the NJ cpeoih Churn-
ed it WELL and the butter begun to and swim top
Of the bucrmk and he thought for awhile the bisncss
done but when he looked into the churn again. his
nszement the witchcraft of desposm had got the upper
hand, aud the butter all uen back again into the
butermik But he, as true Jackson logged the
British at New Orleans I'll have a red"hot horseshoe
before long 10 put into that churn, and then butter
come. Cheers
So you see, Ginera, how things is here. We can't
do much Sst yet, but you depend it there great
times ahead You and Mr. Marcy and the must hold
aud try TO keep things snug and tight at home till
get our Government under over here and well cut
work for you do before long, and them matters
and things that don't send particular drec-
tic rs about you and the Cabinet must try to get along
with and manage accordn to your best discretion But
you better be gettin your forces ready fast possible
Tor we may call for elm at any moment. You better
list the old Downingve company and get cousin Sergeant
Joel to take command OF il. Get Mr.. Marcy plan
right 'ort Of uniform and get my friend Gushing to
address 'em and ill em full oil grit and ginger they
cant be held back but will be ready at moments
ne to "march" aud carry Democracy all Eurup aud
Asia, and Araky, and America
Po,t'crpt-l don't know but the muss is begun, aud
VIC may have to send over by the for Sar.
goant Joel aud his company to on. The French
Emperor has got frightened al abolt matters do II
know which, and has snubbed Mr.. Souey aud iorb i hi:
setting foot his land. lie turned him right out
the doors Of France aud told him go about his business
somewhere else. This was when Mr.. Soulsy on his
way home to Spain from Congress which held at
Oastcnd: for very careful to hold in France
Eo7 Spain nor England, not to stir up with
the Governments before it was time. But Napoleon
been foolish enough to put his loot in it, and we've
all agreed that he mas got to knock under and back out
, or smell thunder.
Inhistc aud some agitation, remain your old friend
and MinsIer-Gineral at large,
MAJOR JACK DOWNING.
ATTsMPT At RoDBERY.-A daring attemp. at robbery
made at the widow Kesos house. Capon Bridge
in this county on the night Of the 10th ut. The par
ticulars gather fro a letter addressed young gen
temin Of this place. 1t appears that about o'clock
the night mentioned, two men to the house. and
one OF them entered back through window While
the other kept watch. Afer searching the back