Book _ ...L_X2^ 
 
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O-^' 
 
 
 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S 
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 ANDREW JACKSON 
 
THE 
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 ANDREW JACKSON, 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS CUTS. 
 
 BY 
 
 ]?f AJOR JACK D01VNI]\C^, 
 
 DOWNINGVILLE MILITIA 
 
 Our virtues would be proud, if our vices whipt'em not. 
 
 Old Proverb. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA r-ig^lv/ 
 
 PUBLISHED BY T. K. GREENBANK. 
 1834. 
 
 ^t^ 
 
^ 6 
 
 Entered accoiding to Act of Congress, in the year 1834, 
 
 By John Clarke, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office, of the Disliict Court, of the Eastern District of 
 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 JOHN CLARKE, PRINTER, NO. /, FRANKLIN PLACE. 
 
\Y 
 
 DEDICATION 
 
 To Major Gineral Andrew Jackson, President of the United 
 States of America. 
 
 Grate Sir, 
 
 This work owes so much tu you, that 
 I'd be ungrateful not tu dedicate it tu your 
 Excellency. I don't presint it from any 
 sinister intention. I'm satisfied with the 
 commission you've bin pleas'd tu bestow, 
 tell I earn a higher one in the next war, 
 or tell I beat Martin in the contest for the 
 Presidency, when I can commission my- 
 self. 
 
 The bisness of a Dedication, gineral, is 
 tu flatter. It wou'dn't be a dedication at 
 all if the person tu whom it is ofFer'd 
 warn't well incens'd. The numerous graces 
 
( viii ) 
 
 which are reveal'd in your character are 
 nothiii compar'd with the virtues you don't 
 stand in no need of. An apology may be 
 necessary for not addin still more briteness 
 tu your glory, but I fear'd that, hidden in 
 your own resplendence, you mite become 
 unapproachable, or, what is worse, take jfire 
 and be consumed. 
 
 Were I tu inscribe this work tu any other 
 than yourself it wou'd be manifest ingrati- 
 tude. Tu w^hom can I look wath more awe 
 than tu the gratest of men, or with more 
 confidence than tu him who has honer'd me 
 with his friendship and society. All your 
 designs are majestic; they are grater than 
 the life ; nature has mistaken her match, 
 and given you so much odds that you can 
 easily out-run her. As you have kept a 
 watchful eye tu my interests, I can't do 
 less than rite for your glory ; and as you 
 are a genius in every thing you undertake, 
 so no less eloquence is necessary in describ- 
 in it tho' tu do full justice requires a 
 
(ix) 
 
 seraph's fire, and a pen made of a feather 
 pluck'd from an angel's wing. 
 
 The many qualities of your hed and 
 hart, when I think on 'em, make my very 
 hare stand on eend in fare surprise. A hull 
 book wou'dn't tell 'em all. You are not 
 oney the last of the Romans, but the first 
 of your people, and the greatest and best. 
 Affable, gentle, bland, polite, majestic, you 
 are all that can command the profound ho- 
 mage of my respect; nor is it in my power 
 tu name the many perfections that adorn 
 your character, or the virtues that, seated 
 in your hart, send forth constant emana- 
 nations of beneficence tu your people when 
 they humbly presint 'emselves in your 
 presence. In short. Sir, you are n't jist yet 
 a God, and yet you have recognized the 
 title by justly rewardin the man whose 
 piety made the discovery and announc'd tu 
 the world that you are "The rock of 
 
 AGES !" 
 
 Without consuming more of your pre- 
 
cious time, so wisely exerted for the good 
 of the present, as its precedent will be an 
 illustrious example for the imitation of 
 your successors in all future generations, I 
 conclude with assuring you how much I 
 am, 
 
 Most glorious Sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 tell I'm ded, 
 
 JACK DOWNING, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 There has bin so many attempts made tu rite the life of gU 
 neral Jackson, none of which giv'd his character in the true 
 lite, or made his glory shine with the briteness requir'd by his 
 valour in the field or his wisdom in the counsels of the nation, 
 that artor f.onsultin the gineral and axin his advice and assist- 
 ance, I resolv'd on the work. 1 have now the pleasure of lay- 
 in afore my readers his life, battles, hare-breth 'scapes, and 
 glorious administration. Much pains has bin taken tu have 
 it perfect as possible. Some things have bin omitted for want 
 of room ; and others inserted not noticed by any of the authors 
 who rited afore me. Without the gineral's aid I cou'dn't 
 have made it what it is. 
 
 In ritin this life I was compell'd tu mix the ]anguidge of 
 the south, west, and middle states, with the pecular frasology 
 of Maine, lest the folks in the south wou'd be affronted. The 
 folks who've read my letters mustn't suppose that the gineral's 
 life cou'd be rit in the same space, intirely in my former way, 
 and contain the same variety of incident as the letters. Tu 
 make my book read all over I've us'd the words of the folks all 
 over, so that every one of 'em may have a leetle of his own. 
 
 The facts related in this book are stated pretty much in 
 reg'lar order of time. It wasn't possible tu put in every thing 
 that the gineral said and did, 'cause he lias bin in a blaze of 
 glory eny most evei- since he was born. The gineral has 
 honer'd me with his warm friendship; he has corrected many 
 of my mistakes ; he has furnished me with some of the most 
 
( xii ) 
 
 important facts, and enabled me, without pullin down former 
 lives tu build new ones, tu give the oney true and faithful life 
 of the gineral, and the new Jackson sect that has jist sprung 
 up, that has ever bin rit. Tu him I owe my honers and my 
 fame ; he has bin my patron and protecktor ; he continues tu 
 honer me with his confidence, and lu favor me with his regard; 
 and he says he'll never be offended at my bold, honest plainness 
 intellin him all the folks say about him 'cause he has tri'd me 
 long and caaeafely depind on me. He says, I'm no parasite; I 
 won't never cringe like Martin for his influence tu make me 
 president arter him, and that arter all the submissions of Mar- 
 tin, he's a leetle balanc'd atween me and him, and in a quan- 
 dary which tu support. 
 
 " And now I'n) near an eend, and I guess as how I've done 
 it pretty slick. I raley think this account of the Life, Adven- 
 turs. Battels, Hare-breth 'scapes, and the Glorious Adminis- 
 tration ol the Gineral, is the cutest thing I've ever rote. The 
 Gineral tell'd me plainly it was a master work, and that he 
 wou'd rite tu Dr Quinzy of HavertUnivarsity tu git me made 
 a Master of Arts. I think this beats my letters all holler, and 
 that my reputashion as a riter will be stablish'd by it, and go 
 down tu posterity sempitarnal with the Gineral's. I have rit 
 it all from the Gineral's own mouth, for when I forgot what he 
 tell'd me, 1 went and ax'd him over agin, and if 1 hadn't made 
 it myself, why I swou it wou'd a bin Oto-biografy." 
 
 The Author. 
 
MAJOR 
 
 JACK DOWNING'S 
 
 LIFE OF ANDllEW JACKSON &c, &c, 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 f 
 
 Berth of Andrew Jackson, His Ansestors. Fitin in 
 Irelan. His father a republikan. His mother a 
 heeroine. Cums tu Charleston S. C. Settles at 
 Waxsaw. His mother instruckts him in Irish fitin 
 and cronikles, which lade the foundashion of his 
 gratenes. His sperit shoivin itself in pettikotes. 
 His paradin and shootin niggers with a corn stalk. 
 His mother^ s dreem. She gose tu a Nickrymanser 
 tu learn his fate. The konjurer tells hisforten by the 
 stars. He draws a Horry skope and explanes it. The 
 Revolushion brakes out. Andrew^s mother sends her 
 sons tu fite. Robbert gits kilPd with the heat at the 
 battel of Stono. Hew and Andrew resolve tu revenge 
 his death. Hew and Andrew taken by the Inglish 
 and tories. He refuses tu black an officers boots and 
 gits a cut on his arm. Hew, for refusin tu black 
 them gets a cut on his hed. Dies soon arter. His 
 mother dies. Left alone tu shift thro the world. 
 
 The berth of Andrew Jackson tookplace^on the 15th 
 
 of March 17 QT, presisely ten minits arter 12 o'clock 
 
 in day time. I'm perticklar in the time for reasons tu 
 
 be given bime by. His father cum'd from Irelan, some- 
 
 A 
 
55 MAJOR JACK DOWNING S LIFE 
 
 where near Carrickfargis, a town onct beseedged in 
 the old Wars, where one of his forbears foute bravely. 
 His father was a rale tru blu republikan, and well tride. 
 He woudn't pay nother tjthes, taxes, rent, nor any 
 sich thing, but wud be independent of every body. 
 Becase of his republikanism the government persekut- 
 ed him wickitly, and havin his mind made up, bein a 
 determint carackter, he moov'd from the country rather 
 nor submit, and sailM for Charleston, South Carolina. 
 From there he went to Waxsaw, and boiit a farm, and 
 begun to chop, ho, and plant like a good feller. He 
 brout with him tu chaps of boys, Robbart and Hew, 
 Andrews brothers, but Andrew wasn't born yit, for he 
 was born tu years arter they cum'd tu Waxsaw, and 
 therefore he is an American by berth, in spite of all sade 
 tu make him out Irish. 
 
 His mother was a very good, knowin woman, and 
 well learned in all the cronikles of Irelan. When 
 Andrew begun tu prattle, she tell'd him a nation site of 
 long yarns about the wars and fitin and bloddy mur- 
 ders of her country; so that when he warn't no bigger 
 nor a pitcher, he knew all the stories and adventurs of 
 the Irish rogues,and raj^arees, and the seeges, and bat- 
 tles among the old fitin carackters of that country. This 
 give him a delite in all sich things, and fitin of every 
 kind, and for sertin lade the foundashion of that fame 
 and gratenes which fites and broiles has givin him, 
 and made him love a hickory shelala even tu this day. 
 Young Andrew bein instruckted in the history and 
 art of Irish fitin, begun when a leetle chap tu delite in 
 sogerin and drillin. Before he shed his pettikotes 
 arter his mother had tell'd him about the glory of fitin 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 
 
 in Irelan, and the battels atweea the White boys, 
 harts of Oke, harts of Steel, peep of day boys, and all 
 the skrimmigin atween the faxions in that are country, 
 leetle Andy, as they sometimes call'd him, for among 
 the Irish every man and women has a nickname, begun 
 tu show his sperit. He'd git a corn stalk,^and a nigger 
 with tu stones tu beat time for martchin, by strikin them 
 tugether, and a heeboddys tale stuck in a straw hat for 
 a ginerals fether, and wud parrade and drill amost all 
 the live long day. The leetle niggers us'd tu humor his 
 fancy pritty considerable, by learnin him tu presint his 
 corn stalk gun, and fire! and then they'd fall down as if 
 kill'd. One day his mother, seein him killin the wee 
 niggers by dozens in this way, cotcht him up, and sade 
 he^'was a leetle man arter her own hart, and wud some 
 day be a grate gineral. She then took a notion in her 
 hed that as Andy was born tn be grate, it was her 
 duty tu prepare him for actin it. She sot about it at 
 onct, by tellin him all the adventurs,and fair fites, and 
 robberies, and murders of her country; and he soon 
 lov'd them tailes so well that by axin her tu tell them 
 often he got them all by hart, and tu satisfy and amuse 
 him, made a site of 'em that never took place. 
 
 While preparin her leetle chap for glory she had a 
 dreem one nite. She thout that she saw her Andy 
 standin on the tip top of a high mountin. While won- 
 drin at the site, she saw a prodigous raft of peeple 
 crowdin around its bottom on all sides, while at his 
 motion they'd all up caps and seta hoorain, till the 
 very hevens were rent and the birds and bests were 
 fritened and fell ded. As she stood gazin and wondrin 
 at Andy's gratenes and the strange site, the mountin 
 
4 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 give a fearful shake for all the world like a hoss that 
 wonts tu throw his rider. Then the mountin begun tu 
 sink down, and down, gradallj, till it cum'd tu a level 
 witli the hoorain croud, who now become so terrified 
 as you ever see, tu no what was cornin to pass. Jist 
 then a leetle man in the croud made a bold jump and 
 got astride Andy's sholders. An attempt was made 
 tu raise the hoorain over agin, but it quickly dide, and 
 soon a thick black cloud arose from the place where the 
 mountin was, when she got so peskilly skeered, she 
 w^akM with afrite. 
 
 This dreem work'd at sich a rate upon Andy's moth- 
 er, she cou'dn't shake it out day or nite. She guest 
 there was sum grate meanin in it, and got all the dreem 
 books, and red them thro and thro, but cou'dn't git any 
 thing tu settle her mind. By good luck there cum^l 
 jist then tu Waxsaw an old Nickrymanser, who kon- 
 jur'd tu tell ail the folks their fortens. Every boddy 
 run arter him, and beleev'd him. He skeert all the 
 boys and gals in the neeburhood, for all their secrets 
 cum»d out slick as a whistle. He tell'd Nabby Nixon 
 she \vud be marrid in a week, and sure enuft' so she 
 was, tho then she hadn't no sweethart. He tell'd squire 
 Bobtale that his big hoss Nimrod wud die in tu days, 
 and he dide rite off*. Every thing went like clock work, 
 jist as he said. 
 
 Tu this konjurer Andy's mother went, bringin with 
 her the heero of the corn stalk artillery. She found 
 the konjurer in a small, dark room, lit with oney one 
 lamp, and that burn'd dimly. He was a leetle man, 
 with a long white beerd, drest in a black sirplus and 
 cap with a tossle on top as red as blazes. He had on 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 5 
 
 a table before him, globes, maps, compases, skales, and 
 a nation site of queer things as you ever see. Leetle 
 Andy was brout foward, but on seein the strange figger 
 of a man, he cotcht up a stick, and let fly, makin a 
 lick at the black cap,on the Nickrymanser's hed. The 
 old man, arter sum coaxin, got away the stick, call'd 
 Andy a leetle heero, and promis'd to tell his fortin, 
 which from his reddy use of the stick and his incli- 
 nashion, he mite predickt without a word from the 
 stars. 
 
 Havin know'd what Andy's mother wanted, and in- 
 quired the year, day, hour and minit of his berth, for 
 says he, if it is fifteen minits tu early or tu late the stars 
 wont tell a wordj as they must have truth, he made a 
 few fugle motions and sifered them down in his book. 
 The book he us'd was the queerest thing you ever see. 
 It was kiver'd with hireglifix and pickters like all 
 natur, and was tide with a red ribbin, with a cross on 
 outside. 
 
 The konjurer now drewtu squares one outside tother, 
 atween which he made twelve trangles. These he 
 call'd houses of heven. Intu these houses he put sines, 
 and stars, and plannits, and the sun, and moon. Havin 
 fill'd them he begun to calculate as fast as a boss cud 
 trot. You never see how he wud sifer it, every onct 
 and a while lookin intu his book. He wud atone time 
 put in a star, at another a trine, then a square, and agin 
 a moon or plannit, till they were chuck full, and as 
 trig as a hare. By this time Andy's mother got skeert, 
 thiukin the konjurer wud next pull down the skies. 
 Arter examinin the trangles he wud stroke down his 
 beerd and mumble sum greek or lattin. He look'd for 
 A 2 
 
b MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 
 
 all life at Andy. Havin gottin thro, he tell'd his 
 mother he had grate news from the stars about her son. 
 Here ma'am says he, I have drawn out a horrjskope 
 of his future destenj. It ain't my custom tu explane, 
 but oney tell what jist is tu be. But this lad is born 
 for no common desteny, and I'll tell ye what is tu cum 
 tu him, and this nashion,sc that you may prepare him for 
 the sartin fate awatin him. Here ma'am, is the 
 
 HORRYSKOPE OF ANDREW JACKSON. 
 
 EfSmri 
 
 
 A ANCrdACKSON 
 BORN ■ 
 
 2X. io>™^-p™- -I • 
 
 ^il^ 
 
 mm 
 
 ¥;^A^^^ 
 
 This theme of the hevens is big with wonders. It 
 fartells the fate of a man born to command. Here 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 7 
 
 are mistries, by this wonderful art brout to lite, 
 which will make the astral science the admirashion 
 of the world. Your son, ma'am was born in the tru 
 medium cceli, whose cusp the sun culminates at mid 
 day — videlizet,in the 10th house, which denoats honor, 
 preferment, renown, and authority. But the many 
 fortenate stars, plannits and sines in it at the time of 
 his berth, makes his gratenes a ded sertinty. You see 
 in the cusp here stands sol spreddin glory, his beems 
 reflecked by Jupter, Mars, Merkry and Venis. All 
 these are fortenate when ritely posited, and they are so 
 far so in this, as tu show that he will stand fust among 
 the grate. He was born in the sine Arees, or the ram, 
 which denoats that he will be fearful tu butt down his 
 inemies. But the sine Arees pritty well cumin up tu 
 Taurus, or the bull, shows he will horn as well as butt, 
 and Vvill drive all before him. You see hear, ma'am, 
 next to sol, Jupter and Venis promisin grate imenince. 
 Were these alone, nothin in natur cud stand afore 
 him. There is Merkry promisin wit, wisdom, and 
 honors in learnin ; and Mars send in his red beems 
 like blood and battel, tellin that he will conquer and 
 destroy his inemies. There Venis stands tu, forty-five 
 degrees from Mars, showin that he will be famus for 
 protecktiii the fair sex and will be marrid twice. But 
 ^Merkry in opposishion with the star Kaput Algol Madu- 
 see, strangly tells he will have but one wife. This is 
 singlar. I dont understand it. Venis is in trine with 
 Merkry, showin he will be fond of fitin and will be 
 often in grate peril, and yet always be safe, and as 
 Merkry carries a kaducees twin'd with snakes, so he 
 will be a nation feller with a hickory, and ^ill lay 
 
8 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 about him like hages, when angry. But the hand of 
 Oiphincus in conjunckshion with Mars afflickts the 
 hjleg, and shows that whatever friends may, inemies 
 must not expeckt mercy, for that he Ml never forgive 
 except for his own interest. But there is one plannit 
 in that house that trubbles me. I wish he warnt there. 
 They call him Sattern. He is a wickit feller, £tnd has 
 a bad influence over tother stars and plannits. He be- 
 secges Jupter in Quartale and spiles his influence when 
 h^ was goin tu give him over tu immortality. See how 
 he sinds his leddin lite thro the draggin's tale at Jupter 
 amost tu convert him intu a destroyer. It is fortenate 
 he didn't approach till his glory was at the full. Pity 
 he cum'd even late tu eclipse the splendor of his 
 fame. But you see how it worrys the temper, burns the 
 brane, and corrupts the principals. Oh, that Aldbran 
 had bin near ; but instead there's the Eagle in 
 Capricorn, denoatin he will be beset late in life with 
 intrested inemies but pretendin friends. They will 
 clip off his glory, and pleadees in next house threatens a 
 bad kind of blindnes for cure of which specks may be 
 made, but the Eagle's beak will brake them as fast as 
 us'd. In this time he will need, what he mayn't know 
 lie'll need, tru friends. The nashion will feel it, be 
 uneasy, and mourn. If he be infeckted with the 
 reptiles in the Eagle, in spite of all natur he will jist 
 squinch his glory in a puddle while beleevin it inex- 
 tino-uii?hablc, and the hooras of tiie nashion will be 
 converted intu dismal hissis. He will do what others 
 will try tu imitatp, but cannot, and will leave behind 
 him an example which will eclypse his glory and 
 make his friends dissert him, fiom which heven pro- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. y 
 
 teckt him, Jist as he sade this, he threw the horryskope 
 at the mother and disappear'd in a flash ! The mother 
 of Andy, skeert amost tu deth, streakt it home for her 
 bare life, carrjin Andy with her. The horryskope has 
 been sav'd, and put intu my hands with this account, 
 tu show folks, that if they oney manage well and 
 keep a good luck out till the stars and plannits git jist 
 rite, all their sons may some day be grate men. 
 
 The mother of Andrew Jackson, beleevin all she 
 seed and heerd from the konjurer, set rite at onct to 
 prepare him for the mighty work afore him. She sent 
 him tu skoole tu study all the languidges, livin and 
 ded. Tu the mt)ther the news that her son wud be a 
 grate man was agreeable. No one dislikes a gospel, 
 even from a konjurer, which tells good of him. Andy 
 was tell'd that he was made tu be grate, and all his 
 calculashions follow'd in this track. If he got intu a 
 skrape he new his life was safe: if he got a skratch, 
 he new it wud heal up. A little row was oney britnin 
 up his wits, and a skrimmagc was oney tu show the blood 
 was tru, and that he was worthy of his forbears. In - 
 this way he grew up tell he was fourteen years old, when 
 the revolushion brout them up all standin, and call'd 
 every man and boy who cud sholder a musket tu rally 
 under the colors of his country. His mother, knowin 
 all wud turn tu Andy's account, becom'd zellus for 
 liberty, and sent Hew, Robbert, and Andy tu the field. 
 Hew dide of heat at the battle of Stono, and Robbert 
 and Andy resolved tu revenge his deth, and studdied 
 military tackicks to qualify them for doing it proper- 
 
 Major Coffin's lite dragoons and some infantry havin 
 
10 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 bin guided by the tories to Waxsaw, routed the 
 settlers. They rallied agin in hope of gittin safe tu 
 their homes, and the aid of neeburs tu fite the foe. 
 But the inemy by a roos-day-gur cum'd upon them^ 
 some were taken, others scattered, and the inemy was 
 victorious. Robbert and Andy, fled, but comin from 
 the woods agin, the tories betray 'd theni and they tu 
 were taken. They were placed under gard, but Andy, 
 bein commandid tu black an officers boots, positively 
 refused, and claim'd the rites of a prisoner of war. The 
 officer gittin mad at his sassiness, drew his sword and 
 made a cut at his hed. Andy threw up his left arm 
 and received a woond, which marked him tu this day, 
 and for which he deserves everlastin gratitude and 
 honor. His brother, for a like refusal got a blow on 
 his hed, which cut him deeply, and not bein drest, 
 ended in a flamashion of the brane, of which he dide 
 soon arter. Andy's mother, who had heeroickaly pusht 
 her sons intu the war, findin tu of them gone, and her 
 own mind perplextand herboddy afflickted dide of her 
 trubbles and grief, leavin Andy tu shift alone in the 
 world as best he cud, but lamentin with her latest 
 breth that she warn't spar'd tell she wud see the 
 fulfilment of her dreem and the Nickrymanser's wun- 
 derful predixion. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Andrew Jackson recovers from his woonds, and has the 
 small pocks. Intendid for the pulpit. Prefers the lata. 
 Revises the lattin Settels at NashviL Difficulties, 
 Boards with Captin Robharts, Gits intu a snarl 
 with the Captin. Quarts. Challenges the Captm, 
 Gosc to Snatches to proteckt Mrs. Rohbarts Mar- 
 ries her. Marries her over agin when she was devorct. 
 Made a gineral of Elected tu make a Constitushion 
 for Tenesee. Begins tu be a dimocrat. Gose tu 
 live at the Hermitage. Is famus for his fitin-cox 
 and rase-hosses. His duillni. 
 
 Andrew bein releas'd from prison recover'd of his 
 woond. But havin got his feet wet, and bein left 
 alone in the world, he got a mortal bad spell ot sick- 
 nes, tu help which tho small pocks cum'd on and 
 amost carried him off. 
 
 On gettin well he took possession of his farm, which 
 he sold tu pay his expenses of skoolin. But he wasn't 
 content with a prudent expenditur. He wud frolic, 
 and have a spree, and do a little at cok fitin and boss 
 rasein, and sich like ways of sowen his wild otes, thro 
 which he tell'd me he injured his futur prospects.— 
 Bime by he found his property amost spent, and he 
 thot frolic wud'nt feed him alwase, so he begun tu 
 
12 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 study agin, tu revise and correct the ded languidges, 
 besides readin a leetle law. 
 
 His pius mother seein his serious inclinashion, 
 designed him for the pulpit; but bein ded, he cheated 
 the gospel, and turned to the law, and in a tvvinklin, 
 so grate was his genious, became perfect, and took out 
 a lisense. This was in the year 1786. 
 
 Findin thepeeple so peacable in North Carolina, where 
 he got his law, he determined tu seek his forten in the 
 far west. He sot out for Tenesee by way of the wil- 
 dernes, and arter lookin round a spell, at last squatted 
 down at Nashvil. He was accompanied by Mr. 
 McNairy and others, and jest cum'd in the nick of time 
 tu make his forten. There was but one lawyer in the 
 place, and he cudn't act on both sides, so the next 
 mornin arter he got tu Nashvil he had seventy clyantsl 
 His succes sot his opponent hoppin mad, and he mus- 
 ter'd a party to drive him out of the country. But Mr. 
 Jackson was their man, and equal tu oney on 'em for 
 hard nocks.; so that tu drive him out, where so many 
 were intrested tu keep him in, was no easy job, and he 
 at long and at last got firmly fixed. He was soon ar- 
 ter appinted aturney gineral, and made munny like 
 shell in corn in winter, tho' his ginerous sperit and his 
 frollickin made him spend it like a true gintleman. 
 
