The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-01-05
Gurnorons.
Major Jack Downing on Secession.

Major Jack Downing on Secession.
he GIVES HIS OPINION ABOUT QUALIFICATION,
AND ILLUSTRATES IT WITH LUCID EXAMPLE
We produce for the benefitlof the present
day and generation, the following letter on
Nulltica ton. from the celebrated pen of
Major Jack Downing:
WASHINGTON Cry. 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 Name.
My KIND AND DEAR OLD FRIEND The
Presidents message to Congress makes crack
ing work here. Mr.. Calhoun shows his
teeth like lion. Mr. McDufiie is cool as a
cucumber. though they say he's got terri
Bile tempest inside of him, that he let out
before long. For my part think the Pres-
dent $ message is about right. was setting
with the President in the east room last
night, chatting about one thing and another,
aud the President says he, Major Downing,
have you read my message that sent to
Congress o.day! I told him hadn't
Well. says he, | should like to have You
read it and give me your opinion upon it.
SO he handed it to me and | sot down and
read it through.
And when got through. now says Gin.
eral, | II tell yon Jest what think of this ere
business When wasa youngster some of
Downlngville boys used TO 20 down to Scbaro
pond every spring and hire out a month or
two rafting logs across the pond. And one
time aud cousin Ephraim. and Joel, and
Blil johnson, and two or three more of us
had each Wrapping great log to carry
across the pond. 1t was rather windy Iay
and the waves kept the logs bobbing up and
down pretty chr siderable bad so we agreed
to bring EN- along side and side and lash 'em
together and drive Sone thole-pins in the ont
ernost logs and row en- over together. We
went along two or three miles pretty we'll
But by and by Bill johnson begun to com.
plan. He was always an uneasy harnm-
Scarum sort of chap. Always thought
every body else had an easier time than he
had, and when he was a boy, always used
To be complaining that the other boys Ind
more butter ON their bread than he had. -
wei, Bill was rowing on the leward side.
ana nc begun to fret and said his side went
the hardest, and he wouldn't give us any
peace TIL one Of US changed sides with him.
well Bill hadn't rowed but little WAYS on
the ~lndward side before he begun to fret
again and declared that side went hardtr
than tother, and he wouldn't touch
10 row on that side any longer. We told
him he had his choice. and he shouldn't keep
changing so. Bat he only fretted the more
and begun to get mad. AT last he declared
II we didn't change with him in five minutes.
I've d cut the lnShlnss and take his and pad
die of alone. And before we had hardly
time to turn round. he declared the five
minutes were out, and cut the lashingS. and
away went Bill on his log, bobbing and rell.
lHg about. and dancing like monkey to try
and keep on the upper side. The rest of MS
scrabbIed to as well as we could, and fast
cred our legs together again, though we had
TUT match for 1t, the wind blew so hard -
Bill hadn't gone bu: a little ways before his
log begun to role more and more, and bv and
by he went splash, head and ears He came
up putting and blowing, and got hold of the
log and tried to climb up on to it, bat the
more he tried the more the log rolled and
finding it woid he gone goose with him
pretty soon if he stayed there, he begun to
sing out like loon for US to come and
take him. We asked him which side he
would row if we would take his log
into the raf again. o, says Bill, I'll row on
either side or both sides if you want me to,
if you II only come and help HE before l
sink.
But, said the President, I hope you didn't
help the foolish rascal out till he got pretty
good soaking. He got soaked enough before
we got to him, says |, for he was jest ready
to sink for the last time, aud our logs came
pesky near getting scattered, and if 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 lashines
You II see such log-roling In this country
as you never see yet The old Gineral start
ed up and marched across the floor like
boy, Says he, Major Downing, she shan't
cut the lashings while my name is Andrew
jackson. Tell Sargent Joel to have his com.
pany sleep on their arms every night | told
him they should be ready at a moments warn.
ing.
| wish you wonld jest give cousin Epraim
up to Augusta a jog to know why he don't
write to me and let me know how the Lcgis.
ter is getting along.
L remain your loving friend,
MAJOR JACK DOWNING