The Nevada journal., 1861-03-15
Jack Downing on Secession.

Jack Downing on Secession.
The letters of Major Downing (Seba Smith)
during the notification times. almost thirty
years ago, we're full of pith and hurcor His
illustration of the position and conduct of South
Carolina was full of meaning, apt and cogcnt.
1t possessed much of the Franklin style of ar
gument, by the repeating of an anecdote, or the
connection of story suitable to the occasion,
ridieuling intensely the foolish act he opposed.
Downing's hit at South Carolina then applies
with equal, if not greater force, to her present
rebcllious and disorganizing course. Like "biii
Johnson" in the Majors story, she has cut her
log loose and is now floundering in the turbid
stream. We copy from Major Downing 5
Thirty years out of the Senate" He has read
General Jacksons proclamation at old Ilicko-
rvs request, and thus he tells about it:
was setting with the President in the east
room last night, chatting about ono thing and
another, and the President says he, Major
Downing, have you read my message that l
sent to Congress today told him hadn't.
"Well" says he, Il should like you to read it
and give me your opinion upon it" So he
handed it to me, and l sot down and read it
through.
And when I got through, "Now,' says |,
~'Gneral, I'll tell you jest what | think of this
ere business. When l was a youngster, some
of us Downing'ille boys used to g. down to Sc
bago pond every spring and hire out month
or two rafting logs across the pond. And one
time | and Cousin Ephraim, and JOEL and Bill
johnson. and two or three more of us, had each
a whopping great log to carry across the pond.
1t was rather windy day, and the waves kept
the logs bobbing up and down pretty considera-
bly, bad, so we agreed to bring 'em alongside
and lash 'cm together, and drive some tholC
pins in the outermost logs and row em ovel
together We went along two or three mile,
pretty well. But by and by Bill Johnson be
gun to COMPLAIN. He was always an uneasy
harem scarcm sort of IA chap. Always thought
every one else had an easier time than he had
and when he was boy, always used to be com
planning that the other boys had more butter on
their bread than he had. Well, Bill was rowing
on the lcward side. and he began to fret aud
said his side went the hardest, and he wouldn1
give us any peace till one of US changed side,
Hjth him.
Well, Bill hadn't rowed but little ways on
the windward side before he begun to fret acaI
and declared that that side went harder thar
tothcr and he wouldn't touch to row on thai
side any longer. We told him he had his
choice, and he shouldn't kee? changing So
but he only frctted the more. and began to ge
mad. At last he declared if VIC didn't chang,
with him in five minutes. he'd cut the lashing
and take his aad paddle off alone. And before w
had hardly time to turn round, he declared tn,
i've minutes were out. and up hatchct and Gu
his lsshings. aud away went Bill on his owl
log bobbng and rolling about, and dancing
like Il monkey. to try to keep on TIE upper side
The rest of Us scrabhlcd too as well as VIC could
and fastened our logs together again though VI
had toagh match for it, the wind blew :,
har,l. Bill hadn't gone but little ways before
his log begun to roll more and more, and by ant
by in he went splash. head and cars. lie cam,
up putting and blowing, and got hold of the los
and tried to climb up on it, but the more he
tried the more the log rolled; and finding i
would he gone goose with him pretty soon if he
stad there, he begun to sing out like a loon fol
ns to come and take him. We asked hin
which side he would row if would take hi.
log into the raft again. "0h,' aays Bill, "Tl
row on either side or both sides if you want mt
to. of you'll only come and help me before
sink"
"But." said the President, Il hope you didn'
help the foolish rascal out till he got pretty
good soaking" ale got soaked enough before
we got to him. says |, ''for he was just ready
TO sink for the last time, and our logs come
pesky near getting scattered, and if they had
we should all gone to the bottom together
And now, Gineral, this is jest what l think; il
YOU let South Carolina cut the lashings you'll
see such log rolling in this country as you
never see yet" The old Gineral started up
and marched across the floor like boy. Says
he "Major Downing she shan't cut the lashiugs
while my name is Andrew jackson. Tell Sar-
gent Joel to have his company sleep on Their
arms every night l told him they should be
ready at n moments warning.