 Mr. Jackson was now about twenty tu years old. — 
 He went tu live with a Captin Lewis Robbarts, in com- 
 pany with judge Overton. The captin and his wife 
 kept up a snarlin and squabblin all the time. The 
 wife was a fine, good, clever woman, as cud be, but the 
 husband was for all the world like a wasp. Fretful 
 and full of green ey'd jellusy, he made his kind and af- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 13 
 
 fecshionate wife very unhappy. At last they parted, 
 and she went tu live with a friend. The squabble was 
 then made up, and she tried it agin tu live with him. 
 At furst his jellusy was of another man, but he bein now 
 out of the way, some one else must be accused, and 
 Mr. Jackson^ bein a good harted clever feller, on him 
 fell the lot tu be next suspeckted. Arter tryin tu con- 
 vince him of his innocence, the Captin got terrible 
 wrathy, and abusive: Mr. Jackson tell'd him he was a 
 gentleman and wou'd fite him as one. Robbarts then 
 abused his wife, and Mr. Jackson, left his house. Rob- 
 barts then sued Jackson and bound him tu keep the peace 
 before Squire Wegbly. Soon arter this Mrs. Robbarts 
 parted from her husband, and started for Natches, havin 
 Mr. Jackson, who was ever kind to the ladies, and Kur- 
 nel Stark tu proteckt her from the Ingins. About this 
 time a report was started that Captin Robbarts had ob- 
 tained a divorse. Mr. Jackson return'd from Natches tu 
 [Nashvil and pursu'd hislawin a spell. Hearin that the 
 lady had bin devorst, he went back and marrid her, but 
 in about seven years arter he heard that she had n't 
 bin,adevorse was then obtained, and he was marrid over 
 agin, so that the konjurer's predixshions com'd all tru. 
 
 In the year 1796, Mr. Jackson, now made agineral, 
 becom'd very popular, and was elected a member of the 
 Convenshion for makin a constitushion for the state. — 
 He was a rale dimocrat, and was very expirt at stump 
 orashions. His bein able tu make 'era is the sartin 
 sine of ginewine dimocrasy, and tru patriotism. 
 
 In the convenshion for formin a constitushion for the 
 
 state of Tenesee the debates was plaguy warra^bout the 
 
 question whither all the citizens wouM have the rite tu 
 B 
 
14 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 vote. The gineral was in favour of makin men indus- 
 strous, and striking out of the list of voters all who 
 hatln't property. Nor wou'd he have the i>inneters or 
 asembly elected oney from men who owned from 500 tu 
 250 acres of land. I think as how the gineral was rite 
 there, for folks have no business makin law till they 
 can have big farms and plenty of cash. It don't signify 
 whither the represintative has capacity tu make laws, 
 if he has a plenty of the rino, that's enuff — he shou'd be 
 elected. The talkers shou'd all stay at home. The gin- 
 eral voted a tax upon votin, that no other shou'd have 
 the rite who had'nt property. This was tu keep the 
 rabble from interferin in politix. 
 
 The gineral bein on the Committee from Davison 
 County, reported to theConvenshion, as a clause in the 
 constitushion; that freemen of 21 years of age and 
 upwards, havin a freehold estate in the county where he 
 may ofter tu vote, shall have a rite tu vote at the ejection. 
 
 That no person shall be eligible tu a seat in the 
 Gineral Asembley unless he has liv'd three years in 
 the state, or in the county, and posses in his rite, in the 
 county he represints, not less than 200 acres of land, 
 and be 21 years old. 
 
 The same year he was sent tu Ccngres from his adop- 
 ted state. But towards the eend of Congres three 
 months before it broke up, he axed and got leave tu 
 return home. Before next session he resined his place, 
 modestly pretendin that he was incompetent tu tug 
 with the politishions of congres. This raised his repu- 
 tashion very much, and giv'd proof, if any was wantin, 
 that he had nation good sense, and knew how tu employ 
 it. As a reward for this noble act his friends in 1814, 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 
 
 15 
 
 seventeen year arter, apply 'd and obtained a Commishion 
 for him in the United States Service as amajorGineral. 
 
 It was about this time that the gineral bou't his farm 
 called the Hermitage. Here he becom'd the Farmer 
 of Tenesee; but while he farm'd his ground he wasn't 
 alwase free from trubble, I tell ye. He was in hunt 
 of glory, and glory isn't gotten without hard knocks 
 and bluddy fitin, as in tlie wars of Irelan he was tell'd 
 by his mother. 
 
 The many aftares of honer the gineral getted intu 
 about this time I guess wasn't begun at the plow tale. 
 The gineral havin a large farm, and knowin that he 
 was to be grate, thou't that money was one of the props 
 on't. Tu get money was not tu be negleckted, and he 
 went tu work like a tru farmer, and rased a nation 
 site of game cox for the pitj and hosse? for the run, and 
 niggers for the market. When the gineral tell'd me 
 about this part, he amost past it over; but I axed him 
 so many times, he says, well major, its no use tu hide 
 the truth, speshally as it was the chief cause ot raisin 
 me in the world, besides givin me a grate name. If I 
 wou'd leave this part out my old friend wou'dn't never 
 forgive me. This part of my life will be remimbert with 
 most plessure, becase in every fite, and frackas, and 
 duel, and in cok fitin, I was victorious. Had it been 
 rong I guess they wou'd'nt have stickt tu me thro' thick 
 and thin as they have done. But they have approv'd my 
 hull life, and it is but ritetu do 'em honer. Now, Ma- 
 jor, let 'em have it all, says he,so givin his table a whack 
 with his hickory to stir up his wits, he tell'd me the 
 hull facts, and I'm sartin its all tru as preachin. If 
 any of it is rong printed, I will jist make the gineral 
 correckt it arterwards, 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 The gineral made a judge. Turns sherif and has a 
 row. Gits White tride quick afore a witnes comes 
 and saves his life. His hoss rasen. Duel with 
 Charles Dickinson. Shoots him ded. Gits ackwain- 
 ted with Rurnel Bur. The gineral suspeckted in his 
 plot. Turns informer and is made a patriot. 
 
 The gineral's talents and his gittin forward in life made 
 many jellus and envious of his fame and popularity. 
 No man cou'd keep so good a hoss, or was sich a master 
 hand tu gaff his cox. Every hoss race was supported 
 by him. At a cokfite he was a rale screamer, who cou'd 
 grin the bark oft' a tree. It was here that his inemies 
 liked to show their spite, and it warn't showin teeth 
 when they warn't afeard tu bite I tell ye. In every 
 skrimmage the gineral beat his opposers, and then they 
 wou'd find the biggest and stoutest whalers of fellers in 
 all the settlement and set on him, so that his sides and 
 hed was often batter'd<and breach'd like the walls of a 
 town beseeged. About this time they made the gine- 
 ral a judge; and one day a bench warrint was sent ar- 
 ter a feller who had broken info the peace. The feller 
 bein one of the Kentucky ring-taled rorers, armed 
 himself, and bid the sherif defiance. The sherif, 
 afeard for his life, returned tu coort,and tell'd the judge 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 
 
 17 
 
 that he wou'dn'tbe taken. Wont he, says the gineral, 
 then I'll see if I can't bring him along. With that he 
 jump't rite down from the bench, and taking the 
 sherifs staff' went arter the feller. He found him 
 in his house barackaded and arm'd, threatenin deth and 
 furj on all who ventured near him. The gineral who 
 
 knew he wasn't goin to be kill'd yet, put his sholde^' to 
 the door and burst it in, the man piesenteil his muskit 
 and swore he wou'd shoot,but the gineral nockt the mus- 
 kit out of his hand in a winkj the man jump't in on 
 him and then they at it, ruff and tunable, kick, scratch, 
 gouge, bite and bruse, like a barn full of tio-er cat*.- — 
 
 B 2 
 
18 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LlFIi 
 
 At last the gineral got uppermost; and cotched the fel- 
 ler by the throte dragg'd him out, and madehimatonct 
 surrender. Holdin him still by the Ihrote with one 
 hand and his big staft* with tother he brou't the feller 
 into coort, and deliver'd him to the s erif. When 
 they appeared, the feller and the gineral was all cover'd 
 with mud, and blood, and scratches, but the gineral, 
 did'nt mind it a bit, he mounted the bench, and the 
 trial went on as if nothin had happen'd. 
 
 That the gineral never deserted his friends can't be de- 
 nied. He had thenack of makin friends, norwou'd he 
 miss a chance tu do it. On the trial of Mr. White for 
 murder, he urged on the trial, and had it complete over 
 afore tu important witneses was brou't. This was a con- 
 sarnt good spoke in his wheel; but tho it was tell'd him 
 atfurst that the witneses was comin, he torgot,and so the 
 man's life was sav'd. By this be gained grate praise 
 and many friends. 
 
 The rases often brou't the gineral into a nation site 
 of trubble. In them the boss owners on all sides tried 
 to cheat all they cou'd, and those who cheated most us'd 
 threats and violence on those who'd get worsted, tu 
 keep 'em quiet. Many's the skrimmage took place on 
 the course, but the dispute was mostly settled in agen- 
 tilmanly way, with pistols. On one occashion the gin- 
 eral and Charles Dickenson made a race, as all grate 
 men do, and ran fore mile heats for five thousand dol- 
 lars. Dickenson lost,and his rider complain'd that lie got 
 foul play, and that gineral Jackson's rider had jostled 
 him. The gineral heard this charge, and said he wou'd 
 make any man personally responsible who dare accuse 
 his rider of foul play. Dickenson said he believed his 
 
^^ MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 boy said truth, which he found he always did. They 
 got tu sq^iabblin, and a challinge was giv'd by the gine- 
 ral, and accepted. Mr. Overton was the gineraPs sec- 
 ond, and Dr. Catlett Mr. Dickenson's. The seconds 
 agreed that they shou'd fite ten paces, and that a snap 
 warn't a fire. The seconds tost up for the word, Over- 
 ton won it. When he giv'd the word /re, both pulled 
 trickers at onct. Dickenson's ball grased the brest of 
 of the gineral, slitely touchin.the hide. The gineral's 
 stopt at half cok. He noddid to the seconds, then re- 
 cokt and took slow and deliberate aim, and shot 
 Mr. Dickinson thro the hard Mr. Dickenson stood 
 stock still till shot. The gineral thou't it rite by the 
 laws of dueilin, and of self preservashion, to kill the 
 man when he cou'd who had his chance at him, and pre- 
 vent him havin another. When I com'd this far th'^ gin- 
 eral tell'd me to put in it, that the story about his makin 
 Dickinson kneel down and say his prayers, for he wou'd 
 be in hell in a few minits, still holdin his pistol cokt til 
 he axt pardon of lieven and of man, warnt a w^ord of it 
 tru. He said when I'd go rong he'd tel me. — The feel- 
 ins of the public was consarutly excited at this, but the 
 good genus of thehero triumph'd, for he threaten'd any 
 who wou'd publish it, so that no one durst speak of 
 nor lite about it till the people foi-got it. 
 
 The gineral well knew that he was predesfin'd tube a 
 grate man, but as the fates had withheld from him how he 
 was tu be made, he thou't it rite tu try every chance, 
 and the rite one wou'd be hit on some time or othei-. 
 This made his ears cokt to heai-, and his eyes open tu 
 see when any thing ofter'd, that wou\l open his way. 
 While on the lookout, Kurnel Aaron Bur, com'd down 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. ' ^^ 
 
 the Ohio on a tower of observashion. This cunnin 
 politishion and grate statesman conseiv'd some projeckt 
 which he only let out tu his tryM friends. These were 
 sich as were bound not tu tel it. On his way down Ohio 
 Bur stopped at Blennerhassit's to pay a visit. Mr.Blen- 
 nerhassit was an Inglishman, who owned the Hand, and 
 had improv'd it so much as tu be a gem in the Ohio. He 
 axt leave tu see the place, and sent in his card as ^'Kul. 
 Bur." Mr. Blennerhassit was very rich, and invited 
 the Kurnel tu spend some time with him. He did so, 
 and while with him let him by degrees into his grate 
 secrit. He then went to Nashvil and arrived at "gineral 
 Jackson's house at the Hermitage, on Sundy the 14th 
 of December. 1806. The Kur!iel had travePd over the 
 west states the year afore, and had formed a party and 
 laid plans as was suppos'd to divide the states. This 
 time he went out to put his plans in moshion. — 
 When he com'd toLexinton, Kentuck, he was proseku- 
 ted, but the grand jurey found no bill, and he was dis- 
 charg'd. Kurnel Bur was expeckted at the gineral's in 
 December, but in November, in expectashion of this, 
 the gineral rote to Gov. Clairborne of Louisiana, tellin 
 him that he was in danger; that plans were on foot 
 dangerous tu the union,and that he mite expect inemies 
 from a quarter not suspeckted. This, says the gineral, 
 when he tell'd me, shews that I was soundin the alarm. 
 But, says I, gineral,what kind of alarm? Did you know 
 what was goin to happin before Kurnel Bur com'd? And 
 if you new the Kurnel's schemes, a month and tu days 
 atore, why did you receive and entertain him as a friend? 
 The gineral said nothin. Gineral says I, the people 
 suspeckted that you entered the temple of Conspirasy, 
 
^^ MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 but was makin a privet door to creep safely out, if it 
 shou'dfall. Thegineral give his face a twist, and 
 the table a whack with his hickory. His dander was 
 up in a minit, and he said, now says he, major, no bo- 
 dy durst n't tell me so but yourself. Well, well, gin- 
 eral, says I, all I want is a tru imparshal account. I 
 don't care about my fitin, and sprees, and all that, says 
 he, but stick tu the mark as 1 tell'd it to you. I will 
 that, gineral,says I, and if I don't make your glory shine 
 , with bigger lite,there is no rocks on the stoney mountins. 
 \\ ell then, tu go ahed, the Nashvil papers of the 20th, 
 same month, tell',! the publick that - Kurnel Bur ar- 
 ny'd on Sunday evenin last at Gineral Jackson's, nine 
 miles from this town, and has been in this place several 
 times this week. He appears to be preparin for some 
 movements, we know not where." Grate men like tu 
 be in company with grate men, and who, if not with 
 the gineral, wou'd Kurnel Bur stop. Bur remain'd 
 with the gineral fixin his;plans,knowin thegineral had a 
 gen-ous for all grate p.ffares of this natur, until the 22nd. 
 when he departed in the boats down the Cumberland 
 river. 
 
 Not long arter this the gineral had a quarrel with 
 gineral Adare. This gentilman, in his spite, charged 
 the gineral with raisin himself by turnin states evi- 
 dense aginst Bur. But I'll jist tell how 'twas. The 
 gineral acted the patriot, and sav'd his country/ by turn- 
 in states evidence in the nick of time. The Nashion 
 was sav'd and Bur was takin, becase, as parson 
 Habakuk Downing onct tell'd me, "the iniquity of 
 the Amelekites warn't yet full. " At this time a gen- 
 erel suspishion begin'd to spred that Kurnel Bur was 
 
OF GENERAL jACKSONi 
 
 2S 
 
 hatchin up a conspirasy? and his makin the glneral's 
 house his home put hiin, d'ye see, in a ticklish site- 
 uashion. If proofs com'd aginst the kurnel, suspishi- 
 ons must fall upon the gincral; and the fact that the 
 kurnel got the gineral tu bild boats for liim and draw 
 upon Blennerhassit, besides his stayin at his housej 
 and the letter of the gineral's tu Clairborne before Bur 
 com'd to his house, sayin that conspirasies were in mo- 
 tion, all show that the gineral had reason tu fear, 
 when the plot was discovered, that he must fall in for 
 his share of the danger. 
 
 The part took by the gineral to git out of the skrape 
 showed, plain as a pikestaf, that he had no love for the 
 kurnel, and wasn't consernM with him. But the letter 
 of Captin Read, from Pittsburg to the Secretary of 
 war was enuff to give him alarm. Capt. Read says, 
 "The asociates of Bur are from different parts of the 
 Union, many of them wealthy and interprisin men.— 
 Ginerals^ayton and Jackson of Tenesee, are sade tu 
 be chief officers; and Daniel Clark of New Orleans, 
 a Mr. Blennerhassit of Ohio, and a Mr. Alston his 
 son in law, all men of wealth are his bankers. Ken- 
 tuck and Tenesee are intirely devoted tu Kurnul Bur, 
 and from these states he will acquirej considerable bo- 
 dies of troops, to be heded by Gineral Jackson, of the 
 latter state, who no doubt has martched with a body of 
 militia under the pretense of joinin gineral Wilkinson 
 on the Sabine aginst the Spanyards. At Natches they 
 were tu join Kurnel Bur, and at New Orleans Kurnel 
 Swartwout. 
 
 It was a shame and sin to implecate the 'gineral in 
 that wicked bisnes. Becase he bilt boats and did bisnes 
 
24 MAJOR JACK DOWNIXG's LIFE 
 
 for Bur, and entertain'd him at his house, and was 
 friendly, a month or tu arter he knew he warn't right and 
 tru tu his country, yet the gineral oney wanted tu bring 
 him on tell he wou'd find out what he was arter, and 
 then jist blow him ski high. That Swartwout was in 
 the secrit, and engaged with Bur, there is leetle doubt. 
 It's a pitty the gineral has bin so friendly and giv'd so 
 many offices to all Bur's friends, becase it makes 
 folks suspeckt all warnt rite, — that they understood 
 one another, and were always friendly. But the gin- 
 eral, as soon as he learnt that the government knew all 
 about it, rote a consarnt cute letter to Jefferson, lettin 
 the cat out of the bag. 
 
 How far the gineral was consarnt in this conspirasy 
 he refus'd tu tell me. But puttin all things together, 
 readin all the evidence — that he[engaged several of his 
 vvdfe's relations and some of his friends tu accompany 
 Bur tu New Orleans, and seein that he had boats bilt, 
 some accounts say 40 or 50 in number, in which Bur 
 floated down tu New Orleans, made under his inspec- 
 shion and[finish'd arter he had ritten tu governor Clair- 
 borne — there is something in it that farely startles me; I 
 can't git it out of my hed; yet when I think of the blaze 
 of glory around him, I say hush. Jack Downing — no 
 treason aginstthe gratest and best in the nashion; the 
 gineral oney intended tu see what he wou'd do, and then 
 by a leetle contrapshion, have him secur'd by informin 
 on him like a tru patriot. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The gineraPs liberality. Cok Jitin. Hoss rasen. Fidn 
 and duillin. Qiiarls. Quarls. File with Swan 
 and others. ^ string of duels and qicarls. Origin 
 of the Benton quart. 
 
 The gineral bein very liberal and ginerous in spcn- 
 din his money, found that if he cou'dn't find means tu 
 replenish his pus, he wou'd soon have tu manceuver the 
 apostles, or rob Peter tu pay Paul. His stirrin habits 
 vi^oud'n't let him be quiet, and his choice breed of chic- 
 kens never failed tu draw him stores from the cock pit. 
 If you wou'd see the gineral in a ring it wou'd do your 
 hart good. He wasn't never as much himself at the 
 hangin of Ambrister, or the Battle of New Orleans as 
 when he won a fite at the pit. His chickens never 
 failed him. But sometimes when cheatin w&s rife, and 
 he'd try tu lay Cane upon Abel, some of his cater-cou- 
 sins of the ring wou'd lay his blood under contribushion 
 and tapt him a leetle to cool his fever. He didn't 
 alwase git off' with hull bones, as Captin Sharp, in 
 attemptin to bully the pigeon, often at the expense of 
 his hide, made him tug for the winnins. About this 
 time one Swan challing'd him. They quarl'd on a rase 
 course. The gineral had a consarn'd sniartic of a 
 jockey. Tu look at him you'd think he was a mere 
 
£6 MAJOR JACK DO-WNINg's LIFE 
 
 twiddlepoop, but arter all, tho' he look'd like ileth's hed 
 on a mopstick and walked on trapsticks, he had the 
 nack of conlrapshion tu a miracle. Let him mount 
 what boss he wou'd, he was sure tu win, and the 
 gineral thou't him sich a clever feller that whatever he 
 said, the gineral stuck by. This bro't the gineral intu 
 a plaguy site of squabbles, but his fearless, and darein 
 port made amost evety one afear'd of him. In this in- 
 stance the gineral refus'd tu fite; he wasn't afear'd of man 
 nor mortal, but somehow he didn't like tu fite, thinkin 
 his jockey might have bin rong this time. This show'd 
 the gineral was good at hart, and wou'dn't fite unless 
 when he was in the rite cause. Swan and he met soon 
 arter; they quarl'd over agin, when Swan threw him in- 
 tu the fire. He got out agin pritty quick I tell ye, and 
 soon show'd Swan he cou'dn't catch the moon in his 
 teeth. Swan attempted tu make a back log of him the 
 second time, but the gineral give him a kick in the 
 bred basket that sent him out of the window. The tu 
 then got agin on their stilts, and at it they went. 
 Their blows warn't no abel-wackits 1 can tell ye. 
 Every click tell'd; the gineral giv'd Swan sich a stoter 
 on the nob that he reel'd back, while his knees rubb'd as 
 if they were converted into a snuff mill. Swan re- 
 cover'd, upset the gineral and he wou'd a bin made intu 
 a back log in tu minits had not some of his friends 
 come timeously tu his relief. 
 
 • One fite alwase brings on a string on 'em. Thomas 
 Dickinson, whose brother the gineral kill'd in a duel, 
 challing'd and fou't Thomas Overton, v/ho was woon- 
 ded. The gineral was second; and about the same 
 tjme, jist tu keep his hand in trainin, he seconded his 
 
OF GENEUAL JACKSON. 27 
 
 wifes neffu, A. Donaldson, who fou't J. Winston, tu boy's 
 about 18 years old. They bravely pop'd their blue pills 
 at one another at six feet distance. A duel fou't 
 atween Mr. McNairy and gineral Cotty, in which 
 CoiFy was woonded, was follow'd up with a war of ink 
 and type atween McNairy and the gineral. This they 
 finish'd with a challindge, but the quarl was hush'd, and 
 the parties made friends. The gineral now became 
 noted for bein able 
 
 " To put a duel nately off his hand," 
 
 and was first or second in all the fites that took place 
 in the country- He was Gineral Caroll's second in his 
 duel with Jess Bentin,* but Bentin charged him with 
 foul play, and from this grew the fam'd spree at Nash- 
 vil atween the gineral, Coffy, and the tu Bentins, some 
 account of which will be givin in another place. 
 
 The numerous scrapes and rackets it was his honer 
 now tu take a «share in got him intu a grate practice, 
 and qualifi'd him for the dangers which was comin 
 and not far ahed. As soon's he had done with McNairy, 
 a long string on 'em took his place tu try their luck. 
 David McGavick, William Polk, Robbert Weakly, 
 John Strothers and Robbert Hays all tri'd their haftd 
 and com'd off with dift'erent kinds of luck, as their 
 eyes, noses, ears and other scarificashions will show\ 
 Hew Mongomery, a whaller of a feller follow'd the 
 batch of cornubblers. The gineral at first thou't him a 
 mere bell-swagger, and manfully closed in on 'em; but 
 afore long he found he cotch'd a tartar who wou'dn't 
 nother come along nor let him go, for hadn't some friend 
 com'd tu his relief the konjurers Horreskope wou'd 've 
 all gone for notliin. 
 
28 
 
 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 
 
 Passin over his challengin Kurnel Every, governor 
 Sevier, and a dozen or tu more of the high folks, it is 
 time jist to touch a leetle on some of his land speckula- 
 shions. His inemies ?ay he hasn't much wit. I'm 
 goin tu prove he has more than any on 'em, and more 
 honesty tu; and that he's as cute in dealin as in fitin, 
 and able tu beat them all holler in managin as well as 
 in club law. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 The ginerat spends tufast and tries to replenish his 
 pus. He begins land speckulatin, in which he shows 
 grate skill, foresite and wisdom. 
 
 The gineral was alwase consarnt liberal with his 
 money. He frolickt rother wildly, and his cash 
 went like a whistle. The rases, cok-pit, lawin, and 
 all his ways to make money wou'dn't do. In spite of 
 his teeth his affairs got so flabagasted that the Daffy 
 Club cou'dn't save it. He was amost us'd up in fitin at 
 the cok-pit, in bar rooms, and other gatherins, where 
 he alwase undertook to chastise his inemies, and have 
 their ears bort. Buthe saw as cleer as preacliin, that 
 if some means warnthit upon tu keepliim up, his coks, 
 bosses, niggurs and all, must go slick tu the Pontius 
 Pilates who shave notes and receive niggurs in pawn. 
 Tu keep his farm and stock, some plan, it was plane as a 
 pikestaf, must be adopted. While he was meditatin 
 some course, he struck upon one by a lucky thou't that 
 mended his fortune, and farely set him afloat. 
 
