University of Virginia Library

LETTER L.
In which uncle Joshua tells what a tussle they had in Downingville
to keep the Federalists from praising the
President's Proclamation against the Nullifiers.

We got your last letter and the President's Proclamation
both together, though I see your letter was written
two days first. That Proclamation is a capital thing.
You know I 've made politics my study for forty years,
and I must say it 's the most ginuine republican thing I
ever come acrost. But what was most provoking about
it, was, all the old federalists in town undertook to praise
it tu. Squire Dudley, you know, was always a federalist,
and an Adams man tu. I met him the next day
after the Proclamation come, and he was chock full of
the matter. Says he, Mr. Downing, that Proclamation
is jest the thing. It 's the true constitutional doctrine.
We all support the President in this business through
thick and thin.

My dander began to rise, and I could not hold in any
longer. Says I, squire Dudley, shut up your clack, or
I 'll knock your clam-shells together pretty quick. It 's
got to be a pretty time of day indeed, if after we 've
worked so hard to get President Jackson in, you Federalists
are going to undertake to praise his proclamation
as much as though he was your own President. You 've
a right to grumble and fine fault with it as much as you
like; but dont let me hear you say another word in favor
of it, if you do I 'll make daylight shine through
you. The old man hauled in his horns and meeched off
looking shamed enough.

The next day we concluded to have a public meeting
to pass resolutions in favor of the Proclamation. I was
appointed chairman. The federal party all come flocking
round and wanted to come in and help praise the

President. We told 'em no; it was our President, and
our Proclamation, and they must keep their distance.
So we shut the doors and went on with our resolutions.
By and by the federal party begun to hurra for Jackson
outside the house. At that I told Sargent Joel and your
cousin Ephraim and two or three more of the young
democrats to go out and clear the coast of them are
fellers. And they went out and Sargent Joel drew his
piece of a scythe and went at 'em and the federalists
run like a flock of sheep with a dog after 'em. So we
finished our resolutions without getting a drop of federalism
mixed with 'em, and sent 'em on to the President
by Sargent Joel. He got his company together last
week and they filled their knapsacks with bread and
sasages and doe-nuts, and started for Washington according
to your orders.

I was glad to see that hint in your letter about a post
office here. We need one very much. And if the
President should think I ought to have it, being I 've
always been such a good friend to him, why you know,
Jack, I 'm always ready to serve my country.