The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-01-08
MAJOR JACK DOWNING ON SECESSION
He gives his Opinion about Modification, and
illustrates IL with Lucid Example.


illustrates IL with Lucid Example.
We produce fer the benefit Of the present
day and generation, the following letter on
Modification, from the celebrated pen of Major
Jack Downing:
WASHINGTON, Jan. II, 1888.
To the editor OF the Portland Courier in the Mariners
Church Building second story eastern end Fore street
away down East IN the State OF Maine;
Ny KIND AND DEAR OLD FRIEND The
Presidents message to Congress makes crack
ing work here. Mr.. Calhoun shows his toeth
like lion. Mr.. McDuffie is cool as a cucum-
Der, though they say he's got terrible tenn
per inside of him, that he'll let out before
long. For my part l think the Presidents
message is about right. was sitting 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 sent to Congress
to-day? l told him hadn't. Well, says
he, should like TO have yon read it and
give me your opinion upon it. So he hand.
ed it to me and l sot down and | read it
through.
And when got through, now says Gin
eral, I'll tell you jest what think of this
ere business. When L was youngster, somo
of us Downngville boys used to 90 down to
Sobago pond every Spring, and hire out
month or two rafting logs across the pond
And one time l and cousin Ephram, and
Joel, and Bill Johnson, and two or three
more Of us had each whopping great log to
carry across the pond. 1t was rather windy
day and the waves kept the logs bobbing up
and down pretty considerable bad, so we
agreed to bring 'em long side and side and
lash 'em together and drive some thole-pins
in tie ontermost logs and row 'em over to-
gether We went along two or three miles
pretty well. But by and by Bill Johnson be-
gan to complain. lie was always an uneasy
harum-scarum SOFT of fellow. Always tho't
everybody else had an easier time than he
had, and when he was a boy, always used
to be complaining that the other boys had
moro butter on their bread than he had. -
Wei, Bill was rowing on the leward side, and
he begun to fret and said bis was side the hard
est, and he wouldn't give us any peace till
one Of us changed sides with him.
Well, Bill hadn't rowed but little ways
on the windward side before he begun to ret
again, and declared that side went harder
than 'tother, and he wouldn't touch to row
on that side any longer. We told him he
had his choice and he shouldn't keep chang
ing So But he only fretLed the more and
begun to get mad. At last he declared if
we didn't change with him in five minutes,
he'd cut the lashings, and take his log and
paddle off alone. And before we had hard
y time to turn round, he declared the five
minutes were out, ard up Ratchet and cut
the lashings and away went Bill on his own
log, bobbing and rolling about, and dancing
like monkey to try to keep on the upper
side. The rest Of us scrabbled too rs well as
we could, and fastened our logs together
again, though we had a tuf' match for it,
the wind blew so hard. Bill hadn't gone
but little ways before his log begun to role
more and moro, and by and by in ho went
splash, heal and ears. lie came up putting
and blowing and got hold of the log and
tried to climb up on to it, but tho more he
tried the more tho log rolled; and finding it
would be gone goose with him pretty soon if
he stayed there, he begun 10 sing out like a
loon for us TO como and take him. We ask
ed him which side be would row if wo would
take his log into the raft again. o, says
Bill, I'll row on either side or both sides If
you want me to, if you'll only come and hip
me before sink.
But, said the President, l hope you didn't
help the foolish rascal out till he got pretty
good soaking. He got soaked enough before
we got him, says |, for he was jest ready TO
sink for the last time, and our logs came
pcsky near getting scattered, and il they had
we should all gone to the bottom together
And now Gineral, this is jest what think
if you let South Carolina cut the ashings
you'll see such log rolling in this country as
you never see yet. The old Ginera started
up and marched across the floor like boy
Says he Major Downing, she shan't cut the
lashing, while my name is Andrew Jackson.
Tell Sargent Joel to have bis company sleep
on their arms every night. ! told him they
should be ready at a moments warning.
wish you would jest give cousin Ephraim
up to Augusta a jog to know why he don't
write to me and let me know how the Legis.
later is getting along.
i remain your loving friend,