 The gineral bein a lawyer, was employed to collect 
 
 and settle an estate as aturney, on morgides upon lands. 
 
 The tracks contain'd 85,000 acres, and had several 
 
 owners. The speckulators imployin him ax'd his 
 
 C 2 
 
30 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 opinion as tu the title. He give his opinion that the 
 titles was good, and that they mite proceed, and he 
 took an interest in the speckulashion himself. This in- 
 courag'd the purchasers, and thej laid out considera- 
 ble of money in the purchase. The gineral, havin re- 
 celv'd a large fee counseled and tell'd the owner the 
 title was good, but seein a main good chance for a spec, 
 he arter a while telPd them the title wasn't good for 
 iiothin, and that the coort had no legal power to decide 
 in the case. He ther, bein interested, took a fee from 
 himself, and give law aginst his own opinion afore 
 given _; thus by hocus pocus shufflin the property intu 
 his own hands. It was now necessary that a legal 
 claimant shou'd put in for the land. 
 
 Tiiese lands first was own'd by David Allison. 
 But wantin money, he got Norton Pryor to lend him 
 21,800, giving his note and morgidge on the lands as 
 security for its payment. Norton Pryor, when he 
 wanted the money agin, giv'u a power of aturney tu 
 Joseph Anderson, tu file a bill in chancery tu forclose 
 and sell tu recover his money. Anderson in this 
 bisnes became Pryor's partner, and the lands were 
 advertis'd for sale. Anderson then took the gineral in- 
 tu partnership, givin him part, as a fee for closin the 
 morgulge and sellin the lands. The lands were par- 
 sell'd o'Jit and sold. Part was sold tu Pryor, part tu 
 himselfj (the gineral,) and part tu Anderson, as was 
 a-reed in writin atwecn the parties. The deeds was 
 made out, the gineral tell'd me, in a rite proper legal 
 way, and all was fix'd. In all this the gineral acted as 
 alurmy for Pryor and Anderson. The lands deeded 
 tu him was as his fee. 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. SI 
 
 About the year 1806, Mr. Outlaw, Anderson's father- 
 in-law, James Pattin and Andy Erwin became part 
 proprietors in these lands, the one by purchase irom 
 Anderson, the others by purchase from Prior. Kurnel 
 Erwin before purchasin consulted the gineral as aturney 
 about the title, and was told it was good. 
 
 These purchasers remain'd on the lands five or six 
 years. The lands bein clear'd and improv'd and fore 
 times as much in worth, the gineral who had a hawk's 
 eye, mind I tell ye, tu these lands, all at onct found 
 out that the title wasn't worth a straw, and that they 
 must have a better title. The gineral now, by a mas- 
 ter stroke of policy, which no one who isn't qualified 
 tu be president cou'd do, found out that Mr. Allison, the 
 orignal proprietor, ow'd him $500^ but becase said 
 Allison was ded and warn't able tu pay it, his heirs 
 had <'bargin'd, sell'd,asign'd, and made over tu Andrew 
 Jackson all his rite, title, interest and claim in law 
 and equity," in the aforesaid tracks of lands. This 
 conveyance was made by the heirs of D. Allison; but 
 in this conveyance, care was taken that no menshion 
 shou'd be made of the particklar lots, their boundaries 
 and quantity. Now for the trick that jockied the 
 knowin ones, the forlorn hope that upset, by the aid of 
 Merkry, all their apple carts, and made the hull pop 
 intu his own pockit slick as a whistle. 
 
 The gineral was soon arter this call'd tu command 
 a detachment of the Tenesee militia. Goinfrom home 
 tu the wars, he cou'dn't attend tu the bisnes himself, 
 but jist afore he started tu seek the inemy, he form'd 
 a partnership with a James Jackson, a wealthy mer- 
 chant of Nashvill and a Jenkin Whitesides, a grate 
 
32 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 land lawyer, givin each, by agreement an equal share — 
 the share of Whitesides tu be as a fee for breakin the 
 title the gineral Imd said was good, when he incourag'd 
 many families tu buy and settle it. At this time more 
 than one hundred purchasers, on the assurance of the 
 gineral that the title was good, had bou't and settled 
 on them. But they didn't understand law, and were 
 poor. The gineral, on martchin off, had nothin at all 
 tu do in the breakin of the title. He had bin council 
 on tother side and had recciv'd large fees in lands for 
 it. But arter he went off tu defend the country, the 
 new land firm commenc'd suit. But findin they 
 begun rong, they giv'd it up, and went back and made a 
 fresh start. Bills of equity in the name ol A. Jackson 
 was filled aginst every known settler on the land, but 
 one. In one of these bills, A. Jackson is represented 
 as settin forth a pretended clame tu certin tracks makin 
 85,000 acres; but Andy Erwin answers in defence, 
 that the said A. Jackson had encourag'd him tu buy 
 the lands, as aturney for the owner, that he represent- 
 ed the titles tu be as good as oney in the State, and 
 that he had, in consequence, bou't the lands, relyin 
 upon the judgment of A. Jackson. One of the pur- 
 chasers, said that A. Jackson, as aturney sellin these 
 lands had sworn that the titles was good. A number 
 of affadivits made to show that the gineral had sold the 
 lands on the confident assurance that the titles was 
 good, now brou't the firm into difficulties, and to help 
 them out, Whitesides the grate lawyer had tu withdraw 
 from the firm, tu enable him tu be a witness in their 
 favour. He sold out for SI, 000. At this time P. H. 
 Darby, was taken by tiic gineral intu partnership. The 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 33 
 
 gineral impower'd him tu act, and went oft' for Florida. 
 Darby, a lawyer, soon became Editor of the Constitu- 
 shional Advocate. He imploy'd the press tu discuss 
 these land speckulashions, but alwase on one side, so 
 as tu prepare the publick mind tu give a jury decishion 
 when the case was tried. Soon arter this a compro- 
 mise was accepted by the gineral, in which the purchas- 
 ers who bou't from him agreed tu give liim 10,000 
 dollars and pay costs, in case A.Jackson and J.Jackson 
 agree tu enter a decree in their favour at the next 
 coort and give a quit deed. Mr. Darby, as a part 
 claimant objected till he received 5,000 dollars, tu 
 join in the quit deed, and the contest ended. 
 
 The inemies of the gineral denied that D. Allison 
 ever ow'd him any money, before his deth. I was 
 puzzled tu know which side was truest in their stories, 
 so I ax'd the gineral, but he shrugged up his sholders, 
 give his face a riggle, and said he had let the people 
 have it their own way — he was for the people — and then 
 it'd be jist rite. The gineral got $10,000, for lands 
 claimed by him which was worth half a million, and 
 if this wasn't makin a sacrifice for the good of the 
 people, I swou I don't know what is. In all this 
 bisnes the gineral was cute as a rasor. It needed 
 somethin more than a cods-hed tu manage, with sich 
 leger-de-main and hocus pocus, an affair requirin so 
 much dexterity, every scrimptius bit on't havin tu be 
 worked with master skill, with a set of rambunctious 
 fellers who, findin themselves comin out second best 
 warn't never out of the tantrums tu the eend on't. 
 This was true patriotism and benevolence. It show'd 
 his genus in law, his honesty as a trusty counsellor, 
 
34 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 and his disinterested good feelin in lettin folks live on 
 the lands he had sold them, arter he had found out 
 that their title vvarn't good. I gues he warn't asham'd 
 nother, tu let be seen that when he found out he was 
 rong, he chang'd. Other lawyers wou'd have conceal'd 
 their blunders. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The gineral rises in wealth. Become a speckulator in 
 niggurs. His heroic defiance of the laws, and his 
 travellin arm^d tu resist any demand for his pass. 
 
 Tu a man predestin'd to be grate in the world, wealth 
 was as necessary as nails tu shoe ahoss. Tu help out 
 his land specks, he embrac'dafineopeninin the trade of 
 niggurs. The gineral hated the Ingins, becase they wou'd 
 n't jist obey, and when he had a chance he never fail'd tu 
 shoot 'em down. He couldn't see the use of an Ingin; 
 they was good for nothin except to kick up a row and 
 give work in fitiii. But the niggurs was very useful. 
 They'd work, and when they'd breed over much he 
 feund a good market for 'em. 
 
 In the year 1810, H, Green, and Captin Coleman 
 bou't of Mr. Smith a lot of cottin. Mr. Smith givin 
 credit wcu'd take no security but the gineral. He 
 wou'dn't give security without bein a partner, and he 
 was taken in. The cottin was carried to New Or- 
 leans, and sent tu Philadelphia by sea, and Green re- 
 turn'd toNashvil. The company then commenc'd the 
 purchase of niggurs. Bwt H. Green, on sellin part of 
 the lot at Natches, was made tu give up the bargain tu 
 the gineral who had found they'd be a profitable spec, and 
 who had some notion of goiii intu the trade. Green, 
 therefore, give up, and the lot was taken by the gineraU 
 On this the gineral made a considerable profit. Soonar* 
 
S6 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 ter this he bou't another lot. In drivin 'em through the 
 Choctaw nation, from Missippi tu Tenesee, it was neces- 
 sary he shou'd have a pasport. The gineral had one rule 
 for all measures, which was considerable of a savin tu 
 him, and this was, to fojler his own bent, and lite his way, 
 when his'n and other's ways coud'nt notch. Hearin that 
 Dinsmore the Choctaw agent wou'dn t let him pass, 
 he muster'd his niggurs and prepar'd lor battle He 
 arm'd tu niggurs, rale rap roarious ring-tale scrougers of 
 fellers who fear'd neither man nor divil,and put them in 
 the front, one on 'em havin a good rifle. Now my 
 lads, said the gineral, if they give you any jimber jaw 
 be at 'em flugens, and make them scamper like mon- 
 kees before a fire in the woods of Campeachy. By gol- 
 ly, if you obsquotulate, you are ded before you can say 
 Jack Robinson— so look sharp. Hearin when he com'd 
 tu the agency, that Dinsmore was absent, he tell'd his 
 man he'd be glad tu've seen him, but cou'dn't wait, 
 meanin that if he had bin there he'd 've shown him what 
 it was tu interfere with his trade by askin a pasport, as 
 he cared for neither law nor any thing when his interest 
 was tu be look'd arter. ' f 
 
 When the gineral tell'd me this, I look'd hard at him, 
 and ax'd whether he knew it was necessary tu have a 
 pasport, tu fulfil the laws of the country. Oh, as tu that, 
 says the gineral, tu other men, these things are all rite; 
 but I'm not like other men. My desteny is different, 
 and I must do things in a different way from others. — 
 Every man can't be president, and the men who are 
 comin forward tu be hed of the nashion may do things 
 which, war another tu do them, wou'd^make the der- 
 rick put him up jist upon the dedly never green. Oh, 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. o7 
 
 yes gineral says I, I see how 'tis. You are rite, grate 
 men must do grate things; and the bold and darin will 
 alwaise be honor'd and worshiped by the people, and 
 that'll carry a man thro' all, in spite of fate. 
 
 Passin over his various trafick in niggurs and his 
 lawin about some rottin ones bou't cheap to pass off — 
 for all's fare in niggur dealin — but which was return'd 
 on his hands agin, I must now come to some of his glo- 
 rious feats of bravery, which drew on him publick atten- 
 shion, and led the way tu his renown. But as what I'm 
 goin to say, is of grate importance in this history, I'll 
 jist close this chapter, and begin a new one with it. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Reflexions on the reason ivhy all the men the Ginerat 
 ramsquaddled getted tube his friends. Why he never 
 forgives. The Benton frakas. Sport for the people at 
 Nashvil. No law for squabblers. 
 
 It is considerable of a wonder with some folks that 
 arter so much cornubbliu and lambastin given and re- 
 ceiv'd in the everlastin skrimmages the Ginerai met 
 with, he didn't make a nation site of inemies. But, 
 instead, the more he dealt out his sockdologers the 
 more they wou'd be his lick-spittles. The Ginerai 
 had many friends, who were alwase ready to help 
 him to lick his inemies, so that if he had ramsquaddled 
 every one on 'em, they'd soon be makin peace with 
 him. They found in the tug that he was a rale sneez- 
 er, and not very pernikety about dressin them up like 
 a culprit on a Coort day. As the Ginerai never 
 forgiv'd any one who oppos'd him, they all thou't, that 
 the war must continue tell one or other kick'd the buck- 
 it. His crow never moulted, but had feathers alwase to 
 pluck, and his inemies findin no chance of his cryin 
 pecavy, or meetin in compromise, was fain to knuckle 
 under, and seek his forgiveness in humiliashions. — 
 Those who onct gave in tu the Ginerai, arter a long 
 spell of catterclawin, and milvaderin, was sure, like 
 the Jewish slave, tu have his ears bor'd, and be his serv- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 39 
 
 ant for ever, and one on 'em never troubbled him ever 
 arter, but as his best friends, wou'd argu, defend, pro- 
 tect, fite for, do his bid din, and follow arter him jist 
 like a tantonej pig or whipt spaniel. 
 
 The Gineral, as 1 said afore, never forgiv'd an ine- 
 mj. The longer he nurs'd his rath the hotter it'd burn, 
 and was the more dreadful when it burst forth. Alwase 
 keepin his eye on bein hed, he was watchful that no one 
 getted the weather gage of him in political manoeuver- 
 in, becase if any got ahed who were inemies they wou'd 
 keep him down, and that wou'dn't be rite, where the 
 struggle was for the top. Grate men who have lost 
 their reputashion are like merchants who have lost their 
 credit and are destin'd to ruin. It was necessary and 
 rite that the Gineral, lookin forward tu be hed of the 
 nashion, shou'dn't let every rabscallion trounce him 
 when he pleas'd; and when he had a quarl he did well 
 not only to seek aid tu fite it out, but do it in public, 
 that his bravery might be seen, and his actions be 
 judg'd by every body. 
 
 About this time the tu Bentons arrived in Nashvil. 
 The Gineral and tliey had a pick at one another, some 
 notice of which I have giv'd afore this. The Gineral 
 soon had vengeance, tho' the Bentons, in coming tu 
 Nashvil, expected tu have a row, and prepar'd them- 
 selves with arms. The quarl begun about a charge of 
 the Bentons at a duel atween Jess Benton and Gineral 
 Carol, that Gineral Jackson, who was Carol's second, did 
 n't show fair play. The spite which had been smother- 
 ed for a long time for the want of a chance, was now 
 about tu break out in all its glory — for I gues the tho'ts 
 and feelins of grate men must be good, and if so, it 
 isn't rite tu keep 'em in. 
 
40 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 The tu Bentons, on gettin tu Nashvil, findin the 
 gineral in town, went tu a different tavern tu shun him, 
 but I guess, they found their rath also somethin of a troub- 
 blesome tenent, and wonted tu git rid of it as well's 
 the gineral did his'n. 
 
 The gineral findin that the Bentons were come, assem- 
 bled his friends, and martch'd stratetu Benton's stoppin 
 place. On enterin the Hotel and seein Thos. H. Benton, 
 he drew and level'd his pistol, and as he advanc'd he bid 
 
 him prepare, for that by the grate E 1 he wou'd shoot 
 
 him in a minit. Before he advanc'd near enuff tu be 
 sure of his aim, but without givin Tom time tu draw liis 
 pistol, Jess Benton tir'd at the Gineral. Every man be- 
 gun, quick time, tu handle arms, and in a second four 
 pistols were fir'd, one by the Gineral at Thos. H. Ben- 
 ton, tu by Thos. H. Benton at the gineral, and one by 
 Kurnel Coffy at Thos. H. Benton. One of the shots 
 brou't the gineral down. The pistols bein discharg'd, 
 daggers were drawn. Kurnel Coffy and Alexander 
 Donaldson made at Thos. H. Benton, and give him 
 five woonds. Captain Hammond and Stukely Hays 
 engag'd Jess Benton. Jess bein weak from a woond re- 
 ceiv'd in a duel a short time afore, was easily overcome. 
 They got him down, and while Captin Hammond giv'd 
 him wisty castors on the hed, Ha^-s attempted to dirk 
 him as he lay on his back, giv'd hini several woonds,and 
 wou'd have sent him to Peg Trantums, altho he parri'd 
 with his hands mite and main, hadn't a gentleman 
 lookin on pittied and reliev'd him. Hays was re- 
 turnin the compliment, for Jess had snapp'd a loaded 
 pistol at his breast afore he fell, tu blow him thro.' 
 
 The Bentons got the worst on't, as is shown by their 
 
 -^ 
 
D 2 
 
42 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 knockin under, and gettin their ears bor'd. Thej had 
 determin'd that if the gineral was sick, they wou'd give 
 him blue pills enuft'tu cure him, as they had tu in eve- 
 ry pistol, and v.^as all ready, tho' the gineral amosttook 
 'em by surprise like a lion when it springs with a 
 grate roar upon his prey. Thos. H. Benton had his 
 coat sleeve burnt by the wad of the gineral's pistols, 
 and if the gineral hadn't bin so much flustrated that 
 he give his pistol a slantendicular direction, I swow, 
 the fat wou'd a bin in the fire with him, and the nashion 
 wou'd have missed the gratest sinneter that ever will 
 come tu be in it. 
 
 Several gentlemen had engag'd tu lend a hand in 
 this glorious fite, and among others Captin Carol; but 
 afore the tug com'd he getted himself a furlow by certifi- 
 cate from the gineral, and had mossy'd to save his hide, 
 so that the gineral had thehoner of dressin the tu Bentons 
 with the aid of four arm'd men, and himself, alvvase a 
 host. The gineral looks back to this glorious victory 
 with grate pleasure, as it was the means of securin the 
 interest of the tu Bentons, ever arter, which he wou'dn't 
 have done hadn't this bluddy fite givin 'em a chance 
 tu let oft' their rath, jist as steam is let off" when the 
 boat stops. 
 
 The Nashvil people considered this as a matter tu 
 leetle tu look intu. Judge Searsy was then in the 
 house. They were all afear'd I guess, of the gineral, 
 who now begun tu git him a grate name, and many 
 friends, and wou'dn't be call'd tu account for any of his 
 doins by any on 'em who didn't wish tu fite a duel, for 
 the idea of encounterin the gineral, made 'em all 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 45 
 
 afear'd, and they war fane tu be quiet when he had a 
 hand in the quarrel. 
 
 In this skrimmage there warn't any child's play I 
 tell ye. Every man had his mettle tri'd, for blows 
 and shot went back and forward like hail in March ; 
 sometimes they was all jerrycummumble in a heap, 
 sometimes they bumpt their jolly nobs, or cotcht one 
 another by the kolquarron till they cou'dn't squeek, and 
 onct the gineral got a whoUop that made him as limsy 
 as a rag for a minit, but afore the fite was eend'd, his 
 star was lord of the ascendant, and the Bentons com'd 
 out second best I guess. The gineral got a ball in his 
 arm that remained there till he com'd tu be president, 
 and tu this woond as much as the victory at New Or- 
 leans and his Horryskope, is he indebted for his eleva- 
 shion. The people lov'd him afore, but since they seed 
 that he was the rale grit, independent of law, and not 
 very sniptious about goin at work when he found his 
 inemies, and that he'd stick tu 'em like a bur till they'd 
 cry credo, they begun at onct tu love and honer him as 
 he deserv'd, and resolve tu make him the people's candi- 
 date for president. ^He learn'd the Bentons that they 
 mustn't act the cully trap with him if they didn't want 
 their apple carts upset in a wink. 
 
CHAPTER. VIII, 
 
 The gineraVs qualificashions. High spirit. Modesty, 
 appinted tu command in the Creek war. Fort Mimms 
 masacre. The gineral martche's. Gineral Cof- 
 ' fy. The Battle of Talladega. Muteny in the 
 army. The gineral understands the militia law dif- 
 ferent from all others. The militia plead the exam- 
 ple of the gineral who wou'daH obey the laws. 
 I've now brou't up the life of the oineral tu the time 
 when he was properly qualifi-d to take an important 
 lead in the affares of this nashion. His carackter now 
 begins tu develop itself in a way the reader has'nt 
 never guest at, and bime by will appear in a new 
 lite. 
 
 I'm now up tu the wars with the Ingins and In- 
 glish; but afore I rite about 'em, it is best tu say 
 a leetle of the gineral, and his qualificashions, tu pre- 
 vent the reader thirikin he had a worse temper than 
 other folks,^ and jist to show that if he warn't blest 
 with the best temper in the world, natur, that cut him 
 out for command, giv'd him jist the kind of a sperii 
 necessary for commanders. 
 
 The gineral has bin grately abused for an uppish tem- 
 per, but he lias'nt a bad one; its oney a flashey one 
 that gose off like powder, and cools rite away agin. — 
 He is raley a good humor'd man, and can be cool as a 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 45 
 
 cowcumber in battle, and wherever coolness is wanted. 
 Public life brings all grate men intu troubble; but the 
 gineral has'nt a wav of palaverin and disguisin him- 
 self, when he sees things wrong. Out his feelins rush, 
 like a gust of wind. He knows he was born tu com- 
 mand, but he has'nt bin tell'd that he was born tu rea- 
 son. He will therefore have his way, and as his friends 
 have so often publish'd him as a man of firmness, he 
 thinks he must jist be onej resolute of one mind, and 
 stick tu his text What is onej a flash of temper in 
 him arises from a consciousness that he has a rite tu be 
 and must be obej'd, and the demur of any one tu do his 
 biddin raises and fires the flame tliat threatens tu crush 
 any attempt tu gainsay it. But he needn'tplay the coor- 
 tier, nor use submissive languidge, as hed of his neigh- 
 borhood, of the army, or of the nashion^ when he hasn't 
 tu obey, he knew it wou'dn't be his time tu obey, and 
 violence in him is nothin other than the bursts of patri- 
 otism strivin for vent and showin 'emselves tu keep 
 folks in their places. He warn't never under com- 
 mand — when he was, he refus'd tu be commanded. He 
 felt as 'twas rite tu go accordin tu his judgment, and 
 this is so powerful strong, that his opinions are alwase 
 rite, and he thou't when they were so the people ought. 
 tu submit. This is all dimocrasy, and republicanism! 
 and when he gets the people to understand that this is 
 the rite way, and tu think it their duty tu submit, then 
 every thing will go on slick as a whissle, and there'll 
 be no more jarrin. 
 
 At the time I'm ritin of the war had jist broken out 
 with grate Britain. The gineral hadn't^' yet receiv'd any 
 government favors 5 and he was tu proud to ax any. 
 
46 MAJOR JACK DOWNINC'S LIFE 
 
 His grate talents war'nt known tu 'em. But when he 
 martched agin the Ingins, and whalled them so slick 
 in so short a time, the tame of his deeds went tu Wash- 
 inton, where he had been a leetle time afore in Congress, 
 and had resined his seat from a belief that he warn't 
 competent tu fill the office, so honest is he tu the coun- 
 try, that he wou'dn't serve iier except where he know'd 
 how tu do it rite. The government now giv'd him the 
 command of 2500 of the Tenesee militia, who gathered 
 in a flock about his standard, and swore tu live or die 
 with him. The gineral not only distrusted his political 
 competency, but also his legal acquirements. He 
 warn't fitted, he thou't, for the civd department; but 
 knowin that an active military life is the best school for 
 all kinds of knowledge, and that military fame is a kind 
 of inspirer of all genus, he thou't best, afore he com'd 
 forward tu act in civil, to be sure he cou'dlick all his 
 inemies in military life, and then no one wou'd hear his 
 faults in the noise of the hoora! 'f he gineral, in this, 
 show'd a kinder skill in philosofy. Grate men have 
 an instinct for the way tu rise; they look tu high tu 
 see little impediments, and so they walk strate over 
 'em, keepin the main chance a4wase in site. 
 
 The gineral was now placed in command of 2500 
 Tenesee Militia men. He marched them tu Natches. 
 There was no inemy in that quarter; and the secretary 
 of war whenever goes tu fite, nor know'd notliin but by 
 guess work about it, jist ordered him tu dismiss his 
 men, and let 'em get home as quick as they cou'd. 
 The gineral refused tu obey, and his men, for sich a 
 heroic example, have since love him amost tu deth. 
 They ^iv'd three harty cheers, and declared that he 
 
OF GENEftAL JACKSON. 47 
 
 was a (limocrat arter their own heart, and so long as 
 he'd go his own gate^ they'd stick tu him like wax. 
 
 Some hard things are said of the gineral for disobeyin 
 His inemies said that his commission was giv'd not 
 either tu disobey or tu command those who giv'd it, but 
 tu be subject tu the Constitution and laws, and that he 
 was sworn tu support 'em. Supposin this was a story 
 of the inemy, got up tu hurt the gineral, I jist dropt 
 my pen, and went tu go tell the president tu ax him. 
 On my way I met with Blare of the Globe. I 
 tell'd him what I was goin arter, whereon he put the 
 account in my hand, sayin that it was the very thing 
 that got the president so much favour with the people, 
 and that it wou'dn't do tu leave it out a bit, so Tve put 
 it in. I'm peskily afear'd, however, that if I put this 
 in, some other grate man who reads it will think he 
 can disobey orders, take the responsibility upon him- 
 self, raise a rebellion afore folks think he's hatchin 
 treason, and bid defiance when call'd tu account, more 
 especially as the government was kinder afear'd tu tell 
 him he was wrong. 
 
