Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-01-19
Mistellaneous,

Major Jack Downing on Secession.
lie gives his opinion about Notification, and
illustrates ii uith lucid example.
We produce for the benefit Of the present
dny and generation, the following letter on
Modification, from the celebrated pen Of Maj.
Jack Downing
WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. II, 1888.
To the editor of the Portland Courier, 10 the
Marines Church Building, second story,
eastern end, Fore street, away down East
in the State Of Maine.
Nh kind and dear old Friend The Pre-.
sident's message to Congress makes cracking
work here. Dir. Calhoun shows his teeth like
lion. Mr.. McDuffie is cool as cucumber,
though they say he's got terrible tempest
inside Of him, that he'll let out before long.
For my part think the Presidents message
is about right. ! was setting with the Presi-
dent in the east room last night chatting
about one thing and another, and the Presi-
dent says be, Nj or Downing, have you read
my message that sent to Congress to day !?
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 il through.
And when get through, now says Gineral
III tell you Jest what l think of this ere
business. When was youngster some Of
US Downingvlle boys used to 60 down to Sc
bago pond every spring and hire out month
or two rafting logs across the pond. And
one time and cousin Ephram, and Joel and
Bill johnson, and two or three more Of Us
had each Wrapping great.log to carry across
the pond. it was rather windy day and
the waves kept the logs bobbing up and
down pretty considerable bad, so we agreed
to bring em sleng side and side and lash 'em
together and drive thole pins in the outer
most logs and row'em over together. We
went along two or three miles pretty well.-
But by and by Bill johnson began to com.
plain. lie was always an uneasy barumscs.
rum sort of a chap Always thought every
body else had an easier time than he had,
and when he was boy, always used to be
complaining that the other boys had more
butter on their bread than he had. Well,
| Bill was rowing on the leward side, and he
10 fret and ,sad his side went the hardest
and he wouldn't give us any peace till one
of us changed sides with him.
Well Bill hadn't rowed but a little ways
On the windward side before he begun to fret
again, and declared that side went harder
|
on that side any longer. We told him he
had his choice. and he shouldn't keep chang.
! ing so. But he only fretted the more and
begun to get mad. At last he declared if we
didn't change with him in Eve minutes, he d
cut the lashings and take bis aud paddle of
alone. And before we had hardly time to
turn round, he declared the Eve minutes were
out, and up hatchet and cut the lashiDgs, and
away went Bill on his log, bobbing and rolling
about and dancing like q monkey 10 try To
keep on the upper side. The rest Of US scrab
bled to as well as we could, and fastened our
logs together again, though We had tut
match for it, the wind blew so hard. Bill
hadn't gone but little ways before his loe
begun to role more and more, and by and by
he went eplash, head and ears. He came Of
putting and blowing, and got hold Of the lot
aud tried to climb up on to it, but the more
be tried to climb up on to it, but the more h'
tried the more the log rolled and finding i
would be gone goose with him pretty soor
be stayed there, he begun to sing out like {
loon for US to coma and take him. We asked
him which side he would row if we would TAX,
his log into the raft again. y, says Bill, III
row on either side or both sides il you wau
me to, il you'll only come and help me befor
sink.
help the foolish rascal out till be got prett
good soaking. He got soaked enough befor
we go, to bn, says |, for he was just read.
to sink for the last tme and our logs com
pesky near getting scattered, aud if they ha'
we should all gone to the bottom together
And now Giueral, this is jest what think
if you let South Carolina cut the lssbing
you'll see such log rolling in this country a
YOU never see vet The old Gineral starte
up and marched across the floor like boy
Says be, Major Downing, she shan't cut the
lsshings while my name is Andrew jackson
Tell Sargent Joel to have his company sleeI
on their arms every night. l told him the
should be ready at a moments warning.
wish you would jest give cousin Ephrair
up to Augusta a jog to know why he don
write to me and let me know how the Legi;
lator 10 getting along.
remain your loving friend,
| MAJOR LACK DOWNING