The Nevada journal., 1861-03-15
Jaekpownlng 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 hursor. His
illustration of the position and conduct of South
Carolina was full Of meaning, apt and cogent.
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,
ridiculing 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 "Bill
Johnson in the Majors story, she has cut her
log loose and is now foundering in the turbid
stream. We copy from Major Downing's
Thirty years out of the Senate" He has read
General Jackson's proclamation at old Hicko-
rvs request, and thus he tells about it:
was setting with the President in the east
room last night, chatting about thing and
another, and the President says he, major
Downing, have you read my message that
sent to Congress today" told him hadn't.
"Welr' says he, Il should like you to 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 /.
<'Gincra I'll tell you jest what think of this
ere business. When was younsster, some
of us Downing'ile 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
whoppng 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 th0e
pins in the outermost logs and row EN- over
together We went along two or three miles
pretty well. But by and by Bill johnson be-
gun to COMPLAIN. lie was always an uneasy.
harem scarcm sort of chap. Always thought
every one else had easier time than be had.
and when he a 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 leward side, and he began to fret and
said his side went the hardest, and lie wouldn't
give us any peace till Que of us changed sides
with him.
Well, Bill hadn't rowcd but little ways on
the wiudward side before he begun to fret again
and declared that that side went harder than
t'othcr. and he wouldn't touch to row on that
side any longer. We told him be had his
choice, and he shouldn't keep changing So
buf he only frette1 ha uo ApI To ,,at
mad. At last he declared if We didn't chang,
with him in five minutes, he'd cut the lashings
and take his adpaddle off alone And before we
had hardly time to turn round, he declared the
five minutes were out. and up hatchet and cut
his 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 scrabblcd too as well as VIC could.
and fastened our logs together again though we
had toagh match for it. the wind blew so
hard. Bill hadn't gone but little ways before
his log begun to roll more and more, and by and
by in he went splash, head and ears. He came
up putting and blowing, and got hold of the log
and tried to climb up it, but the more he
tried the more the log rolled; and finding it
would be gone goose with him pretty soon if he
staid there, he begun to sing out like loon for
us to come and take him. We asked him
which side he would row if would take his
log into the raft again. "0h,' aays Bill "Tll
row on either side or both sides if you want me
to, of you'll only come and help me before
sink
"But" said the President, Il hope you didn't
help the foolish rascal out till he got pretty
good soaking" "lIe got soaked enough before
we got to him." says 1, ''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 think; if
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, tMajor Downing, she shan't cut the lashings
while my name is Andrew Jackson. Tell Sar-
gent Joel to have his company sleep on their
arms every night" told him they should be
ready at a moments warning.
Some of the residents of Savannah, Georgia