 The next year the Creek Ingins, push'd on by Tec- 
 nmseh and the laglish broke out intu hostilities. Sev- 
 eral families had been murdered, and arter an attempt 
 tu pacify them, their " voice was still for war." Part 
 of the nashion was for peace, and the warlike part com- 
 menc'd on the peace part of their own tribe. They 
 brandish'd their war clubs,assured by their profet that 
 the " grate spirit" was on their side, but it was sure 
 enuft* the grate spirit of hell. Major Beasley with a 
 hundred and fifty men, besides all the women and chil - 
 dren in the country, was collected within fort Mimms 
 
48 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 in the Missippi Territory. The Ingins collected an 
 army and amunishion, surrounded it, attack'd ]t, car- 
 ried it by assault, and put tu deth nearly three hundred 
 persons includin women and children. They show'd 
 no mercy, but jist tomahawk'd father, mother and 
 child, as they com'cl, tell they were all used up but sev- 
 enteen who escap'd. The people of Tenesee, hearin 
 of this, were up in a flash, nothin but vengeance was 
 thou't on. Fearin the Ingins wou'd destroy all the whites 
 they urged forward their preparashions. The gine- 
 ral, havin had his arm broken in the affray with the 
 Bentons, was not in fitin order, but lovin the sport ot 
 Ingin-killin he wasn't tu be put off*, so he took the com- 
 mand, havin under him 35G0 militia and 500 cavalry 
 under Kurnel Coffy. 
 
 The gineral havin arrang'd his men, and brou't 'em 
 up tu the stickin point, determin'd tu carry the war intu 
 the inemies country. While makin arrangements tu 
 obtain a good supply of rashions, informashion com'd 
 intu camp that the warriors were in the neighborhood of 
 Ten Islands, threatenin the friendly Ingins. The war- 
 riors will not touch you, said the gineral tell they've had 
 a brush with me, and that'll put some on'em out of a 
 notion of fitin for some time. 
 
 Some days arter, the gineral learn'd the Ingins were 
 at TuUushatchee. He sent gineral Coffy tu attack 'em 
 Coffy com'd up with them, killed one hundred and six- 
 ty eight men and a few women and children. The In- 
 gins fought with arrows, and the whites lost five kill'd 
 and forty one woonded. 
 
 The gineral, hearin that the Creeks were about at- 
 tackin Fort Talladega, garrisoned by the friendly Ingins 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 49 
 
 martched tu its relief. They com'd up with 'em, and 
 arter ^ despeiate resistance kill'd six hundred Ingins, 
 and lost fifteen of the militia. The Ingins were pur- 
 sued tu the mountins, on the way tu which many fell, 
 and sure enuff, as the gineral said, they got gloriously 
 smabbled for that time. 
 
 Jist at this time unfortunately the men took a noshion 
 in their heds that as their leader had set 'em an exam- 
 ple of disobedience by refusin tu do the commands of 
 his superior, they wou'd do likewise. From tliis tell the 
 eend of the campane the gineral was in continual hot 
 water, the men arguin tliat their time was out, and the 
 gineral taht they warn't entitled tu a disch.irge. Tho' 
 their legal term of service had expir'd, he wou'dn'tlet 
 'em off, thretnin tu shoot, as deserters, all wlio refus'd 
 tu obey. He said the Ingins warnt all kill'd, and that 
 the time of service was the eend ol the war. The 
 men said that the whole militia were tu be employ'd 
 in turne, and that their time, agreed upon, was out. — 
 The governor of Tenesee thought wifh the men ; at 
 which the gineral took fire, and quit fitin his men tu 
 bell the cat with the governor. He tell'd the governor 
 planely he hadn't any rite tu decide, and urged him 
 tu bid defiance tu the law, and cwmptd the men tu fite 
 till the Ingins were kill'd, regardless of the smiles, or 
 censures of the men. The men ran off, and the Ingins 
 had another winter tu hunt afore they were sent tu 
 the happy valley tu keep company with their fathers. 
 
^ CHAPTER IX. 
 
 1 he war continued. Mutenies. The battle of Emuck^ 
 fail. The battle of Enoiichopco creek. New mu- 
 tenies. The militia refusin tu obey the gineral, while 
 desirin tu obey the law, causes grate discontent. 
 
 Arter the battle of Talledego, the gineral return'd 
 tu Fort Struthers, on account of the scarcity of sup- 
 plies. While here a muteay took place among the 
 men, heded by some of the officers. Havin nothin 
 tu eat but acorns, they cou'dn't stand the attacks of 
 their stomachs, whatever the Ingins might do. As 
 soon as the militia prepar'd tu return home, the gine- 
 ral paraded the volunteers, with positive orders tu pre- 
 vent them. The militia findin they cou'dn't jist do as 
 they intended without fitin, praised the gineral, and 
 returned tu duty. The next day the volunteers mu- 
 tenied in their turn. They had oppos'd the militia 
 merely on pretence. Now the militia stept forth tu 
 o-ive th ,m tit for tat. The militia, glad of a chance 
 tu retaliate on the volunteers, tho' nothin more 
 wilUn tu remain than they, received the gineral's or- 
 ders, and begun tu curry favour, by sayin that their 
 change of purpose was all owin tu the gineral's tackt 
 and ingenuity. A long time was now taken up in 
 squablin about the term of service, and their finish- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 51 
 
 in the campane while on the fields at length, arter a 
 controversy with the governor of Tenesee, in which 
 the gineral was recommended tu give up the service, the 
 gineral rebels aginst the governor as the militia were 
 doin aginst him, still holdin out that the Ingins wern't 
 yet all kill'd, and insistin that their six months shouM 
 be doubbled, or they remain until the fitin was all 
 over. 
 
 In some of these mutenies, which were kept up all 
 the time by some of the officers and men, who thou't 
 they had a right tu judge for themselves arter the 
 stipulated time tu seive had expired, the parties were 
 nearly comin tu blows. In their squabbles, the men 
 always insisted that it was might aginst right, and 
 that they were forc'd aginst their consents, and in 
 violation of their contracts, tu continue in the service. 
 They were, howsomever, with some excepshions, com- 
 pell'd tu remain. 
 
 While these mutenies was goin on, as if tu put 
 other thou'ts in their beds, they were martcli'd tu 
 near where the inemy was encamp'd. The gineral's 
 spies found them, 1500 in number, preparin for battle. 
 At the dawn of day, the Ingins comM on with savage 
 shouts and yells, as if tartarus had open'd its throte. 
 The attack was ferocious and bravely resisted. The 
 camp iires blazin when the Ingins com'd on, the 
 gineral placed his men in the dark, and as soon's the 
 Ingins got atween 'em and the lire they popp'd 'em 
 nicely, while they remain'd conceal'd. The Ingins 
 havin bin repell'd in the first onset, the gineral 
 thou't tu destroy their town. When preparin for 
 this, the yells were renew'd and the attack recom- 
 
52 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 menc'tl. The Ingins maintained the confiict with 
 grate obstinacy and spirit. Havin got behind some 
 thickets they peppered the Teneseeans terribly. Gin- 
 eral CofFy, tu draw them from their ambusli, feint a 
 retreat; they pursued, when the fite, nearly equal on 
 each side, w'as continued an hour with nearly an equal 
 loss. At length the left of the line, havin drove off 
 the inemy, com'd tu gineral Coffy's aid, and won the 
 Me, arter a contest of a hull day. Of the parly who 
 had engaged gineral Coffy none escaped arter his last 
 charge, so dreadful v.as the slaughter. The fitin 
 ceas'd for a leetle the spirit of muteny, by makin the 
 militia seek mutual protecshion from the Ir.gins. 
 This fite was called the battle of Emucfaw, and was, 
 as tu loss, the severest they yet had. 
 
 The gineral not findin his quarters comfortable, 
 and not bein prepar'd tu kill all the Ingins, becase 
 the Ingins were threatenin tu kill them, ha^\'in near 
 them a larger force than their own, got ready litters 
 for the woonded and prepar'd tu march off. They 
 arrived about night near Enotichopco creek, the inemy 
 all day in pursuit. The pass of this creek was dan- 
 gerous in face of a foe who cou'd be conceal'd and lite 
 in safety. Another pass was found, tu which the 
 army was led; and when part had crossed, and some 
 were crossin the ford, the Ingins com'd upon the rear 
 with a hoop, a yell and discharge of fire arms, that 
 made them all jump, and most of the men tu run for 
 bare life. At this time the artillerists brou't a gun 
 tu a risin, and prepar'd tu operate, but the Ingins 
 furiously attack'd 'em. The artillerists arm'd with 
 muskits defended their gun and many fell. The 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 53 
 
 tackle of the gun got so tangled the men cou'dn't charge 
 it, but at last the J used the barrel of a gun for a ram- 
 mer, and the ramrod prepar'd it for the match, and 
 now thej begun tu row 'em up salt river, I tell je. 
 Several of the officers were kill'd defendin their gun, 
 but the gineral, who had been amost over when the 
 battle begun, havin brou't up his men, the Ingins fled 
 leavin their blankets on the field, and were pursu'd 
 tu miles. Gineral Coify had bin woonded at Emucfaw, 
 the day afore, and when the gineral cou'dn't rally the 
 men who loved him so much, Coffy, mounted a boss 
 from his litter, and brou't the men forward in gallant 
 style. Twenty tu thirty of the gineral's men were 
 smabbled in the tu battles, and near tu hundred of the 
 Indns. The mineral was now enabled tu continue 
 his martch without interrupshion till he reach'd fort 
 Struther, where he encamp'd, discharg'd the militia, 
 and thus put an end tu their mutenies and bickerin. 
 
 I've now brou't my narative tu the end of the cam- 
 pane. The men never fail'd tu muteny when they 
 wern't fitin, and it now remains tu tell some of the 
 effects of these mutenies, and the ingenious plan adop- 
 ted by the gineral tu put an end tu 'em. 
 
 Tu have a rite understandin of what I'm goin tu 
 tell, I must say, that by a law of Congress, no 
 officer or private can be compell'd tu serve longer 
 nor three months arter he has arriv'd at the place of 
 rondevous, unless the president of the United States 
 may require, and then the term mustn't be more than 
 six months in all. The mer, knowin their rites, con- 
 sider'd themselves free by law when the time expir- 
 ed, and so took liberty tu martch home. They didn't 
 
 E 2 
 
54 
 
 think this desertin. But the gineral did, for tho 
 he wasn't yet President, he knew he wou'dbe.and that 
 was enuft'. So he took the president's power in an- 
 tisepashion. and woirdn'tlet tiiem go a peg. The men 
 and he were therefore constantly in the snarls at one 
 another, and he was on the watch for a good case tu 
 make an example and punish 'em for not doin his 
 biddin, until he wou'd say enuff. He knew if he said 
 so he cou'd make it muteny or desertion as he'd a 
 mind, and the judges and executioners were all on his 
 side, but he didn't jist yet think best tu do so. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 More mutemes. The case of John Woods, his trial and 
 sentence. Woods shot. Reflexions. 
 
 The campane bein now eended by the discharge of 
 the militia, wiiile they were waitiii the arrival of the 
 new army tu take their places, an event happen'd 
 which, as it created grate excitement, shou'd be here re- 
 lated. 
 
 I've bin tellin my readers that there was considera- 
 ble of a dissatisfaxion among the men about gittin 
 home. This had been so frequent that the gineral 
 was pritty sore becase his orders wasn't niore respected 
 than they were. The gineral's dander was up; and he 
 determin'd tu make an example tu let out his rath up- 
 on, which now got pritty considerable troubblesome tu 
 him. 
 
 The first case happened with a boy about nineteen 
 years old, named John Woods. As the gineral won't 
 say a word about these are trials and execushions, and 
 as the men who witness'd against, or that sentenc'd him 
 might be partial, one part paid forgivin false testimony, 
 and the other depindingon the gineral for a good word 
 and preferment, and as truth is the standard, I don't 
 wish it said that Jack Downing ever put in a word that 
 
56 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 is n't like as gospel. I shall quote 'em that arn*t 
 suspected of bein interested in the matter, on one side 
 or tother, as the gineral loves truth, and wishes tu let 
 posterity know him ritely. 
 
 John Woods had bin charged with desertin twice. 
 Onct he had went for home, by the consent of gineral 
 Robberts, with the rest of the party. They were 
 overtaken and compelled tu return. Gineral Robberts 
 was coort marshal 'd and cashier'd the army for this act. 
 But John Woods was among the number so brou't back. 
 He was coort marshal'd and mercifully acquitted be- 
 case he wasn't tu blame. Soon arter, while most of 
 the men were growlin and complanin, this Woods, who 
 w^as on guard, was permitted by his officer tu go and 
 git his brekfast. He had not gone far when a Major 
 Camp com'd up tu him and bid him go tu his post. 
 Woods said he had leave from his officer tu get his 
 brekfiist, and refus'd. Camp swore, and Woods swore 
 harder. They became noisy, and Woods martched tu 
 his stashion holdin his musket which the other demand- 
 ed. Camp sent tu the fort tu tell the gineral, who seein 
 there v/as muteny com'd out like a hero, bellowin aloud, 
 
 *' By the E 1 I'll blow a ball tliro' the rascal." 
 
 Woods, persuaded by his friends tu surrender, did 
 so, and was put in prison. Woods was put in prison 
 on the 20th of Jinewary and kept there tell the 12th 
 of March 1814, when he was coort marshal'd, and 
 receiv'd sentence of deth tu be shot, as all military 
 men prefer. The excitement in the army was grate. 
 No one thou't Woods deserv'd deth, and petitions, sined 
 by the officers and men nearly tu a man went tu the gine^ 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 
 
 57 
 
 ral for his pardon. But the gineral had decre'd his deth, 
 and he was shot. At his trial no one was permitted 
 tu advocate his cause — he had no counsel — no one 
 but a few knew when he wou'd be tri'd tell his trial was 
 goin on, nor was there any one tu cull on witneses in 
 his behalf. The judges arter his deth tri'd hard tu 
 silence the upbraidins of conscience by abusin the ded 
 man in his grave, re<2;ardless of the livin. I don't think 
 the gineral approved of this; but grate men haint time 
 tu see or hear about sich things, and their names are 
 misus'd when ti^.ey dont know it. If the gineral had 
 known that his friends had done so in his vindicashion, he 
 wou'd feel'd a kinder uneasy, beiievin that if his trial and 
 deth was fair, he hadn't no blame tu fear. 
 
 The militia, instead ofbein quieted by this got mad 
 as hornits, and in a day or tu one hundred and eighty 
 deserted. These ^'salutary effects," was a kinder 
 relief tu the army, as the worst bein gone, the rest 
 become quiet, jist as when tu mad caps fite a duel and 
 kill one another, tlieir neighbors have peace. 
 
 It is queer that a gineral so much belov'd as Jackson 
 was, shou'd never be without troubble and discontent. 
 His men cou'd hoora, mutiny,and shoot the Ingins more 
 than any men in the imll country. With the officers 
 the gineral kept good terms ; they depinded upon him 
 for praise and advancement. But the men vvou'd 
 hoora for him as they were bid, and fite for him when 
 they had a chance, but as for servin under him-^that 
 they wou'dn't du oney when they oou'dn't help it. The 
 gineral wasn't particklar nice about givin 'em hard 
 fare and plenty of it when he cou'd ;.and wlien thej 
 engag'd tu him he took care he wou'dn't disengage 'em 
 
58 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 tell he pleas'd. I guess he knew what was good for tlie 
 country's glorj. The cause of these everlastin discon- 
 tents was a perpetual effort tu make the men serve long- 
 er than they were bound tu do by law, — those that 
 refused he called deserters. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Battle of the Boss Shoe^ "A glorious chance o^ smah- 
 blin the Ingins. Lots of 'em drawn out of their 
 hidin holes the day arter the battle^ and kilVd. The 
 Ingins findin the gineralwoiCd kill 'em all if they 
 wouhlnH love him, professes grate friendship. Gin- 
 eral Pinckney arrives. The gineral gives up the 
 command. 
 
 The solders of the gineral were alwase best when bus* 
 sy, as children are when asleep. It was necessary 
 therefore tu find more fitin for 'em tu keep 'em from 
 runnin otf. It sometimes puzzled the gineral tu find 
 out where he cou'd git fitin tu do 5 while lookin arter it, 
 some new hubbub atween him and his men alwase so 
 flustrated the camp, that he had his dander up all the 
 time, and becom'd so rip-roarious that it wasn't safe at 
 such times tu come near him — all his pashions bein 
 patriotically exerted for the good of the country. 
 
 Jist in the nick of time, word com'd in that the 
 inemy had fortifi'd 'emselves at Tohopeka, or the 
 Hoss Shoe, a bend of the Tallapoosa river. This camp 
 was both naturally and artificially well fortifi'd. Gin- 
 eral Coffy was sent tu reconnoitre, and found 'em in 
 large numbers, and well prepared. The gineral broke 
 up his camp, and was on the martch pritty quick tu git 
 at 'em. 
 
60 
 
 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 The ground occupied by the Ingins formed a leetle 
 peninsula, the neck part bein about 330 yards wide.- 
 This was fortifi'd with large timbers and trunks ol 
 trees, ranged horizontally, and leavin oney one en- 
 trance, which was well secured. They had a doubble 
 row of port holes thro' which they cou'd take aim and 
 fire in perfect security behind. , , ., - 
 
 The In-ins imaginin their camp secure had then 
 wiles ar.dl-amiUes moved in, an act they never d.d but 
 when cocksure of victory and safety. Ginera ^Cofty 
 and some friendly Ingins havin takin their stash.on on 
 the southern bank tu draw 'em from the land quarter, 
 the oineral himself arranged his men in trout of the 
 stockades and loop holes alwase preferin the post o 
 danger as the pint of honer. His artdlery he planted 
 upon an eminence about 200 yards afore tne.r brest 
 work,and begun to pour his fire up..n'emm a tempest. 
 The infantrp had bin advanced towards the vvorks 
 and kept up a fire at th. port holes as the Ingn.s show < 
 'emselves. But all woud'n't do, the Ingins wou dn t 
 bud-c a peg for cold led, so the gineral determm d tu 
 t,y what effect cold iron wou'd l,ave. Jist afore the,r 
 beef was tri'd with cold iron,Coffy was orderec. tu Une 
 the river on tother side that none mite scape the gme- 
 Shavin determin'd to extirpate 'e,n. Ml th.ngs bem 
 „ readiness, the militia, havin forgot then- des r- 
 Z and come tu the stickin pint were ord d 
 tu charge. This was done an.idst a shower of bullets 
 f^om tfebrestworks, thro' which they martch'd hkean 
 "my ottomans tu whom t!,eir profet had prom.s d 
 wadise. Kurnel Bunch led the men on in gallant 
 5'; th contest now becom'd bloody, and the struggle 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 61 
 
 warn't no longer for the nashion but for the port holes. 
 The muskets were put against each other, so that the 
 bullets were cotched upon the muzzle of the guns, which 
 jist melted and welded 'em. The troops findin this 
 kind of fitin woud'n't do, now scaled the ramparts. — 
 The Tngins fled and conceal'd themselves in the brush- 
 wood and timber. From these places of refuge they 
 kept up fite, but were again charged and driven back. 
 In desperashion, not knowin where tu flee, and deter- 
 min'd not tu surrender, they tri'd tu escape by their ca- 
 noos which lined the shore. Here runnin from the ti- 
 ger they leapt intu the jaws of the crocodile, for CofFy 
 and his men was ready tu hug them as the deel hug'd 
 the witch, and close up the dead lites of them as fast 
 as they appeared. They now return'd, but findin no 
 way tu escape endeavour'd tu conceal themselves un- 
 der the bank of the river and along the cliffs and steeps. 
 There also they were hunted up and chunkt or bagnet- 
 ted. The Ingins believin as the gineral had often said 
 that they were tu be exterminated, resolved tu fite tu the 
 last, and kept up the fire while the chance of killin a 
 white face remained. For five hours the fitin continu'd, 
 during which they were dragg'd out of their hidin pla- 
 ces and destroy'd. 
 
 The Ingins now collected in the west angle of their 
 line of defence and made a desperate resistance. They 
 had been conceal'd among the trees and bushes, when 
 lited torches were thrown among 'em. Arter havin 
 been ramsquaddled with the camp candlesticks of the 
 gineral's men till a red man coud'n't be found,nite com'd 
 on; those who cou'd use their trotters were off in the 
 F 
 
62 
 
 MAJOR JACK DOWNING S LIFE. 
 
 dark, but some on 'em conceal'd were dragged out of 
 their hidin places and put to death the next mornin. 
 The gineral thou't the glory of the nashion woud'n't 
 shine bright enufftill he had brou'tflugens among them^ 
 and didn't leave a fin tu tell the tale. 
 
 1 tell'd jou a leetle ago that the Ingins had a grate 
 number of Canoos. These, and their town, lay on the 
 river shore. While the Ingins were all at their brest- 
 work fitin, the friendly Ingins with Gineral Coffy 
 swam the river, set the town on fire, and carry'd off 
 many of the canoos. This divided the Ingins, some 
 of whom came to protect the town. Their force was 
 weakened and the gineral's army was thereby unable tu 
 scale the ramparts, a trick that made the victory much 
 easier. The mornin arter the battel, sixteen were 
 found in holes, and were either chunk'd" on the canis- 
 ter, scragged, or bagnetted,the gineral bein determin'd 
 tufinisli the war when he had kill'dthe last on 'em. 
 
 In this battel 557 were kill'd dead on the peninsu- 
 laj a grate many were kill'd attemptin tu cross the 
 river, and considerable of the women and children were 
 so hurt that they di'd in or arter the scrimmage. Among 
 the slaves was their three profets decorated like a hop 
 merchant goin tu a fandango. Three hundred prison- 
 ers were taken, most of whom were women and chil- 
 dren, no warrior was spared who sought the clemency 
 of the victors. The Ingins never give quarters, and 
 isn't it rite tu imitate 'em? Faithless themselves they 
 hadn't any faith in the white faces, and these prov'd 
 that their faith was'nt misplaced. I hate the Ingins, 
 and think the gineral placed a glory around his head at 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 63 
 
 this battle, which in the records of humanity hasn't no 
 parallel in Christendom. He showed grate mercy by 
 killin 'em, tu save 'em from bein hungry when deer 
 was scarce! The nashion's gratitude ib due tu him, and 
 it hasn't bin paid at all accordin tu his merits. Some 
 have censur'd the gineral for killin his prisoners, but 
 every one knows that the war was begin'd and the gine- 
 ral appinted tu outdo the Ingins in their own way, for 
 they woudn t understand the christian mode of sparein 
 the vanquished, and example wou'd be lost on sich fel- 
 lers. Of the gineral's men oney 55 were killed and 
 146 wounded. 
 
 The gineral soon arter, havin joined the forces sent 
 out from Georgia and the Carolinas, gave chace tu the 
 Ingins, but coud'nt come up with 'em. The Ingins 
 now findin no chance left begun tu sue for peace. The 
 gineral marched his men tu the holy ground, a place 
 the Ingins supposed was never trodden by a white-foot. 
 But here they were met by the chiefs of the hostile par- 
 ty suin for terms. The gineral tell'd 'em the terms 
 on which they shou'd have peace was the surrender 
 tu him, confined, of Wetherford their chief tu be dealt 
 with. Wetherford, findin his danger,stole intu the camp, 
 presented himself afore the gineral, and fearlessly de- 
 manded it for himself and his people. ««I'm in yowr 
 power," said he, " do with me as you please. I am a 
 solder. I have done the white people all the harm I 
 cou'd. 1 have fou't them bravely. If I had an army I 
 wou'd yet fite and contend tu the last; but I have none; 
 my people are all gone. I can do no more than weep 
 over the misfortunes of my nashion." The warrior, 
 
64 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 findin the gineral firm, and fearful for his life, now 
 prais'd him, teil'd him of his victories, his bravery and 
 his generosity. This soften'd the gineral and he grant- 
 ed the peace desired. In a short time major Gineral 
 Pinkney com'd up and took command of the army. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Tlie gineral resolves tic visit his family takes leave of 
 the army. Travels homeward alone. Several sin- 
 gular adventures^ in which he got constantly in 
 trouhhle. Taken as a deserter. The people wou^dnH 
 believe he was gineralJackson. Escapes one danger 
 and gets intu a second which was worse. Gets so 
 consarntly flabagasted and cornubbled, he was amost 
 laid under hatches. Sav'^d by the accidental arrival 
 of his friends^ Reflexions worth attendin tu by 
 grate men. 
 
