The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-02-04
.a6oard the Schooner Tro Peliies.

aboard the Schooner T'pO Pelhes.
At Gnker inside Of Sandy Hook, Jan. 81, 1856.
DEAR UNCLE joshua have jest got back
from Washington, where have been for the
last fortnight watchin the old ship of State
layin tn in a sort Of three cornered gale Of
wind. This gale struck her the Sd of Decem-
ber and threw her all aback, and the gale
holds on yet as tight as ever, and there she has
been layin now seven weeks head to the wind,
rollin and pitchin, and hasn't gained ahead a
rod. Eve seen rough times in the Two Pol
lies, and long gales of wind, and hurry ykanes,
and whirlpools, and all sorts of weather, out
this is the first time I've seen craft layin too
Iagin three-cornered gale for two months up
on stretch, in chopin sea, worse than the
Gulf Stream in thunder Storm. But don't
you be frightened, Uncle Joshua; she won't go
do down, but will live through it, and go on her
voyage by-and-by all right Our old ship of
State is staunch craft; she is built Of the very
best stuff and put together in the strongest
manner, and there isn't a spar nor plank nor
a timber head in her but what is as sound asa
nut She's the best ship in the world, and the
Two Pollies is the next. So you needn't be
ialeered that any sea will ever swamp her; and
Iif ever she should be in danger of runnin
ashore, or on the breakers, by the squabble
and fooling of her officers, she's got crelo that
will take care of her.
You know, Uncle, I've been sailin round
Cuba and up the Gulf good while, trying to
carry out the plans of our Congress at Ostend
and Ax-le-Shappel, to take Cuba because our
country couldn't get along without it; and
lself-preservation, YOU know, is the first law of
mater. We should have got through that Job
long ago if our Cabinet hadn't backed out about
- Al.
Ifculty: but Pm sure there was some hard
shutting somewhere. We was all right aboard;
but the backin and filln in the Home Depart
ment was what bothered u.s. and pretty likely
has upset the business First, the Home De-
partment told Us to go ahead and fix up our
Ostel matter the best way we could. But as
soon as and Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. Sooey,
and the rest of US in the Foreign Government,
had got things well under way, and was about
ready to take Cuba, the Home Department
turned round and fit agin us, tooth and nail
As | said afore, Icould'nt account for this home
difficulty and the sudden turn-aboUt of the
Home Department, unless they was afeared we
should get the most of the credit of. takin Gu
ba; and may be |, or Mr.. Buchanan, or Mr.
Sooley, or Mr.. Mason or Mr.. Sckles, or Mr.
Sand .rs might get to be President by it. But
such thought never entered my head. and
can pledge myself the same for all the rest -
We was to work entirely for the country's
good, and nothin else. And for the Home De-
partment to get jealous of us and turn agin us
in that way, was cruel and onkind. 1t grieves
me every time think of it; for think like
the good DR.. Watts, where he says:
How pleasant Ills to see
Brethren and friends agree.
sent dispatches to Gineral Pierce about it
more than three months ago, but never got
any answer. And finally | got tired holdin
on out there alone and hearin all the time that
the Home Department kept stopping all the
reinforcements from coming out to help me; so
l up helm and headed the Two Pollies for
Downingville. When we got along in the lat
titude of New York that terrible 9Th Of JAN
uary storm overlook US, and we just made out
to weather the gale and get inside of Sandy
Hook and come to anker. The pilots come
aboard and treated US very kind.
Them New York pilots are clever fellows
They brought us lots of newspapers, from
which I learnt what had been goin on for two
months past. When they see the Downing
vile melitia was aboard, and Sargent Joel at
the head of 'em, dressed up in his uniform, one
of the pilots took me one aside and whispered
to me that he would advise me as friend not
to go up to New York, for if we did the Two
POllies was gone goose.
"How sop says /; "what do you mean?''
II mean," says, ''that Mr.. McKeon, the Dis
trict Attorney, will nab her in less than no
time, and condemn her for fllibuster vessel,
and you'll all be put in prison and tried for
violatin the neutrality laws
Let him do it," says |, 'sif he dares. We
are at work for the Government. Our cruise
has all been under the direction and advice of
Congress-"
"If remembered right" says he, Congress
wasn't in session when the Two Pollies sailed
for the West India station. How, then could
you be under the direction of Congress"
II mean the Ostend Congress- says I, 'tand
it makes no difference which, ones as good as
'tother"
"Well,'' says he, you'll find it makes no
difference which when you get up to New
York. The District Attorney is death on
every vessel that has the least smell of gun
powder, or has anything aboard that bears any
likeness to musket He has monstus keen
scent for gunpowder; he often smells it aboard
vessels where there isn't bit nor grain and it
all turns out to be only oilge water"
"If that's the case," says /, "Fll leave the
Two Pollies at anker here, and I'll be off to-
Washington and see how the land lays"
So called up Capt Jumper, the sailing
master, and told him to keep things all snug
and tight while was gone, and | told Sargent
Joel to take good care of the men, and I'd try
if possible to be back in fortnight.
When I got to Washington | thought II
would Jest run in few minutes and see how
Congress was getting along first had let
my beard grow pretty long, and was dressed
so different from what used to that Ididn't
feel afeard of any body's knowing me: So /
went right into the Representatives chamber
and took a seatin the gallery. Business seem
ed to be going on brisk and lively. A man