LETTER XLIX.
In which Capt. Downing receives a Major's commission,
and is appointed to march against the Nullifiers.
Washington City, Dec. 8, 1832.
To the Editor of the Portland Courier, in the Mariners' Church
building, second story, eastern end, Fore Street, Portland, away
down east, in the State of Maine.
My dear old Friend. — I believe the last time I
wrote to you, was when I come back with the express
from Baltimore, and Duff Green chased me so through
the street to find out what I was bringing, and the President
thought he was running to get a lick at me, and
called for his pistols to stand between me and harm, you
know. Well, I intended to turn right about again after
I had made the old gentleman's heart jump up by telling
him that he had got Pennsylvany and would be
elected as sure as eggs was bacon, and make the best of
my way towards Portland. For you cant think how I
long to see you and uncle Joshua and ant Kesiah and
cousin Ephraim and cousin Nabby and all the rest of
the dear souls up in Downingville. It seems as though
it was six years instead of six months since I left that
part of the country, and when I shall be able to get back
again is more than I can tell now; for I find when a
man once gets into public life he never can say his time
is his own; he must always stand ready to go where his
country calls. The long and the short of it is, the President
has got so many other fish for me to fry, it's no use
for me to think of going home yet. That evening after
I got back with the express, the President said we must
honor this victory in Pennsylvany with a glass of wine.
I am sure, said he, Capt. Downing, you will have no objection
to take a glass with me on this joyful occasion.
I told him as for that matter, I supposed I could take a
glass of wine upon a pinch, even if the occasion was not
half so joyful. So he had two or three bottles full brought
in, and filled up the glasses. And now, says the President,
I will give you a toast. The State of Pennsylvania, the
most patriotic State in the Union; for though I go
against all her great public interests, still she votes for
me by an overwhelming majority.
He then called for my toast. And what could I give
but my dear native Downingville; the most genuine unwavering
democratic republican town in New England.
Good, said the President; and that Downingville has
never been rewarded yet. You shall have a Post Office
established there, and name to me which of your
friends you would like should be Post Master, and he
shall be appointed.
The President then gave his second toast; Martin
Van Buren, the next President of the United States,
and the only man in the country that is fit for it. Capt.
Downing, your toast if you please. So I gave Uncle
Joshua Downing, the most thorough going republican in
Downingville.
Good, said the President, I understand you, Captain
Downing; your uncle Joshua shall have the Post Office.
His third toast was the editor of the Washington
Globe; and mine was the editor of the Portland Courier.
But I told him he mustn't ask me for any more
toasts, for that was as fur as I could go.
The President toasted several more of his friends,
sich as Major Eaton, and Mr Kendall, and Mr Lewis,
and the Hon. Isaac Hill, and so on, till it got to be pretty
late in the evening, and I told the President I would
be glad if he would excuse me, for I wanted to start early
in the morning on my way down east, and I thought I
should feel better if I could get a little nap first. And
besides I had got to go and get the old lady that used
to do my washing and mending, to patch up my coat
that got such a terrible shipwreck by being thrown off
the horse with the express.
Start down east to-morrow morning, Capt. Downing,
said he, you must not think of it. I have an important
and delicate job on hand which I cant get along with very
well without your assistance. There's that miserable
ambitious Calhoun has been trying this dozen years to be
President of the United States; but he can't make out,
so now he is determined to lop off a few of the southern
States and make himself President of them. But if he
don't find himself mistaken my name is n't Andrew
Jackson. As he said this he started up on his feet, and
begun to march across the floor with a very soldier-like
step, and his eyes fairly flashed fire. No, said he, Capt.
Downing, he must wait till somebody else is President
besides me before he can do that. Let him move an
inch by force in this business, if he dares. I'll chase
him as far beyond Tennessee as it is from here there,
but what I'll catch him and string him up by the neck
to the first tree I can find.
I must send some troops out there to South Carolina
to reconnoitre and keep matters strait, and your gallant
defence of Madawaska last winter points you out as the
most suitable man to take the command. — I shall give
you a Major's commission to-morrow, and wish you to
enlist two or three companies of brave volunteers and
hold yourself in readiness to obey orders. In case we
should have to come to a real brush, said the President,
I shall take command myself, and make you Lieutenant
General. But I wish you to bear in mind, let what will
come, never to shoot that Calhoun. Shooting is too
good for him. He must dance upon nothing with a rope
round his neck.
As for your coat, Capt. Downing, dont trouble the old
lady with it. It looks as though it had seen service
enough already. I'll give you one of mine to wear till
you have time to get a suit of regimentals made. I told
him I felt a little uneasy about taking the command
among strangers, unless I could have my Downingville
company with me. Send for them, said the President,
by all means, send for them. There are no troops equal
to them except it is some of the boys from Tennessee.
So I shall forthwith send orders to Sargeant Joel to
march 'em on here. As I am to have my commission
to-morrow, I shall venture to subscribe myself your friend,