 The campane bein ended, the gineral resolved tu 
 visit his family. He assembled the army round him 
 tu give 'em his partin blessin and advisement. He 
 receiv'd in return from 'em three harty hooras! He 
 had his boss got ready, and dress'd himself in plane 
 clothes tu travel home in, jist like a farmer, as he 
 was goin tu be. His officers insisted that he shou'd be 
 accompanied by his swete, in charackter of a trium- 
 phant gineral, but he thou't this wou'd look for all 
 the world as if he was afear'd tu travel alone, and he 
 positively refus'd tu have any company. 
 
 He sot out early next mornin on his journey. The 
 country was thinly settled, and the roads warn't easy 
 F 2 
 
66 MAJOR JACK DOWNING^S LIFE 
 
 tu find, the people wasn't very pernickity about 
 civilization matters. The gineral, every short while, 
 wou'd be brought up all standin tu find out the tru 
 rout at every fork, and not a few times he got so 
 tetotally flabagasted tu know how tu steer, that he 
 was fairly at his wit's end. About noon he com'd up 
 tu a log house. The sun was hot, he was fagg'd, and 
 havin been pritty considerable in the wars was so 
 scorchified with the weather that he looked for all 
 natur like a rale scrouger in search of adventurs. 
 His boss was taken away, and he followed the land- 
 lord intu the house. The major domy was a lathy 
 feller, and walked like deth's hed on a mop stick. He 
 begun tu catechise the gineral smartically, axin him 
 where he had bin, where he was goin, what he fol- 
 low'd, and other questions. Tu all this the gineral 
 replied, that he was a Farmer of Tenesee, and was 
 lookin at lands in the wilds. You a farmer, said the 
 landlord? by golly I a ski farmer, I shou'd guess; one 
 who has land but who seldom sees it, a niggur driver, 
 or may be a speck'later — or — or more likely you know 
 more about smabblin Ingins. I take it, you're a boss 
 wabbler from the army desertin your post. 
 ■ While the landlord was thus examinin the gineral, 
 several of the neighbours enter'd, one of whom, a rale 
 hlip-gibbet of a feller, hearin that the landlord was 
 suspectin the traveller of bein a deserter, became a 
 patriot in a flash, and took upon him tu be the fore- 
 man of the jury. He tell'd the gineral pritty plainly 
 he wasn't what he pretended, but a runaway from 
 gineral Jackson's army; and that he shou'd go back and 
 be tried and hung, for that he look'd like a feller that 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 67 
 
 deserved a collar of hemp. Supposin they meant 
 well, the gineral tu try 'em a leetle, confess'd he was 
 from the army, but was goin home on leave. They 
 then demanded his passorfurlow. The gineral hadn't 
 any, which confirm'd their suspishions. The gineral 
 thinkin the joke had gone far enufftell'd them he was 
 gineral Jackson himself. At this they all cri'd out, 
 you gineral Jackson I You are some impostor — swin- 
 dler — and rais'd an uprorious hoss laff at his preten- 
 shions. One of the fellers then laid hold of the 
 gineral by the throte, and tripping up his heels laid 
 him on his back, while the hull party were on top of 
 him in a jifly, pummillin him without mercy. As soon 
 as he'd bin thrown oiF his trap-sticks, one of the 
 gang squirted a gob full of the essence of mundungus 
 full in's face, in contempt of his claims, and at 
 every kick they wou'd cry — you gineral Jackson I The 
 gineral struggled hard; he thou't he cou'd've whip his 
 weight in wild cats, but one of these alligator lookin 
 fellers held him as if in a vice, while the rest ham- 
 mer'd him. At length the gineral, gittin his hand 
 loose found one of his snappers, when the fellers seein 
 their danger cut stick and run, and at last he got tu 
 rites on his eend. 
 
 His assailants had taken tu the road, where they 
 were swearin like troopers in battle, and were pre- 
 parin tu chunk him the moment he appear'd. The 
 gineral, in a foam of rage was gittin his pistols pre- 
 pared, tu pursue. Jist then a door open'd, and he was 
 address'd by a woman in a tone of condolence, who 
 begun scoldin furiously at the mad men who had abus'd 
 the stranger. The gineral on seein her was ralher 
 
68 MAJOR JACK DOWNING S LIFE 
 
 fain tu retreat, but the woman advancin as in a friend- 
 ly way, got near, and while in crack with the gine- 
 ral, made a slapdash at the snappers, and with a 
 spring, bore them oft' tu her friends without. The 
 gineral fortified himself as quickly as possible, by 
 barrin the door, and preparin tu defend. While bissy 
 at this, he heard a noise in the next room. In he 
 went, and found a child cryin arter its mother. The 
 gineral thought this a lucky chance, and seizin the 
 child, he exhibited it at the window, swearin dread- 
 fully that if they wou'dn't return his pistols, and pro- 
 mise tu behave and let him go on his way without 
 injury the leetle one shouM suffer with him. This had 
 the desired eff-ect; but afore they giv'd up the pistols 
 they discover'd his name on 'em; this convinced 'em that 
 it was indeed the gineral they had so badly treated— 
 and bavin return'd 'em and axt his pardon, they had 
 a famgrasp, made friends, and while the woman made 
 a dinner, the party held a jollification over a bottle as 
 if nothin had happen'd, when the gineral's health was 
 drunk more than twenty times. 
 
 The gineral, havin parted from his new friends 
 made a fresh start. When night was approachin he 
 saw far ahead, a house, and near it a cluster of men 
 at some exercise. On nearin 'em, he found a party of 
 men at long bullets. Bime by the bullet com'd whiz- 
 zin along the road, like a shot from one of his own 
 guns, and was near strikin him down. This at onct 
 raised the gineral's dander, but he thou't it was'n't 
 the best place tu let out his rath, seein so many of 
 the ring-tail roarers about him. It bein so late, he 
 was oblig'd tu ask for lodgins. The house was a 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 69 
 
 kinder shanty lookin place, a rondevous for the thirsty 
 neighbors when they wanted a drink and a spree, arter 
 the work of the day was over. A woman whom they 
 call'd Meg, com'd forward as the landlady. The 
 gineral's hoss was taken away, and he seated in the 
 common room. Meg seemed tu have a drop in her 
 eye, and her clothes, in tatters, was put on as if with 
 a pitchfork. She was a rale slamakin, brawney, and 
 look'd tor all the world as if she cou'd swallow a nigger 
 if his hed was butter'd and his ears pin'd back. The 
 gineral didn't feel himself comfortable^ but bein al- 
 ways fond of the people he thought he wou'd git along 
 much better by doing as they did. He axt for some 
 whiskey, and while sippin it, the hull squad of bullet 
 men com'd in, uproariously demandin the forfeits. 
 Meg dealt out the slings as fast as they were call'd 
 for, and the gineral sot unheeded, till they had got a 
 round or tu, when one of the fellers begun tu snitch 
 the gineral with his single peeper so curisly, passin 
 round and round him as if he had been a non-des- 
 cript monster cotch'd in the forest. Then comin up 
 tu the gineral axt him tu share a sling with him. The 
 gineral, who didn't think it manners tu refuse, accep- 
 ted and drank a part. You must drink the hull on't, 
 was the demand. Tu this the gineral objected. Then, 
 said the woodsman, if you can't drink what I give 
 you, I'll set you down as some elbow shaker j or aris- 
 tocrat who don't care a d n for we woodsmen; or 
 
 some dealer in fakements; or some knight of the road. 
 You must drink I say; you look as if you cou'd swallor 
 a bucket full of aquafortis sweetened with brimstone 
 — down with it, or by golly I'll teach you tu despise 
 
70 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 the people and play the lattitat among the rustics. 
 The voice of the woodsman now became uproarious. 
 The gineral found himself surrounded by a squad of 
 rabscallions who threatened that if he wou'dn't show 
 himself one of the people he'd have tu defend himself 
 like one of 'em, thought it best tu try and conform. 
 He invited 'em tu sit down and he wou'd show 'em 
 he cou'd drink with 'em, tell a tale with the best on 
 'em if they'd oney give him fair play. They sot down. 
 The bowl past round, and in a short time they were 
 all tryin tu see who cou'd make the most noise. At 
 last one of the party a Mr. Smonkey suddenly took a 
 notion tu bus the landlady. She replied by a sock- 
 dologer that made him retreat backwards three steps, 
 in d'^oin which he fell over a bench, but tu save him- 
 self he grab'd at the gineral who was next, and the tu 
 roll'd over one another. Smonkey and the gineral 
 were both on their feet in a minit; but the landlady 
 made at her man like a cat, layin it on him rite, 
 left, and centre in double metre. The gineral inter- 
 fere, when one of the party cri'd do you take his part 
 you skipe— you nigmenog— I'll darken your daylights 
 for you. At this moment he flew at the gineral, who 
 was now one of the people in earnest, they yok'd, and 
 in the tug fell over ruft* and tumble, while the squad 
 stood round cryin, give it tu him Smonkey, now for 
 the lattitat, gouge him, hoop his barrel, stranger; fag 
 him in the craw, hit him in the pudding bag, make a 
 pen of his neb, lush his muzzle with pokeberry juice, 
 while the contending party showered the blows upon 
 one another till they were no longer able tu move. 
 The combatants were now separated, had a fam- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 71 
 
 grasp, pronounced one another the rale grizzle, and 
 supper bein ready they sot down together. One of the 
 woodsmen arter the gnieral had helped himself, snatch- 
 ed up the plate, and swallow'd the contents, leavin 
 scarce enufF on the table for the gineral tu whet his 
 appetite upon. He was a rale slush-bucket, who 
 never used his teeth upon any thing softer than shel-* 
 barks, Comin up tu the gineral and givin him a 
 skewvow look, axt him how he lik'd his supper. The 
 gineral at this became .terribly rambunctious, jumped 
 tu his feet, and swore by St. Tamany^'s beard he'd 
 ramsqu addle him in a jifty if he'd say another word. 
 Boh! says the man. At this the gineral up fist and 
 planted a blow in his paunch, jist like a finisher 
 given by one of his own cox when the game is up. T he 
 house was instantly in an uproar. The party now, 
 with one shout, cri'd, ^'out tu the green,— out tu the 
 green," and every man, catchin hold of the man next 
 him,— in an instant they were all out of doors. At the 
 very moment when they were within the ring and 
 their fists squared, up came a party of officers, who, 
 findin the gineral beset, attacked the woodsmen, and 
 giv*d the hull squad such a milvaderin as left them 
 in a few seconds in a pile as if they had been Ingins 
 smabbled at the Hoss Shoe the day arter the battlej 
 then givin one hoora for gineral Jackson, cleared the 
 house and took possession of it for the nite. 
 
 The adventures of the day produced some deep re- 
 flections in the gineral's mind. He thought he had 
 been tu obstinate in not takin the advice of his friends. 
 He had, it was tru, got a specimen of the squatters, 
 or borderers, and he thou't it more than probable the 
 
72 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 poor Ingins, whom he had so terribly smabbled, were 
 not so much tu blame as they 'd been represented. 
 He wasn't sure whether, had he travel'd among the 
 Ingins, he wou'dn't have enjoy'd himself more, bin 
 safer, and raoie comfortable than with these wretches. 
 And it was in defence, and upon the complaints of 
 such men, the country had lately been at war with the 
 Ino-ins? These were the "Dimocrats" on whom the 
 honer and liberties of the country were based. They 
 had given him a sample of their way of life; they 
 
 were the strong arms tu— this he felt, and but 
 
 while these honest reflexions were passin through his 
 mind, another popt in, and drove 'em all belter 
 skelter. This was, that if the people were ignorant 
 as these were, how easy it wou'd be tu rule 'em-that 
 is tu say, the man who can adapt himselt tu their 
 habits, and secure their hooras, has nothin tu fear. 
 Let him rise, and he may rule as he pleases; he may 
 foUor his own inclinashions, and whatever it is, it will 
 with sich men be all rite. Tu be supported by the mob, 
 is a leetle ticklish tu be sure. They are inconstant as he 
 waves of the ocean; and woe! woe! tu that country 
 whose ruler, instead of seekin his support from the 
 intelligence of the people, evokes the pashions of such 
 men. How easy it is tu rally sich a party. But who 
 can lay a foundation of government on such materials 
 u support ginewine republickanism? Power can be 
 bull upon ridiculous prejudices; indeed the ignorant 
 aSays licks the feet of a tyrant in propor ion as he 
 U cruel: The history of every nash.on m the world 
 proves this, and also that with sich a ruling spirit, 
 To h I be ty is safe nor law respected. But the man 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 73 
 
 who rises upon the ignorance and prejudices of the 
 people has this comfort — the worse thej rule, the more 
 they approve it. Tliis day's travel has prov'd tu me, 
 that when I voted as a member of the convenshion 
 of Tenesee tu form a constitushion, against any man 
 havin a rite tu vote at elections who hadn't 200 
 acres of land in simple fee, I vvarn't far out of the way . 
 Such men aint fit either tu rule, or appoint rulers. 
 These paper-skulls will hoora! and if they onct be 
 made tu think we are on their side they will every 
 man on 'em cut their own throtes for us, and support 
 us rite or rong. 
 
 I guess the gineral show'd himself a master feller tu 
 filosofise in this are matter. I think with the 
 gineral, that it's best tu keep the people on our side^ 
 they are always ready tu fitej they are so fond of it 
 they never ax a word whether it is rite or no^ and 
 when we want tu do as we have a mind, in spite of 
 the aristocrats, oney let us curry favour with the mob, 
 git 'em tu hoora, and all will jist go along slick as a 
 whistle, and the aristocrats must grin and bear it. 
 They will make the kind of musick for us we want if we 
 oney rosin their fiddle bow. If we praise 'em they 
 will honer us, and like two bosses in a field scratchin 
 one another with their teeth till they neigh with the 
 pleasure of it, every thing will go on nicely — except 
 when one of the bosses bites tu hard the tother turns 
 his heels, gives a kick, and gallops oft'. 
 
 G 
 
CHAPTER Xni. 
 
 The gineral made a gineml of in the United States 
 army. His desire for this service, the cause of^ the 
 army discontents. The gineral returns tu the Creek 
 nashion as ambassador. Makes a treaty by dicta^ 
 shion. He did the job rite stick, obtained amost all 
 the Jngins territory, and got a slice for himself — 
 The sinnet refuse tu act upon his separate Treaty, 
 but approves all the rest. He never loves the sinnet 
 a bit anymore arter. 
 
 The gineral having settled his accounts with the 
 Creeks and made 'em pay the reckomng,and havin also 
 discharged the grumbletonians, was now thmkm ot 
 restin awhile, but jist when the notion took him, 
 a-inerals Hampton and Harrison resigned their com- 
 missions, which made room for Gineral Jackson tu step 
 rite intu their shoes. The government pop'd him in, 
 and lie accepted a major gineral's commission, a rank 
 in the United States' Service equal tu that he held in 
 his own state. Tlie gineral, by acceptin this commis- 
 sion, spread new glory round his head, and was prepared 
 tu become the second saviour ot his country. 
 
 That the gineral was catawampously inclin'd tu the 
 United States' service there is little doubt. I suspected 
 he had a cutty eye upon it all the time of the Creek 
 war, because he never fail'd tu recommend his men tu 
 
w 
 
 OF GENERAL JACKSON. 
 
 75 
 
 join the service when he cou'd. His constant squabble, 
 
 ? i suspect, was owin tu his givin them hard usage tu 
 
 make them get tired of his service, and join the United 
 
 States, where they wou'd have a more respectable rank 
 
 as solders. But the men preferr'd goin home, which 
 never fail'd tu raise his dander, especially when he 
 found he had been milkin the pigeon with 'em. He 
 had a number of officers who knew how tu butter him 
 
T6 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 up. The gineral tellM me he didn't never shrink from 
 responsibilities when in the wars, or scruple about the- 
 exercise of power. He thou't the law shou'd some 
 times be suspended for the public good, and that the 
 rites of the laws, like those of individuals, shou'd be 
 forced tu submit when grate occashions demanded it. — 
 Indeed he candidly confessed, one night when we had 
 a long talk, and he was happy and didn't mind sayin 
 his thou'ts abit, that it was the sure sine of grateness 
 tu take responsibilities, and tu stretch power — for said 
 he, rubbin his eyes, in all nashions of the world, power 
 is rite, and this nashion bein one on 'em, it shou'd be so 
 here tu. He never cou'd agree that the militia shou'd 
 take turns in the service of their country. It w^as al- 
 wase for the ivar he wanted tu keep his men, and so 
 recommended that the government hold on tu 'em 
 when they had 'em. 
 
 Owing tu this noshion he didn't like the militia ser- 
 vice a bit. He hated it, and worried the militia all 
 the time tu get 'em tu join the regular service. This 
 was all done for the good of his country, for the man who 
 wou'd do good and rise, mustn't be pernickety about 
 man flesh or feelings. The nashion is more worth 
 than a state, the state than a county; a county than 
 a town; and a town than any individual in't. — 
 Now it is all rite, in difficulties, tu sacrifice the less 
 tu the grater; and if a few dozen chaw-bacons be us'd 
 up for the public benefit as solemn warnins tu the ob- 
 stropulous tube quiet, isn't the glor/ of the nation in- 
 creas'd by it, and do not the very men who suffer, 
 cry hoora! and second all sich violence, no matter by 
 whom us'd. Is'n't the man who kills honer'd most. 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 77 
 
 Let a man shoot his neighbour thro' a window, and eve- 
 ry mother's chick in the hull country are in pursuit 
 of him, and when he is cotch'd he's scra^g'd, but 
 when a man, like the gineral, has shown his spunk, by 
 fitin,or has prompted twenty duels, and seein the folks at 
 loggerheads, then he is the public pet — every one 
 speaks his praise; he is toasted at 4th of July dinners, 
 and is on the fair way tu fame and grateness, if some one 
 else don't come forrard who'd kill'd more than he had. 
 This is the true sperit — the people of this nashion are 
 all solders, every solder is bound tu love fitin, and be 
 ready tu fite, and the nearer they come tu this . point, 
 the sooner we are ready tu support a president who 
 will, like the gineral, be independent of the people, 
 and receive their hooras for bein so. 
 
 The gineral did not long remain inactive. Commis 
 sion'd by the United States, he prepar'd for further 
 duties. He was now appinted an ambassador tu 
 make a peace with the Ingins he'd conquered, not in- 
 deed in the form of a negociashion, but of dictation. 
 When the gineral received these orders, he giv'dayell 
 and a jump as if old harry had suddenly sent in a 
 draft for his acceptance. That's your sorts said 
 
 he, you're the man for me. By gosh,- had I wish'd 
 
 I couldn't have had my instructions more tu my 
 mind, I never lik'd negociashion except for land, 
 bosses or niggurs. I hate the Ingins, and now I'll 
 work 'em. Now I've my cue. The wars aint over 
 yet, but I'll put an eend tu't, if they'll jist capitulate 
 upon my terms. 
 
 The gineral now proceeded with a few in company 
 
 tu Alabama, where he brou't the Creek Indians tu what- 
 G2 
 
;;'8 MAJOR JACK DO^NING'S LIFE 
 
 ever terms he chose tu dictate. . It is fact, the gine- 
 ral warn't very pernickity about the terms. He de- 
 manded and obtain'd most of their lands tu pay the 
 expenses of the war; but in this treaty he took good 
 care of number one, receivin from the Ingins three 
 miles square of land for his own use and benefit as a 
 separate conveyance. This treaty had tu pass in re- 
 view before the sinnet, where it was rejected, and 
 from that time tu this the gineral has hated the sinnet, 
 and oppos'd it wheresomever he safely can. 
 
 In the public treaty with the Creeks, the gineral 
 show"d a nashion site of benevolence. He might as well's 
 not, have order'd 'em all tu be nooz'd, or sent tu 
 the rocky mountins tu live upon bears and huckleber- 
 ries, but his bowels of compashion yearn'd over 'em 
 so wonderfully that he giv'd 'em a leetle corner of 
 their country, and took all the rest, leavin 'em oney 
 the appearance of a nashion, and of independence, and 
 made them promise tu hold no communicashion with 
 them are Inglish or Spanish. 
 
 In this treaty part of the Creek nashion which con- 
 tinued friendly and aided the gineral saw their coun- 
 try rent from them, a remnant oney bein left. it 
 was in vain they complained. They were red men 
 and mite some day be the inemies of the whites. The 
 peaceable Ingins made a grate effort-appealed tu the 
 P-ineral not tu take from 'em their lands, statin their 
 Services and attachments. But the gineral said you 
 are all Ingins, and your sinin the treaty ceding your 
 lands or your refusin this evenin will determine whe- 
 ther you intend tu remain friends or declare yourselves 
 our foes. This was a stumper. I swow it had more 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 
 
 eloquence in it than if Clay had said it, for the Ingins, 
 found that they were desired tu sine the treaty, or be 
 treated as inemies if thej didn't, and so compelled 
 tu take Hobson's choice, they agreed. Thus the firm- 
 ness of the gineral carried all afore him. There is noth- 
 in more certain, than that a gineral's commission is a 
 nacky sort of thing tu convert a hector intu a hero, 
 and a dolt intu a statesman. A lawyer, or a cabinet 
 minister wou'd have argufi'd, and tri'd tu put things 
 accordin tu justice; but a gineral in treaty makin— he's 
 the very chap that can do the work, for if the knot can't 
 be uuravell'd, why he draws his sword and cuts it rite 
 in^ tu, and it is done in a wink. The reservations 
 of land ceded tu the gineral by the Creeks was a pre- 
 sent for his mercifully havin let 'em live and given 
 'em a small bit tu prevent 'em from huntin, and tu 
 make them farmers. The gineral was in a bothera- 
 shion about acceptin it, but at last tu oblige 'em, 
 consented, oney when brou't afore the sinnet it was 
 never acted on or assented tu. 
 
 As it's the life of the gineral I'm ritin, and not a 
 history of matter and things which properly belongs tu 
 the history of the country, I'll now state, with the 
 reader's leave, a few facts deeply interestin tu the 
 militia, who are fond of shootin, and bein shot at. I 
 insist on't, every man who goes tu the wars and be- 
 comes a solder, shou'd learn tu shoot balls as boys do 
 marbles, and be familiar with 'em; because every man 
 who has a commission may become a judge in cases of 
 life and deth, and solders alwasc consider deth a re- 
 lease from hardship. Now its considerable of a nice 
 
80 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 thing when an officer returns from the wars, tu be able 
 tu tell the gals that he was honer'd bj his command- 
 er, was on a coort marshal, and pass'd sentence of 
 
 deth, upon some d d scoundrel. It's a subject of 
 
 pride and boasting, aint it ? 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Reflexions about a solders life, and on Coorts Marshal, 
 Explanashions of difficullies, atween the gineral and 
 his men, about the service. Reason why the gineral 
 wouldn't let the men go home when their time was 
 out. He wanted 'em tu help tu make war on the 
 Spanish possessions in Florida, and he didn't icant 
 the government tu know it lest they\l hinder him. 
 John Harris, one of the six militia men. Ax^dthe 
 gineral about the shootin bisness. Me and the gin- 
 eral has a long talk about it. 
 
 It is alwase the duty of a biografer tu bring afore 
 the eye of his reader what he thinks the hero * of his 
 story had piost at hart. In axin the gineral about the 
 Creek wars, he tell't me plainly nothin rested with so 
 much weight on his mind as the six militia men who were 
 shot for desertin. I have, said he, employ'd much labor 
 tu get this subject fair and strait. I knew if I cou'd 
 git the public any how tu approve, my conscience wou'd 
 sit considerable easy ^ and now since they've made 
 me president I look upon the shootin of them are six 
 militia men as the best act of all my life, I expected in 
 the war tu have lost a grate many men ; I lost but i&Wy 
 and findin the men obstropulous about goin home I 
 
82 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 thou't the young officers wou'd be pleas'd tu see a leetle 
 shootin when they warn't in no danger, and much more 
 pleased tu have a chance of try in, as judges in a Coort 
 marshal, a lot of the disturbers, especially as some on 
 'em cou'd be spar'd, so few havin bin kill'd in the fitin. 
 The shootin of deserters mite hinder some from joinin 
 us, but it wou'd skeer those that remain'd and make 
 'em stay where they were, for fear they wou'd be shot 
 tu, for no one blames an officer who shoots down his 
 solders, arter all the inemies are kilPd. This is the 
 bisness of a solder; when his officer bids him tu stand 
 up and be shot, he must do it, and if he refuse, he 
 must be shot stand or not. 
 
 The gineral found that fitin was his ilement. The 
 more blood the more glory, was alwase the thou'ts that 
 govern'd him. Tu let his friends know what a giner- 
 al's commission contain'd cou'dn't be done without 
 lettin it h^felt on his own people, for everyone know'd 
 it giv'd him a rite tu kill all his inemies. 
 
 In the month of June 1814, the gineral was commis- 
 shion'd in the United States service. He had been suc- 
 cesful in whippin the Ingins, but unfortenate in his 
 own family of operators. Their discontents had gall'd 
 him considerable. His men knew the law tu well for 
 him tu cheat 'em, and were plaguy sticklers for it. 
 The gineral wou'd explain the law accordin tu his under- 
 standin of it; and he took consarnt care not tu know it 
 a bit till the Ingins were all kill'd. When the militia 
 said they were call'd out only three months, the gineral, 
 like a master feller for doin bisnes, took the three months, 
 and havin put 'em on a blacksmith's anvil hamer'd 
 them out tel they were six months, and jist tell'd the 
 
OF GENERAL JAGKSON. 85 
 
 men they look'd for all natur like as if the legislatur 
 had made 'em six months without weldin. He then 
 tell'd his men that they were six montns in the Creek 
 nashion, where there warn't no law yet, that his commis- 
 shion was congress, and legislatei, and judge, and 
 exe-cutioner, and every thing else. He tell'd me he 
 rote tu the governor jist tu say while he was in the 
 Creek nashion, he needn't be very pernickety about 
 law, that it wou'd be highly criminal tu shrink from 
 responsibility, or fidget and scuffle about the exercise 
 of power. Here, says he, I have, by a stroke of a ha- 
 mer, made three months intu six — I have said it was 
 law — that the men who wouMn't believe it law wouM be 
 coort marshal'd and shot as deserters, and that the laws 
 of the state of Tenesee must be suspended until arter the 
 Ingins were all smabbled. The men howsomever, didn't 
 understand how he cou'd splice, oi weld, or hamer out 
 three months, and deserted in droves. They were 
 brou't back tu answer ; some com'd of their own free 
 will, and it happen'd by desine that those who return'dof 
 their own free will were sentenced and shot. He thou't 
 they must have bin dick'd in the nob tu put 'em- 
 selves in danger arter bein safe, and that they cou'd 
 best be spar'd. 
 
 The militia when they are call'd tu perilous duty, 
 alwase take care tu avoid more of it than they can by 
 law get clear of. Havin bin cali'd out for three 
 months, they kept the hour of their liberation anx- 
 ious in view. They seed the gineral disregard law, 
 and make it as he went along tu suit his occashions — 
 they seed him forgiv'n by the government, when, as they 
 thou't he deserv'd to be hang'd, and receive applause 
 
84 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIVE 
 
 tor that which, if follerM by all the ginerals wou'd 
 put an eend at onct tu all order, discipline and law.— 
 When they seed their gineral act thus, and the very 
 insulted government knock under and approve, they 
 thou't no one cou'd blame 'em for jist goin home 
 when they had fulfill'd their part of the bargain. But 
 they were mistaken, as I will now tell ye. 
 
 About the 20th of September, 1814, the time expired 
 for which the militia suppos'd they were tu serve.— 
 They had determin'd tu serve no longer, and accordin- 
 ly martshed off for home. Some on 'em returned tu 
 their homes, but others were overtaken, and brou't 
 back pris'ners. At that time the Creek war had bin 
 eended, there was no inemy in the land, and they 
 thou't their rites shou'd be respected. The gineral 
 had in his mind an attack upon the Spanish posses- 
 shions in Florida, but bein a prodigious thinker, 
 and famous for lockin up all his determinashions m his 
 own bosom, he put a veto on the desires ot the militia, 
 and resolv'd tu keep 'em tel they wou'd execute his 
 
 projects. 
 
 Among the deserters from Fort Jackson there was 
 Jacob Jfehh. David Morrow, John Harris, Henry 
 . Lewis, David Hunt, and Edward Linsay All 
 these six, from time tu time arriv'd;at home, but hearm 
 they were under censure, voluntarily return'd tu duty, 
 begged forgiveness, and promis'd tu be faithful. 
 
 I guess my readers wou'dn't forgive me, nor the gine- 
 ral nother, if I wou'dn't jist give some account of 
 these cases, for the reason that folks like tu read about 
 hangin and shootin above all things. The account o 
 John Harris will be nearly the account of all, and 1 II 
 jist tell it. 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 85 
 
 In the fall of 1813, John Harris's son, James, a boy 
 «)f sixteen years of age, enroU'd himself tu serve a 
 tower of duty. His father thinkin him tu young tu 
 go without protection, took the place of another man 
 drafted in the same company and went with him. 
 
 Arter a three month's tower, John Harris, believin 
 his time^of service was out, com'd home, havin givin 
 t^} his gun and lifted his receipt. 
 
 On gettin home, he learnt that the gineral had order- 
 ed 'em back by express. He stay'd home three or 
 four days, and started back of his own accord. He 
 was warn'd tu keep out of the way, for that the giner- 
 al didn't want him tu shoot his inemies, but tu jist 
 stand tu be shot at for the good of the public, Harris 
 said he had done nothin for which they'd hurt him, even 
 before a court marshal, and that if they insisted on a 
 new term of service, he wou'd go and give it, as lirs 
 kurnel said if they'd go home he'd give 'em rashions 
 tu support 'em. 
 
 Harris went on tu Fort Jackson, and giv'd himself 
 up tu Kurnel Hart. The Kurnel was jist settin out 
 for Mobile, with his men, and Harris was brou't along 
 handcuft''d. Arter comin tu Mobile, Harris with the 
 
 other prisoners, was tri'd, and sentenc'd tu deth. 
 
 Harris wrote tu his friends and also tu the gineral for 
 pardon, or a new hearin. Then, for the first time, the 
 gineral charges him with "robbery and arson." The 
 arson case was the throwin the bakehouse intu a river, 
 or settin it on fire, or some sich thing, and the robbery 
 was the takin rashions for his journey home, from the 
 public stores. It was prov'd on oath, howsomever, that 
 iht gineral oney guest that he was guilty, as the bake- 
 H 
 
86 MAJOR JACK DOWNINC'S LIFE 
 
 house had bin drownM a .veek afore, and the kurne, 
 had givin him supplies, on receivm h.s gun, and deUv 
 
 f Lint for it The sineral who was bnmful of 
 ennlnsrecptfor t. T g ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^_ 
 
 patriotism, let ^t J>^' ™" ,^i,„ ,bo«t Harris, he 
 
 When moneco^AJ^ I ^^^ ^^ ^^^^,^^^^,^_ 
 
 Tvast^rH e'at s d, tLs tu c^me near him. These 
 Itwasteriioie ,,^„ ^ etition was 
 
 SeT^Un'tUSstof^heseiitiacationshewas 
 
 Lu' - off « the defence of New Orleans 
 
 " :ltters where justice is tu be ^-^^}<'\fll 
 
 hadn't offended ^ b'^" - "^f ^^ ,,^ ? „,, ,,,. 
 
 of my statements. 1 ax d """ " J .„,^,, 
 
 says 1, J" allowM you tu shoot him that 
 
 towards a man who had allow a )o 
 
 "" "'"," !" .b.t " '""«»"> - '•"•••^ ■'■'■' 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSOK. 87 
 
 \itenin, and givin one whack on the table with his hick- 
 ory, makin the house ring tu the garret, he said, now 
 says he, Major, I'm goin tu tell you that that are Har- 
 ris deserv'd tu be shot. If he and a few more had bin 
 quiet, all the rest wou'd, and then I wou'd have had 
 my men whom I took so much pains tu train, ready tu 
 fall upon the Spanyards in Florida, for I was then me- 
 ditatin a war aginst 'em, but had it all lock'd up in my 
 own brest, afeard the government wou'd find it out, 
 and prevent me. I wanted tu do the work, and let 
 'em first know about it when it was done. I like tu 
 take my own way. I tell ye, Major, the fewer men do 
 a work, the better and quicker it is done. 
 
 But, gineral, says I, that is not '• dimocrasy." — 
 Oh ! says he, as tu the matter of that, I can make it 
 dimocrasy at a word. It only wants me tu say it was 
 done for the people, and all will be dimocrasy in a 
 flash. 
 
 Before I say any more about these unfortenate men, 
 I will lead the reader a trip tu Pensacola, with the 
 gineral, and tell a leetle of his adventurs there; then, 
 arter a short excursion among the Ingins, lead him tu 
 New Orleans where his glory ris'd tu sich a hight, as 
 amost tu set the hull nation in a blaze — arter which I 
 will make a few remarks about their trial and deth. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 Controversy with the governor of Pensacola. Tlie 
 gineral martch'd an army tu dispossess him. Span- 
 yards oppose, aided by the Inglish. The gineral took 
 the town and forts. Blowin up of the Barancas. 
 The gineral givhl all np and martschhl hack. Jlrriv'd 
 at j\ew Orleans. Battle of Larond's Plantation. 
 The Caroline openhl her month and spit fire at 'm. 
 Coffy^s riflemen treed their game. The Inglish 
 driven from ditch tu ditch, until the darkness sav'd 
 them. The gineral, victorious, draws off his men, 
 and encamps for the nights 
 
 Jist as the militia pris'ners were comin in of their 
 own accord tu be tried and shot, the British, on the 
 Florida coast begin'd tu commit mischief. The gineral, 
 who for a long time had his eye on Florida, rt lying 
 so snug on our southern skirts, found now a good 
 apology. The Governor of Pensacola was not friend- 
 ly. He cover'd the Inglish, and encouraged the lu- 
 gins. From that city much mischief came upon our 
 adjoinin States, and it was necessary tu have a better 
 understandin with him, or jist, in the absence ot his 
 master, tu dispossess him and take care of his property til 
 his people wou'd come and take it away, allowin the land 
 tu remain till we cou'd use it for our own purposes. 
 Afore the gineral sot out for Florida,>e Inglish made 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 89 
 
 a terrible attack on Fort Bowyer, at the entrance of 
 Mobile river. The commander, with his leetle squad, 
 giv'd 'em a neat dressin, and made them hike faster 
 than they com'd on, first blowin up one of their vessels, 
 and sendin a hull grist of 'em tu feed the herrins. 
 
 This bein done, the gineral sent for his best game 
 chick, gineral Coffj, old live oak, who was up tu trap 
 whersomever he went, and never fail'd tu send his ine- 
 mies tu kingdom come without benefit of Clergy, as 
 if he had oney bin breakin hemp. They were soon 
 on the way, but on their near approach tu Pensacola, 
 they encamped, and a flag officer was sent forrard tu 
 tell the governor the object of their visit, and de- 
 mand a surrender of the forts in his possession, the city 
 and military stores tu be taken care of and arterwards 
 disposed as the parties shou'd agree upon. The 
 flag officer was fired upon and compell'd tu return. 
 The Inglish flag, which the day afore had bin hoisted 
 along side the Spanish, had bin haul'd down, the Span- 
 ish alone flyin tu protect his inemies. It was as- 
 certain'd that the attack on the gineral's flag was 
 made by the Inglish in the fort, and not the Spanyards. 
 On soliciting the governor tu give up his possesions 
 peaceably, he refus'd, when it was determin'd tu com- 
 pel him forthwith. 
 
 The city was garrison'd and the advances well pro- 
 tected by a fort. The gineral, tu make believe he 
 was goin tu attack them rite in front, drew up part 
 of his army as if prepar'd tu martsch forrard, while 
 with the main body he took a circuit and com'd upon 
 them in flank of the town, out of range of the prin- 
 cipal battery, and secure from the fire of the Indish 
 
 H3 ^ 
 
90 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 ships in the harbour. Afore the Spanyards know'd 
 what he was doin, the gineral com'd down on them 
 like a clap of thunder. The stratagem was a grand 
 'un, and arter a leetle skrimmagin they were forc'd tu 
 ax the gineral's pardon, the governor himself seekin 
 the gineral, and consentin tu give up all if he'd 
 oney have mercy and not sacrifice them — for the good 
 of the country. In a short time the forts and public 
 stores were all surrender'd; and every thing was done 
 tu make peace, which the governor cou'd do, arter he 
 cou'dn't no longer make war. 
 
 The Fort St. Michael's was not deliver'd up with- 
 out a shot which kill'd three bosses and woonded tu 
 men. The flag was then taken down. The Fort of 
 Barancas 14 miles distant v/as next day blown up, 
 and the necessity of its possession render'd need- 
 less. 
 
 As all this attack and capture of Pensacola and the 
 Forts had not bin authoris'd by the government, but 
 was the doins of the gineral himself, who now sot out 
 tu make war and peace as the whim took him, he con- 
 cluded, on lettin the Spanyards see what he cou'd do, 
 tu jist give all up agin and return back as he com'd. 
 In tu days arter takin the town he left it, tellin the gov- 
 ernor he left him tu re-occupy his forts, and pursue 
 his concerns as he had done afore. 
 
 The hostile Ingins who had bin with the Inglish in 
 Pensacola, fled intu the country. The gineral, who 
 hated the Ingins worse than the Spanish, preferred 
 givin up his recent victories tu lettin the Ingins 
 escape. He prepar'd tu pursue. Major Blue was 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 91 
 
 instantly sent arter 'em, and gineral Mcintosh, of the 
 Georgia militia, \ras order'd tu aid him. 
 
 The Forts Barancas and St. Hose, blown up by the 
 Inglish, the Spanyai ds begun tu rebuild. The Inglibh 
 offer'd assistance, but the governor said, that as the 
 gineral was now his friend, he wou'd send for him when 
 he needed help. 
 
 The coast bein clear of the inemy, the gineral now 
 return'd tu Mobile, and soon arter proceeded tu New 
 Orleans, which becom'd threaten'd considerable. He 
 arrived there on the 1st of December and establish'd 
 his quarters in it. There he found the people all in 
 the dumpsj there was a general depression of sperits; 
 the people seem'd tu have taken the collywabbles, and 
 every one was afear'd tu speak his mind tu his neighbor, 
 becase no one knew whether his neighbor wasn't a spy, 
 or a disguis'd inemy. The city was in grate distress, 
 becase it seem'd an omnium gatherum of people from 
 all nashions, and no one cou'd tell who was a friend 
 from a foe. 
 
 The gineral wasn't one of those chaps who cou'd be 
 caught nappin, nother with chaff. The people haviu no 
 confidence in one another, and the governor afear'd tu 
 command 'em lest they shou'dn't obey, all were glad 
 when the gineral made his appearance. The fence 
 riders now took courage and jumpt clean off. Now, 
 they wou'd say, here's old hickory come, and live oak 
 a commin, and he'll do more than Clapperclaw if 
 they'll oney come tu the scratch. The gineral not 
 findin a good supply of arms, and the Inglish bein 
 on the coast and supposed preparin tu make an attack 
 on the city, went at onct tu work, order'd the gov- 
 
92 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 ernor tu duty, the people tu arms, and instantly com- 
 pelled every mountybank, and elbow-shaker, frezier, 
 bully-trap, and janizary, lolly-poop, sea-crab, caper 
 merchant. Badger, Dandy-pratt, and Fidlam-ben he 
 cou'd lay hands upon in the city tu muster in his 
 army. These he handed over tu his drillers, while he 
 set rite about instructin the governor in his duty and 
 callin the citizens tu arms. He then tell'd the people, 
 what I tell'd him tother night in bed when talkin of 
 these are matters,— that is, he that isn't for us is aginst 
 us. He alluded tu the inclinashions of the people,^ I 
 tu the constitushion of the country, and when I jist 
 call'd his mind tu it a minit he said you are rite 
 Major— may be the people have rites as well as we— 
 I'll think on't. 
 
 The gineral went at work in good earnest. He had 
 gards station'd every where tu watch and detect spies 
 and informers. The sperits of the people soon rose 
 tu 100 degrees, and the militia flocked in tu aid him in 
 its defence. The brave Kentuckians, under Shelby, 
 was no less prompt— they was aflote on the Ohio and 
 Missippi in a flash, and afore you cou'd say Jack 
 Robinson the troops from Lousiana, Kentucky, Ten- 
 esee, Ohio and other places, the real screamers, who 
 cou'd ''grin the bark ott* a tree, look a panther tu deth, 
 stand three streaks of lightnin without dodgin, and 
 suck for bitters a noggin of aqua-fortis sweeten'd with 
 brimstone, stir'd with a lightnin rod, and skim'd with 
 a hurrycane, — were on their martch." 
 
 About the nth December the gineral was informed 
 the Inglish had anchor'd on the coast. The gineral in 
 the hurry of his preparashions, for defence forgot tu send 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 93 
 
 for j!;meral Coffy at Sandy creek. When the gineral 
 thou't of this it amost skeert him, as he found he had 
 bin preparin materials which were of doubtful temper, 
 while his own tri'd men were within his reach and so 
 long — perhaps till tu late an hour, forgot. It was old 
 governor Clairborne whom the gineral put intu his 
 coat pocket as soon's he took the comm.and, who popt 
 thenoshion intu his hed, of sendin for Coftj. At first 
 the gineral cou'dn't think of drawin his army from 
 Mobile, which he kinder consider'd a pet; but, the 
 wealth and importance of New Orleans — the charac- 
 ter he had at stake — the chance of impeachment, and 
 the probability, if under the ban, of havin tu answer 
 for a string of sins as long as a Portuguese Prayer 
 Book, — he concluded that it was at New Orleans, 
 arter all, he was tu pierce the cloud and let the glory 
 shine upon him in full blaze — and he did it smartick- 
 ally I tell ye. 
 
 On the 19th gineral Carrol arriv'd from Nashvil, 
 and gineral Cofty from Sandy creek. This vet'ran 
 had amo?t kill'd his critters, by drivin 'em like Jehu 
 140 miles in tu days, and a part over bad roads. He 
 commanded 1200 mounted rifle men, whose harts al- 
 wase swell'd and felt big when they heard there was 
 danger comin. There was now assembled at New 
 Orleans, Carrol's men 2,900; Coffy's, 1,200; city 
 militia 1000; Reglars 700; mareens and saviors 150; 
 in all 5950 men, — and the gineral. 
 
 On the 23d the gineral was informed that a body of 
 the red coats had landed on the banks of the Missippi, 
 some miles below the city. He thou't it best tu give 
 those chaps a curnubblin, jist tu incourage the folks 
 
94 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 in the city, and make 'em believe all safe when he 
 guided the helm of attkirs. A division of 1276 men 
 commanded by the brave Coffy and himself, was as- 
 sembled and martch'd off tu attack 'em. When on 
 the way some distance it was discover'd that Major 
 Planche's battallion of 400 men hadn't not even a 
 single blank catridge in their pouches. The gineral 
 findin out this, as he did by accident, was in a delite- 
 ful foam. He laid the blame on every one all round 
 him, officers and men. One of the officers, by way 
 of excusin himself jist venter'd tu say that he didn't 
 look intu the aftair, since he thou't that his comman- 
 der, who bad reviewed this Battallion when encamp'd 
 on the Bay-you St. John, had attended tu their wants; 
 but the gineral, who is a master feller for wardin oflf 
 blame, thunder'd out a storm of rath and fury upon 
 the impudent rascal, and threaten'd tu fling him by 
 the heels intu the Missippi if he wou'd say another 
 word, so that he heard no more blame, and the officers 
 tu please him divided it among themselves tu make it 
 lite upon each. The major return'd tu git his catridges, 
 and the rest mov'd on tu battle. 
 
 The gineral now^ sent Kurnel Hinds with a party of 
 Dragoons tu reconoitre. They soon return'd with 
 informashion of their sitewashion and number. The 
 gineral, had now for the first time tu meet a reglar 
 disciplin'd army in the field. He knew his men. 
 Every chick on 'em was a born hero, tried, and wou'd 
 fite for him tu the last kick. On this he hadn't nothin 
 tu fear, but he thou't his men hadn't experience and 
 tackticks enuft' tu cope with fellers who cou'd go intu 
 all shapes in a minute. The gineral harang'd his men. 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 95 
 
 He said he was determin'd tu fite till death, or gain 
 the nite, for it was now dusk, and the battle must be 
 fou't in the dark. He tcll'd 'em how well they had 
 fou't in all battles where he led 'em, and now they 
 must do better than ever^ and thatas"he was command- 
 er of the land and naval forces he had order'd commo- 
 dore Patterson tu co-operate, and take 'em upon the 
 flank oft' the river and pepper 'em gloriously. The 
 orders was now given, but tlie red coats didn't know a 
 bit what was comin, for they was sittin snug round 
 their camp fires fillin their kittles and makin coffy 
 when another kind of Coffy was a preparin which giv'd 
 considerable of them the mulligrubs. While the gineral 
 was advancin and afore he was ready, captin Henly 
 of commodore Patterson's squadron dropt down with 
 the stream till she was rite afore the flank of the 
 Inglish camp, when he down anker about 100 yards 
 from shore. Some of the Inglish seein the vessel 
 thou't it was from New Orleans from their friends, 
 with provishions. They hail'd, schooner ahoy! what 
 have you got tu sell; nothin, says Henly, but a leetle 
 tu give away gratis. Then in a low voice he axt his 
 men if they were ready. Al! ready! — Then give it tu 
 'em; says he. In a wink the port holes were up, the 
 guns out, and bang! bang! bang! went his hull broad- 
 side rite intu 'em, as if he had bin shootin at ducks 
 on a mill pond. The Inglish was in a fine sitewashion 
 tu get kill'd; the grape and canister shot went rattlin 
 among men and kittles, and in a minit spilt all their 
 cofty, and sent a hundred or tu of 'em tu peg trantums 
 in a giffy. The livin ones were on their trapsticks 
 quick enuff*, I tell ye, and began tu play oft* their 
 
96 MAJOR JACK DOWNING*S LIFE 
 
 rockets tu the amusement of Henly, who wasn't a bit 
 nother hurt nor skeert by 'em. 
 
 While Heniy and his men were ridlin 'em with his 
 grape, the gineral com'd up tu 'em. He found the 
 inemy preparin tu meet him, and he arrang'd the order 
 of battle. The gineral felt confident, and was burn- 
 in with a flame of glory. The inemies' fires show'd 
 their posishion tu be a rite nice one, and the gineral 
 deploy'd his men so as tu make his rifles pop 'em by 
 the blaze of their own fires. The inemy was drawn 
 up, their left eend on the river, and their rite runnin 
 out towards the woods. Gineral Cofty who had dis- 
 mounted his men and turn'd his bosses out tu grass, 
 took the side next the woods, tu shoot at 'em side 
 ways, while the gineral took 'em front and rite, tu 
 keep 'em strate, so that while the Caroline might pepper 
 'em from the river, Coffy mite be at 'em on tother side. 
 This wou'd havefix'd their flints pritty slick, hadn't 
 the ship found it necessary tu stop, afear'd they wou'd 
 shoot Coffy and his men, when they fir'd at the inemy. 
 The gineral knew better, for our own balls he knew 
 warn't never made tu kill our own men. Commodore 
 Patterson thou't they wou'd, for which he deserv'd tu 
 be coort marshal'd, becase the gineral know'd better. 
 
 The gineral, who cou'd gaft' a cannon as well's a cok, 
 was now prepar'd,oney Plauche's men hadn't yet com'd 
 up with their catridges. The attack was now furiously 
 commenc'd. Cofty advancin towards the inemy, re- 
 ceiv'd a heavy fire in his front. The fire from the 
 Caroline had made the inemy scamper, and form near- 
 er the advancin lines of the inemy than they had ex- 
 pected. The riflemen was tell'd tu fire one^^ when 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 97 
 
 sure of aim, and the line press'd on. When they 
 com'd near enuff tu see the whites of their eyes they 
 were order'd tu fire. Gosh I what a tumblin! What 
 didn't come tu their marrow bones had tu take leg bail 
 in quick time I tell ye. The inemy warn't no slouch- 
 es nother, so arter runnin a leetle, they rallied and 
 form'd. The rifles charg'd agin and agin they re- 
 treated. Old live oak said tu his men, go on my boys; 
 the work's afore ye; ye know how tu do it; and you 
 are above my praise. Coffey was calm and resolute as 
 an elephant goin tu push a ship oft' the stox, but the 
 gineral who didn't fear man nor divil was heard above 
 the roar of his guns. His voice and presence was eve- 
 ry where He had led his men by the side of the 
 river, where the Inglish made a determin'd stand, and 
 fou't like furies for a full half hour. The gineral's men 
 wou'dn't budge a peg, nor wou'd the Inglish; at last the 
 Kentucky and Tenesee rifles began tu pop 'em like 
 squirrels, and so fast that they got behind the levee 
 for protection. 
 
 While this was goin on Coffy was rowin the rite 
 wing up salt river in glorious stile. The Inglish tind- 
 in his rifles tu sure, got intu an orange grove, with a 
 ditch and fence in front. Cofty pursu'd 'em, charg'd 
 across the ditch, giv'd 'em a dedly fire, and made 'em 
 scamper out agin. The Inglish now got the old levee 
 next the river behind^ and a new levee bank form'd in- 
 ward tu protect the country from the rise of the wa- 
 ter, afore 'em. Here they were secure; and the nite 
 bein dark, and no chance tu git at 'em, from the rifles 
 on this, or the fire from the ships on tother side they 
 were for a while lodg'd in safety. I 
 
98 
 
 Havin lodg'd the rite of the IngUsh atween tu banks 
 with the gallant Coffy threatenin it terribly, if they 
 wou'd but pop their nebs above the ditch. I will now 
 go tu the gineral, and tell how he ramsquaddled 'em 
 on the left. 
 
 Liftenant Spotts, with sixty mareens, was order'd tu 
 move down the levee road, with the 7th regiment on 
 their left,and the 44 agin on their left. Brigadeer Ross 
 marched the men by companies until they approach'd 
 the inemy's line. Then he order'd 'em tu deply, and 
 connect his line with that of Coffy's. This wasn't 
 done, and some confusion took place, which left a consid- 
 erable of a gab atween the rite and left of the army. 
 Plauche's Battallion now com'd up with their catridg- 
 ges; and were order'd tu fill the gap, but major Plau- 
 che havin got a drap of the critter, and not bein as 
 well prepar'd tu fite as hoora, mist his aim, but hap- 
 pen'd by chance tu stumble in the way of the right 
 wing. The brave men giv'd 'em their cartriges na- 
 tion^'well, the meetin was at the nick of time, as the 
 IngUsh in a few minits wou'd have flanked the gineraU 
 and routed the whole army. At this time the fitin 
 and confusion was considerable on both sides, and but 
 for the obstinate bravery of the forces under the gine- 
 ral, who fou't thro' thick and thin, knowin the gineral 
 meant 'em tu fite whether he wou'd tell 'em how tu do 
 it or not, his star, now agin lord of the ascendant, 
 wou'u have bin blink'd. 
 
 The fog from the river, the smoke from the guns, 
 and the darkness of the nite, put the moon intu mourn- 
 in. She wept heavy dew for the sins of these chris- 
 tian's while endeavorin tu do one another all the div- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 99 
 
 elment" they cou'd. But there was no help for it. The 
 Inglish had bin so long us'd tu fitin they didn't know- 
 how tu get along without it. Arter tryin all Europe they 
 com'd over tu see whether we here wou'd fite any, 
 and now that they tri'd our mettle, it was rite tu give 
 'em a specimen, and send 'em home content and happy 
 that wc wern't without good spunk. 
 
 The Inglish who thou't they wou'd have cornubbled 
 the gineral afore Plauche com'd up with his catridges, 
 had now tu spin it. They got behind a ditch, and bid 
 defiance. As the gineral advanc'd they kept waitin 
 until he was pritty near, and then open'd a heavy fire. 
 Quick as a flash our men mounted their battery, and 
 they giv'd it tu 'em, I guess they warn't no dumplins 
 at a Christmas dinner — the small arms plajin a canticle 
 that put ever so many of 'em intu a lastin lulaby. The 
 gineral prest forrard. The Inglish by this time had a 
 considerable of an antipathy tu his presence, and 
 endeavor'd tu preserve their dignity, bv a proper dis- 
 tance. Some of the less pernickity made a rally upon 
 our mareens who didn't like the contact 'cause they 
 warn't from Kentuck nor Tenesee, but a division has- 
 ten'd tu their support, made the inemy haul in his 
 horns, and back it, but the gineral findin the inemy tu 
 securely intrench'd order'd their line tu be charg'd. — 
 Now for old Kentuck! — now Tenesee! give it tu 'em 
 my lads, six inches of your cheese-toasters! give the 
 landers and croakumshires a bit of gig for their news- 
 papers ! ! By this time the gineral gain'd the ditch, and 
 then sent across it a tempest of Missouri lead gratis in 
 honor of the national debt of old England, when the 
 bloody-coats fell back tu another drain and ditch 
 
loo MAJOR JACK DOWNING^S LIFE 
 
 where they fou't desperately, but our brave boys from 
 Kentuck soon made them fall back still farther — the ar- 
 tillery in the mean time playin upon 'em where it 
 cou'd with effect. 
 
 The inemy had now been forced back amost a mile. 
 The darkness did more for them than their stars; their 
 tumor and big look at the beginin was pritty well 
 tap'd, and they look'das slim as Calvin Edson. With 
 Coffy, the communication had bin broken off. He 
 knew from the sharp crackin of his rifles that his men 
 had treed the game; but as by this time it had nearly 
 subsided, and as the Caroline had also ceas'd her 
 operations, he concluded they had us'd the inemy up, 
 and was lookin out for more stuff tu work upon. 
 
 By this time as the darkness was grate and the 
 confusion, rite and left, still grater, the gineral re- 
 solved tu retire from a field where his men had so 
 bravely fou't and so .gallantly conquer'd. The order 
 was given tu retire tu Larond's plantashion where the 
 army had first form'd and encamp for the nite, at 
 which place Coffy and his men joined 'em. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The inemy begin to lower their notions of invincibility. 
 Some curious adventurs to the nite battle. The ine- 
 my obtain reinforcements. The gineral commences 
 his battery. S. description of it. Me and the gin- 
 eral holds a conversation. The gineral peskily con- 
 sarn'd for his glory. The inemy outwitted. Great 
 preparations for assault and defence. The battle of 
 the 2Sth December. The inemy thrashed over agin. 
 The gineraPs Coffy giv'd the inemy the Collywab- 
 bles. The legislatur goin tu put the gineral's glory 
 under a bushel. The governor slash's their pro- 
 ceedings. Kurnel Hinds. 
 
 Bj this time the swannery of the John BuUites be- 
 came pritty much a gooserj. The old stiffrumpers 
 begin'd tu waddle as limber as if they had never bin 
 proud of their exploits with the monseers. I guess, 
 some of the princox of the drill was made tu kiss the 
 earth in token of submishion, and the British Uni- 
 corn tu trot off upon three legs. 
 
 The gineral, who was never basketed at a cok-pit, 
 
 or squaddled in a fite, or bited in a bargin, or chauce- 
 
 ried in a row, or plum-stingy in a duel, or a hum-dur- 
 
 geon when danger was near, or cow-handed on the 
 
 1 2 
 
102 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 turf, wasn^t backward, when his country needed him 
 or the inemy afore him, tu bell-the-cat with the veter- 
 an followers of Wellington. He now brou't his troops 
 together, all but the men of Kurnels Dyer and Gibson 
 and of Captain Beal's riflemen. These somehow got 
 spifilicated when the inemy made a lodgment in the 
 orange trees. They were sitewated something like 
 squint-a-pipes, who was born in the middle of the week 
 and didn't know which side tu look for Sunday. In ma- 
 kin a choice, they kinder smelt the inemy in the dark, 
 com'd rite upon 'em., and was challeng'd, order'd tu stop 
 and report tu whom they belonged. Dyer and Gibson 
 advanced and announced their colours. The inemy not 
 understandin 'em they concluded they were in the 
 wrong shop and wheeled tu take ='emselves oft", but a 
 volley follor'd. Gibson had scarcely started when he 
 fell, in a wink a solder pin'd him tu the ground with 
 his cheese-toaster, but as the fates wou'd have it he was 
 only slitely woonded and held by his clothes. Thus 
 pinion'd, and find in others advancin,he made^a violent 
 eftbrtjsprung tu his feet, threw his inemy tu the ground, 
 and made good his retreat. Dyer in a few minutes 
 had his boss shot under him. Entangled by the fall 
 and woonded, and tbe inemy close upon him, he or- 
 der'd his men tu advance and fire. This perform'd, 
 their approach was check'd, and he made good his 
 retreat. At the head of his gallant band, and not 
 knowin which way tu find gineral Coffy, he forced his 
 way thro' the inemies lines with the loss of sixty three 
 of his men who were kill'd or taken. Captain Beal 
 with equal bravery charged thro' the inemy, losin some 
 men, and carrying oft* some prisoners. 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 103 
 
 This Battalion of the inemy, when the battle com- 
 menced, had bin landed from the debarkin flotilla. — 
 Hearin the firin they hasten'd on tu the assistance of 
 their friends, com'd in behind Coftj, and thus engag'd 
 Kurnels Dyer and Gibson. They then filed oflf tu the 
 rite, and joined their friends, while Dyer and Captain 
 Beal, not knowin where tu find Coffy, join'd the dra- 
 goons under Kurnel Hinds for protection, they not 
 bein able tu act from the numerous ditches ruhnin 
 every way thro' the ground. 
 
 The rapid increase of the Inglish army, arrivin eve- 
 ry moment from the ships so as tu out-number the gine- 
 ral's forces, made him change his resolution of com- 
 mencin his attack in the mornin, for which he had sent 
 for gineral CaroU's division. The giiieral guest pritty 
 well that his men, resolute and brave as they were, 
 had not the necessary tackicks tu resist the veterans of 
 Wellington. His part was tu act on the defensive — 
 tu halt him in his designs, and he tlierefore retired tu 
 a narrow pass atween the swamp and the Missippi, 
 about 400 yards wide, along which a deep canal had 
 bein cut, which already formed a breast-work. This 
 fortified place they instantly set tu work tu fortifv bet- 
 ter. CaroU's brigade, bein fresh from town, was in- 
 stantly set tu work. The idea of fortifyin this pass I 
 am sorry didn't begin with the gineral. It was with 
 one of the privates, and I hope he is now a good Jack- 
 sonman and well paid for his puttin the nonce into the 
 gineral's head, if the gineral hasn't bin tu selfish and 
 engross'd alt the glory tu himself, which on such occa- 
 sions shou'd be divided. 
 
 All hands were now turn'd tu the makin a breast- 
 
104 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 work tu fite behind. It was evident the ginoral hadn^t 
 any of the disciples of Pagan, Blondel, Vanhorn, 
 Speitor, or Belidor tu help him. Now as the presi- 
 dent has made a Major of me, vNhich is a high military 
 officer, it is but rite, I shou'd know and proper, I 
 shou'd talk upon fortifikations. I tell'd the gineral 
 planely he didn't make that are battery accordin tu 
 rule He axt me how it shou'd have bin made.— 
 Why gineral, says I, you shou'd have had parallel- 
 1st— 2d— 3d— you shou'd've had a place of arms, and 
 bastions, and half moons, and horn-works, and Rave- 
 lins, and flanks, and 'counter-guards, and covert ways, 
 and approaches, and chee-vauK-de-frees, and demi- 
 loons, and gabon, and gallerys, and salient angles and 
 curtains, and lunettes, and a nation site of matters, none 
 of which I didnt' hear a word about. But major, says 
 the gineral, hadn't I cotton bags, and big guns, and men 
 with big hearts and strong arms tu work 'em and 
 didn't I give 'em are Inglish a nation good ramsquad- 
 dlin from behind 'em. So you did, gineral-that is all 
 tru You did the job for 'em quite as well as if you 
 had all 'em are things, and Cohorn wou'd've risen from 
 his earth-bath tu've helpt you. But mark gineral, na- 
 ture did more for you than either De Sardi, or Mullen 
 cou'd've done. Your cotton bags, the swamp the 
 river, and the narrowness of the pass, and the bold and 
 brave hearts-ginerab, had Wellington bin t.iere he 
 wou'd've went home, like Packenham, in high spents, 
 and left you victor! But Major, says the gineral, you 
 will allow that there was some skill in selectin the spot 
 and adoptin the means. It is true. Major, any man 
 in any army wou'd've done the same, but no one in it 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 105 
 
 cou'd've had the praise of doin it but myself, so that 
 whoever contrives, or does the work, whatever means 
 raaybeus'dor by whatsomever bravery or blunder a 
 battle is won, the gineral gits the praise of all, and the 
 people not only consine him tu immortality but think 
 him intitled tu everlastin gratitude and any honer he 
 may be ambitious enuflf tu aspire tu. Military merit, 
 the least of all merits in a man, major, is the greatest 
 in the eyes of the rabble. They are struck with deep 
 impressions when readin of battles and bloodshed. No 
 other impression so much attracts them. They talk of 
 it tu their children^ they boast of the bravery of their 
 own arms; of their neighbours,- of the heroes of their 
 own state: and they think that the man v/ho leads 'em 
 tu victory must be a demi-god, and be worship'd. I 
 knew this well, major, and so became a military man. 
 You, tu, major, may rise in the world by the same 
 means. Had you bin a leetle more pisen, and lam- 
 basted the Inglish afore they giv'd up, when I sent you 
 tu Madawaska, nothin in nature cou'd've kept you 
 from bein president. Now, you will have tu write 
 my life, becase if you don't do this, the leetle ma- 
 gician, who says it is honer enuff tu have serv'd me, 
 will get ahead; and mind you, major, don't you put 
 down oney thing in my life that isn't exactly strate, or 
 I'll not recommend tu you. All that I've done I'm 
 proud of, and you may freely rite, but nothin more, 
 mind that. 
 
 When the gineral found that the inemy was in his 
 neighbourhood, and wou'dn't be put off without titin, 
 he began in good earnest tu examine the premises and 
 look closely intu the state of things. Fort St. Charles 
 
106 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 was not in fitin orders the guns wern't mounted so as 
 tu be able tu pint at an inemy. Every thing wanted 
 mendin,and so some ot the gentlemen volunteers becom'd 
 ingineers for the first time in their lives and began tu 
 mount the guns anew, prepare plat-forms for 'em tu 
 run upon, and put 'em in order. 
 
 No sooner was the plan of fortifying conceived than 
 the work was set afoot. Fut tho' it amply sufficed for 
 their purpose, it warn't jist made for a long siege, or 
 tu promote the comfort and health of the men. The 
 ground behind the rampart was dug away in a soft soil 
 and where no way was left tu drain it off. This 
 needn't 've bin done, becase the bank cou'd've bin 
 rais'd high enuff without it, and kept the men healthy 
 and dry. Besides, the gineral wasn't alwase prudent. 
 He sent tu flat bottom'd empty boats adrift on the river 
 in the nite tu try the vigilance of the flotilla on the 
 water and the sentries on shore. The vessels on the riv- 
 er, on hailin and gittin no answer, fir'd at and sunk 
 'em. Now, this hadn't no other effect but tu make 
 the men lose confidence in all around 'em, and be 
 ready tu suspect all was treason and spite. This 
 disperits brave men, and is certainly a bad experiment 
 for a gineral. 
 
 From the nite of the 23rd till the Srth the gineral 
 and his men were as bissy as pipers fortifyin their 
 line of defence, durin all which time he never slept. 
 
 As I am soon tu tell about the terrible battle of the 
 8th of Jane wary IS 15, the gineral, arter he had went 
 tu bed got quite uneasy least I wou'd'nt put his glory 
 in the place he wish'd, got up, com'd tu my study, and 
 tell'd me, now major says he, I am anxious tu have 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 107 
 
 my glory put high up that it may shine over this 
 hull nation. So I will gineral says I, but wou'd'nt 
 it be best tu get a leetle steam tu make the battle 
 of the 8th as glorious as that of the 23rd? Isn't the 
 glory dim'd by breast works? Isn't blood and carnage 
 on both sides necessary tu make glory? Oh, says the 
 gineral that's true, major, then tell it your own way, 
 for if you raise it tu high it may be conceal'd by the 
 vapour. The brest-works confines all the glory tu me. 
 If I had beat the Inglish on the open field then the 
 men wou'd've bin envious and wanted tu divide it. 
 Now 1 have it all. Go on major, your own way. 
 
 The loss of the gineral in the battle of the 23rd, was 
 oney 24 killed, 115 woonded, and 74 made prisoners. 
 This, when it is recollected that Kurnel's Dyer and 
 Gibson lost sixty three men in killed and taken, while 
 the inemy lost 7iot less than 400 in killed, woonded 
 and prisoners, was doin a good bisness. I alwasc say 
 no^/ess when I make a ruff guess, and dont know any 
 thing about particklars. 
 
 ^ It was a lucky thing that nite happen'd tu come on 
 jist when the battle begun. It is a consarnt good time 
 tu maul an inemy. Men don't fear a danger they don't 
 see; the inemy is cautious, becase they don't know 
 how many of the inemy they have tu contend with; and 
 it brings raw men intu practice at any odds agihst an 
 inemy. The gineral's men retir'd from the battle 
 well pleas'd. They had given them monkey's allow- 
 ance, more kick's than cents, and had stopt their 
 mummers from all future boastin. 
 
 In this first battle many feats of bravery was dis- 
 play'd. Liftenant Kemple, in the confusion of the bat- 
 
108 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE. ^ 
 
 fie on the left, found himself at the head of a fist full of 
 men, detached from his party, and in the midst ot 
 the inemy. The hero, fearless of the peril tu which he 
 was expos'd, demanded of a squad of red coats near him 
 in an imperious tone where the regiment they belong'd 
 tu was. They was lost like as he was, and cou'dn't 
 tell. Supposin him one of their own officers, he or- 
 der'd 'em tu march; they obey'd, and he led them tu 
 his own line and they were taken prisoners. 
 
 The inemy continued encamp'd on the field of the 
 late contest. The gineral sent out his lite troops tu 
 annoy their pickets. The reports of spies and diseas'd 
 persons troubbled the gineral. He was ready at every 
 pint, and the brave troops, encouraged by his presence 
 were in the highest sperits. At this time the levee was 
 cut in tu diiferent places, and the lands flooded, and 
 fort St. Leon, after the guns were carried oiF or sunk, or- 
 der'd tu bl abandon'd. Means were us'd tu prevent the 
 Inglish from ascendin the Missippi, by erectin a fort 
 at Pass Barrataria. In this undertakin Major Reynolds 
 had associated with him Lafitte the celebrated pirate, 
 but lately excused by the governor fromtakin a aose 
 of neck-weed on the picture frame, the governor now 
 takin out his pay in service tu keep off the inemy. 
 
 The inemy wasn't all this time idle. On the morn- 
 in of the 27th they had erected a battery, on which 
 was mounted several heavy guns. They soon com- 
 menced firin upon the Caroline, on the opposite shore. 
 The Caroline cou'd not be forced up against the stream, 
 and was unable tu get under way ^^il the Inglish bat 
 tery had placed a red hot ball in her hold, which set 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 109 
 
 it on fire. She had then tu be abandon'd, and she soon 
 blew up. 
 
 The Inglish now havin their forces and munitions 
 collected, commenced their march towards the gineral's 
 line of defence, commanded by Sir Edward Packen- 
 ham. Early on the 28th their columns advanced tu 
 storm the gineral's works. They halted at half a mile's 
 distance, open'd afire with their heavy guns, congreeve 
 rockets, bombshells, and all that they cou'd hurl at us 
 They thou't tu make the brave boys from Kertuck and 
 Tenesee take leg-bail, but they mist it consarntly. Not 
 a man of 'em wou'd budge a peg. They were the rale 
 grit, prime twigs, who were in good condition, and 
 ready tu teach John Bull a lesson he hadn't dream't of 
 in his reveries. Every shot made them grit their 
 teeth, and sharpen their bayonets on the breech of the 
 nearest guns. Arter the foe had amus'd 'em by their 
 rockets and bombs, and the red coats were array'd in 
 all the glitter and pomp of war, the gineral open'd his 
 batteries and made 'em call a halt. 
 
 Some navy guns of heavy caliber man'd by the officers 
 and crew of the Caroline, bein mounted on the ramparts, 
 begun tu play. The Louisiana sloop of war also open'd 
 a broadside upon 'em. But the inemy, who coudn't 
 nother make a breach nor silence the schooner, gave 
 up the fite, and fell back tu their camp. They now 
 tri'd hot shot on the Louisiana sloop of war with a 
 heavy gun from the levee. In this work the gineral's bat- 
 tery giv'd'em aterrible maulin,the sloop had but one man 
 woonded and no other injury. Arter seven hours can- 
 nonade they had 120 killed and woonded, and the gin- 
 eral 9 killed and as many woonded. The inemy 
 
110 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 durin the day, had posted themselves behind a fence S 
 short distance from the battery, and were doin the gine- 
 ral considerable mischief. Tu drive 'em off Kurne! 
 Henderson was sent out with 200 men, but mistook his 
 orders, got intu a bad position, and a still worse one by 
 bein shot with five of his men. The rest got safe back* 
 On hearin the gineral's account of this, I look'd at 
 him very hard. Gineral, says, I, how cou'd you let 
 fences as bi est-works, remain so near your line of forti- 
 fications? Had I bin there I wou'dVe had 'em are 
 fences levell'd, and so left 'em expos'd. With fence 
 rails so plenty, theyM material for protection, for lad- 
 ders, Gabons, and galleries, and chee-vaux-de-frees, 
 and all *em are things for stormin you. The gineral 
 look'd a kinder thoughtful a minit; and said. Majors- 
 major says he, jist let us— go a hed a leetle. So I 
 Feed the gineral didn't like tu talk on this are malter. 
 and I went on. 
 
 The inemy now made a flank movement by the woods^ 
 but on Coffy showin himself they jist marched back.— 
 The spies and informers kept the inemy inform'd of ev- 
 ery thing done by the gineral. While Coffy was ex- 
 ecutin this order governor Clairborne sent tu the 
 gineral tu know whether he did not intend tu proffer 
 a surrender, as the legislater was secretly plannin the 
 terms. Never did a lion roar as did now the gineral. 
 He mite be heard a mile or tu. As soon as his forti- 
 fication was over he sent the governor word tu watch 
 the legislater, and as soon as they talked of capitulation 
 tu place a guard on the door of their chamber. The 
 governor didn't wait for the act of the legislater, but 
 put a guard on the door at onct, thus preventin the 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. HI 
 
 siverabers from meetin or forminany plans. The gineral 
 intended, if drivin tu the extremity, tu have destroy'd 
 the city, and establish'd himself higher up, tu cut aff 
 all supplies, and thus have driven the inemy out of 
 the country. 
 
 That the legislater was operated upon by its fears is 
 probable. But fear isn't alwase treason. Their inten- 
 tion tu negociate for peace arose doubtless from the 
 members havin considerable property, which if the gin- 
 eral was beat he mite destroy, and if the inemy con- 
 quer'd hy force^ they mite destroy. They saw no 
 hopes from fitin, they wern't tond of blue pills, and as 
 a matter of course were preparin tu take care of num- 
 ber one. That there is treason coaceal'd in all places 
 sitewated as New Orleans then was, is alwase the case^ 
 but it is generally less than is supposed by the fearful 
 on the one side, who magnify molehills; or than the 
 powers that be wou'd often make believe on the other, 
 for the sake of raisin their services tu as much conse- 
 quence in public estimation as they can. The more 
 they achieve, the more the honer is; and as they arc 
 their own trumpeters, of course the bigger the danger 
 the greater the victory and the glory. Tu ascribe 
 treasonable motives tu a legislater, in a republican coun- 
 ty, is no compliment tu the constitushion and laws; the 
 man that does it deserves a barrel of tar and a bag of 
 feathers gratis I My dander is up when I think it was 
 ever done; and I am amost ready, sincere friend of 
 the gineral as I am, tu cut with him for lettin his his- 
 torian disgrace him by so mean an act. 
 
 While every preparashion was made tu give the ine- 
 my a ramshacklin that wou'd do 'era all their lifetimes, 
 
112 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 the want of arms was greatly felt. The city was put 
 under contribution and every thin^ that cou'd fite or 
 dig was collected. The youth was also transmugri- 
 fi'd intu heroes, arm'd and register'd, and in spite of 
 great talk of treason and many fears, things were gittin 
 intu a pritty good condition. But when things were 
 in forrardness, Kurnel Hinds trom Missippi, a gallant 
 oflBcer of a brave core, havin bin sent out tu disposses 
 the inemy of a lodgment, fell intu an ambuscade 
 but rallyin be effected his object with the less of live 
 men. 
 
CHAPTER XVII, 
 
 The battle of the 9.d Janexvary. Gineral Fackenham 
 Cqff'y's game keeper. The gineral Jinds the long and 
 strong tug comin on improves his lines of defence. 
 The Kentuck militia arrives. An anecdote. Gin- 
 eral Lambert joins Packenham. 
 
 The Inglish, encamp'd tu miles below the gineral, 
 and in full view the plain bein level, foil'd as thej had 
 bin, were preparin for a fresh attack. They were 
 makin things as sure as possible tu force the gineral's 
 lines, open a passage in his brest-works and let in 
 their men by the gap. Thej had obtain-d the heaviest 
 metal they cou'd get from their shippin, and prepar'd 
 on the 1st Jauewary (1815) tu make a second trial. 
 
 On the mornin of the 2d, a heavy fog hid 'em from 
 the gineral, and favoured their desines. On the fog- 
 curtin risin, they show'd considerable of a battery, 
 mountin eighteen and twenty four pounders, at six 
 hundred yards distance. Now the tug of war agin 
 commenc'dj the balls and congreve rockets darken'd 
 the hevens in their flite. Well was it the gineral had 
 a mud bank afore him. Soon our guns vomited upon 
 the inemy a hurrycane of iron, and rite quick, I tell 
 ye, stopt their gab and upset their apple carts. The 
 
 K 2 
 
114 MAJOR JACK DOWMNg's LIFE 
 
 spies had tell'd the Inglish where the gineral's quarters 
 hung out, and at this thej directed most of their fire. 
 The spoonies must 've suppos'd the gineral took it 
 easy while the foe was near, if they guest he rested 
 long in his quarters in sich times. The gineral, pos- 
 sess'd of a local ubiquity, was every where. His 
 voice, like ten thousand lions in the Nubian desart, 
 was heard above the rattlin thunder, and his men, 
 nerv'd by his presence and courage, was more than 
 a hero's. Soon his guns silenced the batteries of the 
 inemies. Our ingineers, from their grate practice, 
 judgment and science, beat the Inglish all holler, 
 by noon had dismounted their guns, and by three 
 o'clock compell'd 'em tu retire. They begin'd with 
 confidence 'sposen the gineral didn't know^ B from 
 broomstick in the science of war; but he learn'd 'em 
 a lesson which '11 do John Bull tell he pays his nash- 
 ional debt what it is tu try a tug with our rale ring- 
 tale roarers from Kentuck and Tenesee. 
 
 The inemy next tri'd tu penetrate by the way of 
 the swamp, and turn the gineral's left flank; but here 
 a dish of Cofty was prepar'd so hot for 'em that they 
 cou'dn't swallow it, and they beg'd tu be excus'd. 
 Gineral Cofty had an anluous task tu perform. His 
 stashion was in the swamp. He cut down the brush 
 wood for SO or 40 yards in front tu give his crackers 
 a chance, and made a kinder fortificashion ot brush 
 wood, with logs floatin in water tu stand upon and 
 upon these his men had tu remain day and nite squat- 
 ted like so many tarrapins sunnin 'emselves, all the 
 time not knowin when the inemy wou'd say how'd'ye 
 do. These men wou'd lie in their bushes, and as 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 115 
 
 scon's a bloodj-back show'd his nob he was sure tu be 
 sent tu Peg Trantums. They seem'd as happy as if 
 they were at a frolic, and kept all the time jokin, 
 callin Packenham their game keeper, and bettin on 
 how many each wou'd bag in an hour when a herd of 
 his bucks wou'd come athwart 'em. 
 
 On this day thegineral lost eleven kill'd and twenty 
 one woonded — the inemy wou'd never tell the gineral 
 a bit about it, but tu their own secretary of foreign 
 affairs they confess'd 78 lost. In the battle of the 
 £d the inemies shot bor'd the gineral's brest-work 
 quite thro'; the gineral thou't it wou'dn't 've done this; 
 but tu prevent sich an unruly neighbour from comin so 
 near, the gineral had the spades at work agin. Cotton 
 bags were hauled down tu strengthen the embrasures. 
 A Frenchman, on complainin that his bags were hauled 
 off", the gineral call'd for a musket, order'd him intu 
 the line tu defend the works and said that bein a man 
 of property he had a rite tu fite for it, and must. 
 
 At this time the Kentucky troops hadn't arrived, 
 but were daily expected. The Inglish had retir'd 
 onct agin tu their camp. The gineral had giv'd 'em a 
 fine kittle of fish of it, but they warn't jist yet dish'd 
 up; their time for that was near at hand if they'd 
 oney have a leetle patience and not be tu fidgitty. 
 They had now pritty considerable of an army, but was 
 in expectashion of a daily increase. It was good for 
 'em it warn't in July. Had it bin, the Kentuckians 
 mite 've bin spar'd, as the gallinippers, had a waggon 
 load of brickbats jist bein sent among 'em tu whet 
 their bills upon, wou'd've settled the hash, and the 
 gineral woud 've lost all the glory without a shot. 
 
116 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 As I am soon tu describe the fearful tug, it is pro- 
 per tu give some idea of the plan of defence. The 
 gineral had stashion'd his men behind a battery 
 formed of earth, and runnin strait from the left side of 
 the Missippi intu the swamp, as I've tell'd afore. In 
 front of the counterscarp run a mill-race, now partly 
 dry from the fallin ot the river. The glacis was but 
 slitely inclin'd, owin tu the tenacity of the earth on 
 the spot. The battery was lin'd amost all the way 
 with guns 0^ different metals weight, and its embras- 
 ures was protected by cotton bags, which serv'd the 
 ingineers as gabions. The rampart was of sufficient 
 height tu enable the men tu fire over it, but when 
 chargin, tu be conceal'd. The site of the battery was 
 sunk, from the level earth several inches. A slitely 
 elevated parapet for the musqueteers was rudely form- 
 ed. In advance of the battery close on the river was 
 erected a redoubt, with embrasures comniandin the 
 road along the levee, and flankin so as tu rake the 
 ditch as well as the scarp in front. Behind this de- 
 fence, tu miles, another line of battery was erected, 
 for contingents, reserves, the unarm'd manipulators, 
 who, when in danger, like Saul's army, had nother 
 sword nor spear, but who was prepar'd, in case of 
 defeat, tu flabagast the army and prevent all semblance 
 of order in the scamper. Another battery was also 
 erected on the rite bank of the river tu check any 
 approach in that quarter, while governor Clairborne, at 
 the bed of the Louisiana militia was stashion'd on 
 the Chef Menteur road, a quarter from which sich 
 danger was apprehended. 
 
 The gineral in his second line of defence had so sta- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 117 
 
 tion'd his cavalry, that in case of defeat they mite be 
 prepar'd tu cover a retreat, till they cou'd rally behind 
 the second line, and be thus prepar'd tu dispute the 
 approach tu the city. Atween these tu lines no com- 
 munication was held except by confidential officers. 
 Thus were the tu armies hoisted before the glorious 
 8th of Jinewary. The firing was seldom and harm- 
 less in the interval, only jist as if tu say we're here and 
 preparin for you. While thus remainin, the brave 
 Kentuckians com'd up under gineral Thomas, but 
 badly provided with arms. They hadn't even a corn 
 stalk, which if in the hands of a rale Kentucic, wou'd 
 've skeert an army as well's a battery of wooden guns 
 from a merchant vessel display'd tu friten oft' pirates, 
 and in their hands, wouM've done more execution 
 among the inemy than the Fort erected some years ago 
 by the minister of Spain tu our government, at Bristol 
 on the Delaware, which was mounted with beautiful 
 wooden cannon, and for which he charged his own 
 government ^20,000. 
 
 The force of the gineral now amounted tu about 
 9,200 men; namely, New Orleans militia and volun- 
 teers l,000j 7th and 44th regiments of reg'lars 700; 
 Louisiana and Missippi militia and volunteers 1400; 
 Commodore Patterson's saylors and mareens 150; 
 Cofty's brigade Tenesee riflemen 1250; CaroU's 
 brigade Tenesee militia 2500; and Thomas' brigade 
 Kentucky militia 2200 — 9200 men, with some who 
 volunteer'd, when compelVd tu defend their own cotton 
 bags, besides the gineral. 
 
 About this time the French populashion of New Or- 
 leans who were oney half republicanis'd, but hadn't yet 
 
118 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 learnt the sperit of our republican usages, were thou't 
 tu be peskily inclin'd tu the inemy. Some of 'em 
 became partisans, most lay quiet, but a few were 
 secretly murmurin treason aginst the gineral. Every 
 one was tu bissy with important matters now tu mind 
 'em, and so left 'em tu be dealt with as time and oc- 
 cashion mite allow. 
 
 The day afore the battle, one of the officers com'd 
 up tu the gineral and begged leave tu give up his com- 
 mission and go home, observin that his men call'd him 
 puter foot, and made game of him, so that he cou'dn't 
 stand rt any longer. Are you afear'd tu fite.^ said the 
 gineral. No, please your worshipful Excellency, said 
 the officer. Well then, said the gineral, you must re- 
 main till we beat 'em are British, or till we are put 
 where they will no more make game of us. They call 
 me old hickory, and when this fite is over we'll have 
 'em all up and coort marshal every skin on 'em — so 
 go tu your post, and fite bravely. 
 
 Informashion was now receiv'd by the gineral that 
 gineral Lambert had arriv'd in the Inglish camp with 
 considerable of a reinforcement. This the gineral had 
 bin taught tu expect, and he concluded very properly 
 that when these had join'd their comrades the struggle 
 wou'd be hotter than in the former ones — in short, that 
 the crisis was now come, and that it wou'd be neck or 
 nothin with 'em. That numbers must kick the bucket 
 in this clapperclawin was a ded sartinty. A deserter 
 from the gineral's army found means tu elude the sen- 
 tinels, and escap'd tu the Inglish camp. He tell'd the 
 inemy every thing, where the gineral was strong, 
 where weak, what was his forces, how they was arm'd 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 119 
 
 and where tu attack. I guess, afore he had done, he 
 heard the raven cry pork ! for his funeral. The gineral 
 tu, had his cacklers. The inemj were found drainin the 
 Missippi tu make a canal for passin boats, that they 
 mite attack the gineral on the rite, left, and centre at 
 onct. Gineral Morgan was commander of the fort on 
 the rite bankj if this was gain'd our lines wou'd be 
 flank'd, and prompt means taken tu prevent their 
 plans. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 The glorious battle of the Sth of Janewary, The gin- 
 eraVs speech tu his men. The inemy get a nation 
 peppenn. The inemy blown ski high, and compelled 
 tu retreat. Sir E. Packenham and ginerals Gibbs, 
 and Keane kilVd, and their 7nen smabbled. TJiey get 
 leave tu bury their ded, and assist their ivoonded.— 
 British loss in the battle. Lambert scrags the desert- 
 er for tellin him the truth. 
 
 I have now brou't my readers clean up tu the day 
 when the gineral surrounded himself with sich a blaze 
 of glory, as tu hide all the grate men in this nashion, 
 as Merkry is hid in the glory of the sunbeams and 
 can't often be seed. Jist as day lite com'd the gin- 
 eral tak'd an ade-da-quong, and mounted the rampart 
 with his glass, tu see what was passin on the field 
 
 afore him. 
 
 At this moment a rocket ascended from the swamp 
 side of the Inglish, and another from the river side.— 
 The different regiments began tu display 'emselves, 
 and the hull army tu move forrard. In one place, the 
 gineral seed the Bullites, every one with a cag-mag, a 
 piece of cow's spouse, or an Essex lion in his wallet; 
 in another was a regiment of Frog-landers; here, a 
 battalion of Arra Nows, with a string of Munster plums 
 in their pouches; while Sawney mangin half a yard 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 121 
 
 of a haggis in his bag, was ambitious tu display his 
 feathers. Behind was an array of huin-durgeons with 
 fkces pale enuff tu lite the heros out of camp; while a 
 regiment of moon-rakers from Wiltshire, station'd in 
 the reserve, was beggin the commander tu let 'em 
 share the honers of the day, glad withal of their sta- 
 tion tu guard the camp. As they advanc'd the gineral 
 cou'd tell the difterent nations by their appearance. — 
 Every now and then the Arrah News with their fly-traps 
 open, wou'd toss in a plum, and arter takin a touch of 
 the creather tu wash it down, wou'd kiss Brown Bess, 
 and tell their partners that afore their return Nel 
 Fardin's sweethart wou'd be a widow, or gineral Jack- 
 son, if his men warn't secure as hodmadod wou'd 
 sleep on tother side New Orleans in spite of all the 
 snub-divils in Italy. Each Inglish solder put an 
 ounce of divil in his mouth, and begun fearless tu 
 chew his cud; while the Scotch, grittin their teeth, and 
 gutfounded in the hope of gittin a better dinner at a 
 cheaper price in the city, were seen movin on silently, 
 sulkily, and as bluf as bull-beef, resolvin that the hag- 
 gis shou'd be kept tell other means shou'd fail. The 
 gineral was amus'd, and tu^nin tu his aid, says, I'll 
 disappint some of 'em are chaps afore sun down, or 
 I'm not old hickory. On turnin he saw tu of his men 
 takin a rale tussle, while their companions were laffin 
 at the fun. He ordered the trumpeters tu sound tu 
 arms! In a few minits every man was at his post 
 like the snap of a steel trap. ''Now, my fine colts, 
 said the gineral, your mettle will be tri'd. This day 
 will show what freemen can do in defence of their tem- 
 ples, homes, wives, and sweet harts I The inemy is 
 
122 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 afore youl Will any of you disorace yourselves, and 
 let yo'ur names be spoken of in arter times, as cow- 
 ards!— If em are fellers cross this rampart, give 'em 
 plenty of cold iron in his beef. Give them are fidlam- 
 bens who want Beauty and Booty as the reward of 
 their havin tag'd as many of you as dont pike off, bul- 
 lets for their prog; and let me see that you are jon- 
 nok, when these shabharoons of England attack you. 
 Havin made this speech, the men giv'd three cheers, 
 and stood ready tu receive the word. 
 "^ The redoubt on the levee was defended by a com- 
 pany of the 7th regiment under Lieutenant Ross.— 
 That part of the entrenchment next the river was de- 
 fended by the regulars. Gineral Carol's Kentuck mi- 
 litia stood next, and Coffy was on thergineral's^ex- 
 treme left. Every hart was goin pit-a-pat, not with tear 
 -there wasn't a bit of this in the line, but tu have 
 one chance of ramshacklin the inemy who'd come tu 
 fite for a croker a man. They warn't long in sus- 
 pense. The Inglish ai^e main good fellows arter all in 
 comin tu the scratch. But the gineral, an old cocker, 
 who knew how tu tap the inemy's doodle sac^k was their 
 man. On the nite of the 7th, the inemy establish d em- 
 selves in the trenches they had afore occupied, with their 
 heaviest guns. These, as soon as they had lite, open d 
 irttotes with a roar that made the earth tremb^^e 
 seven miles deep, but not a man of the ginera 
 quak'd a bit. Atween the rockets makin day and the 
 Sails makin nite, one wou'd think the last ju gm^n 
 had come, and Gabriel had blown his trumpl The 
 nemy pi^ssed forrard, commanded by Packenham 
 Keane, and Gibbs. One division, the strongest, was 
 
124 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 directed aginst Carol, where they thou't the general 
 was weakest, but I guess they were gammon'd pritty 
 neatly that time, and found it a bite. The Kentucki- 
 ans was the rale grit, and know'd how tu ribroast an in- 
 emy as nice as oney on 'em. They com'd forrard in 
 solid squares, of 60 or 70 deep, intendin tu deploy 
 near the rampart; but the gineral roar'd out fire! firel 
 and in a flash a tempest of iron and lead was poured 
 upon 'em, as if ten thousand earthquakes were contend- 
 in tu see which first wou'd swallow all natur. The ine- 
 my who now cover'd the plain was battered down by hun- 
 dreds. The hull line of the gineral's men behind the 
 battery kept up a constant shower of hail ispon 'em 
 from the parapet, as one line fir^d another was ready 
 tu take their places, so that unless they were bullet 
 proof ihey hadn't any chance of safety. The grate 
 guns was serv'd in the best manner. Every man did 
 his duty as if the safety of the hull nation and its li- 
 berties depended on his exertions. The havoc was aw- 
 fully terrible, but yet the inemy show'd a bravery wor- 
 thy of a better cause. Like a sparrow escapin from a 
 hawk tu the bosom of a traveller,so a number ot these men 
 findin noplace better tu fly tu,lodg'd 'emselves in the 
 ditch in front of the glacis, where they remain d tell the 
 battle was eended, when they were taken prisoners.-- 
 In a brief space of time the field was cover d with the 
 dyinand the ded. The British lines coudn t with- 
 stand the shock; they waverM, got confusd, coudn t 
 fill up their ranks as fast as they were mow^d down 
 quaiPd from the iron tempest assailin 'em, and fled. 
 Gineral Packenham hastened forrard tu rally, inspire, 
 encourage and animate 'em, buthetu fell, within speak-^ 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 
 
 12^ 
 
 in distance of the gineral's line. Gibbs and Keane 
 was no more fortenale, and gineral Lambert, bringin up 
 the reserves, met the advancin columns scamperin bel- 
 ter skelter, hurlv burly, so completely dish'd up and 
 spfflicated, that Wellington himself cou'dn't have ral- 
 lied 'em. They had gotten a taste of the gineral, 
 I guess; half of 'em had bin knock'd off their pins, the 
 rest were done up, so that all the surgeons in Christ- 
 endom cou'dn't cobble 'em together agin. What warn't 
 crash'd were fagg'd. It wou'd 've made your hart 
 sick tu've seen so many of the brave boglanders in the 
 dust. If I thou't the gineral wou'dn't know it, for it'd 
 make him as rathy as a catamount if he'd find it out, 
 I'd amost even now weep, when I think of the brave 
 fellers takin their last leave of Judy and Kate, and 
 their colcannon, and their murphies, and leavin this 
 world jist becase like lion and loyal -harted men they 
 thou't it rite tu fite the gineral, for havin bin bid, tho' 
 they didn't know why, and hadn't a bit of hatred at 
 him no more nor a parson upon a thanksgivin day. 
 
 Foil'd as they were, the officers, fearin the disgrace 
 
 attendin a failure, agin urged the men tu the charge. 
 
 They cou'dn't for their lives deploy, for the hurrycane 
 of shot pourin upon 'em in a constant stream, over- 
 whelm'd, dum-founded, and bore 'em down tu their 
 marrow bones, in spite of science or tackicks. 
 
 Tu make any further attempt with the hope of suc- 
 cess was evidently milkin the pigeon. In the first onset 
 the officers fou't for their country; now they ax'd the 
 men tu die for the honer of their pride and reputations. 
 They had bin coker'd with the notion that the d — n 
 
 Yankees were a parcel of clapperdogens, and wou'd 
 L 2 
 
126 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 scamper at the first fire; but they found 'em unarm 'dy 
 undrilled, tufter colts than the boastin monseers in 
 Spain; thousands of their men, within an hour, had 
 bin prepared for their eternity box; as many for Chel- 
 sea hospital; a stash had bin put tu their hopes, and 
 the holy lambs, who were lookin for Beauty and Boo- 
 ty^* were happily disappinted, — rather becom'd prog 
 for their inemies, or had tu retreat with their tales 
 down like a new feagu'd boss. 
 
 On the side next the river a powerful attack was 
 made. A battalion led on by Major Rennie advanced 
 with grate bravery upon the redoubt. While advancin. 
 Commodore Patterson, from the rite bank, open'd his 
 battery on 'em and squaddled 'em considerable. The 
 Major, sword in hand, mounted the wall of the re- 
 doubt. A ball thro' his hed popp'd him in a wink. — 
 His men press'd forrard ; the gineral's riflemen, pop! 
 pop! pop! brou't 'em down as quick as up. It was in 
 vain they erected 'emselves on their pins upon the 
 rampart. The rangers thou't it was rare sport; they 
 oneymade targets for 'em, nor cou'd they get time tu 
 finger a trigger, tell they got a pass tu peg trantums — 
 a warnin tu any who may ever chance tu come that way 
 agin. But nothin cou'd exceed the perseverin bravery 
 of the inemy but the dedly aim of the gineral's rifles. 
 They tumbled over the wall, and bolted in at the em- 
 brasures. The riflemen fell back a leetle, but the pop! 
 
 * I am glad tu say this repoit which wou'd 've bin so dis- 
 reputable tu the character of British officers, was intirely 
 unfounded, Jack Downing never believed it. He cou'd not 
 believe so bad of an enemy, but especially of a BritisJi foe, 
 whose officers are very generally high minded and honour- 
 able men. It has bin officially contradicted. 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSOK. 127 
 
 pop! went on as if they were at a shootin frolic on 
 Sandy River. Captin Beal, and his men, soon made 
 every man who didn't brush for life remain his life- 
 time. Of those who gain'd the redoubt not a man was 
 left tu tell his sorrows or weep over his sins. The whole 
 army was now on the retreat, but they had the Dutch 
 comfort of knowin that the storm was in their backs, 
 and that they were seekin, as fast as their trapsticks 
 cou'd carry 'em, a place of safety. This was the finale 
 of the war. The inemy getted himself out of danger 
 in quick time, and the gineral shone so brilliantly, that 
 it turn'd the darkness amost intu day-lite, by innumera- 
 ble bonfires, all the wav tu Downingville away down 
 east in the State of Maine. 
 
 It is rite I shou'd tell next what was done on 
 tother side of the river As we didn't gain the day 
 there, I shall say buc leetle on't. Kurnel Thornton 
 with a large force, ascended the rite bank of the river, 
 towards the fort and line of entrenchments under the 
 command of gineral Morgan and Commodore Patter- 
 son. The force was inadequate tu the defence — the 
 men fou't and retreated, until the fortifi'd line was in 
 their power. Patterson and the militia, arter spiking 
 the guns they cou'dn't carry with 'em, retreated. Un- 
 der all the circumstances the militia fou't bravely, and 
 did 'emselves honer, tho' at that time, witliout any jist 
 reason, or sufficient inquiry intu causes and effects, the 
 gineral cast reproach upoa the brave men who yielded the 
 contest. Thornton next day withdrew his men^ an ar- 
 mistice for a day, tu give the combatants time tu 
 bury their ded, was enter'd intu, and the inemy aban- 
 don'd a field, where the laurels they had hoped tu en- 
 
128 MAJOR JACK DO-W king's LIFE 
 
 wreath their brows with, was turned intu the dedly 
 nite-shade, and they intrenched 'emselves within their 
 
 camp. J 1 11 
 
 1 he loss of the British in this desperate and dedly 
 strife was 2600 men killed, woonded and prisoners, 
 lumpin the estimate by the job, for the sake of accura- 
 cy. Some accounts make it SOOO. This wou d enable 
 every one of the gineral's army engag'd tu have killed 
 his i^an; as he had only about that many operatives.— 
 The gineral's loss was only 13 killed and a few woon- 
 
 \ said somethin of a deserter, who inform'd the Brit- 
 ish commander of the state, position and weakness of 
 the crineral's army. The part he reported tu be weakest 
 was^'that at which the Kentucky militia was station'd. 
 The Kentuckians rowed 'em up salt river with a ven- 
 geance. The jerrycummumblin they got on approach- 
 in the screamers from Kentuck, made 'em think their 
 informer intended tu deceive. He was call'd up; re- 
 proach'd for double perfidy, first tu his colours for de- 
 sertin, and next tu them, by false statements. He 
 insisted that what he said was true-they wou dn t 
 believe him, and in five minits he aton'd for his perfidy 
 bva species of exaltation, which is the best traitors 
 shou'd receive, and sich as thev alwase ment-a hempen 
 collar and the dedly never green. He was suspended 
 in %iew of the camp tu the limb of a tree, whde the 
 gineral paid a compliment tu our militia, and at the 
 same time giv'd other nations warnin nottu be tu hasty 
 in medlin with our squirel hunters. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 Attack on Fort St^ Philip. Beat off. The inemy 
 leave our shores. T/ie gineral returns tu JVcw Or- 
 leans. Te deum and Jubilee. The gineral incens\l 
 tell his hed was flahagasted and he thouH himself 
 more than man. Was crown'd. The case of Lou- 
 aillier and Judge Hall. The gineral suspends the 
 Habus Corpes, with his, bayonets. News of peace 
 arrives. People got the Lock-jaw hoorain. The 
 Habus Corpes explained. Judge Hcdl ascends the 
 bench. The gineral sued, trihl and fin'd 1000 dol- 
 lars for contempt of the civil power. 
 
 The inemj hadn't yet made their final exit. They 
 had expected a fleet up the river tu aid 'em, but they 
 had tu fite without it. On the 11th at nite a heavy 
 cannonadin was heard at Fort St. Pliilip, some distance 
 down; the inemy made a furious attack, but still keep- 
 in out of the reach of the gineral's guns. Arter con- 
 tinuin the attack until the ITth, they sail'd away, and 
 were seen no more. The officers of the Fort did their 
 duty nobly, but lost nine men killed and woonded. 
 
 The camp of the inemy bein tu miles below the 
 gineral, he annoy'd 'em considerable with frequent 
 visits of balls and bombs. Findin all their hopes blas- 
 ted, gineral Lambert silently withdrew on the nite of 
 
130 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 the 18tli tu his shipping, leavin t.u the clemency of his 
 brave conquerors, 80 of his solders tu severely woon- 
 ded tu be remov'd. They had decamp'd by magic; 
 it was fear'd they wou'd appear in some other quarter 
 in a flash; but a letter from the commandier of the Brit- 
 ish forces inform'd tlie gineral that all further opera- 
 tions aginst New Orleans was for the jjresent sus- 
 pended. 
 
 The gineral havin made arrangements tu prevent sur- 
 prize, or another invasion, martched his men from the 
 battery intu the city. The joy of the people was ex- 
 treme. He was every where hailed with acclamations, 
 as their deliverer. The gineral recolloctin that the bat- 
 tle was gained by the intervenshion of an Almighty pow- 
 er, now had the 23rd appointed as»a day of prayer and 
 thanksgivin. The Pageant was very splendid. While 
 praise was offered tu the God of battles for grantin suc- 
 cess tu our arms, it was burthen'd in its ascent tu the 
 upper regions by the gaudy frippery and tinsell'd dec- 
 orations and mummery, a service that seems tu have 
 tu much splendour and show for the humble service 
 of the hart, and which in Downingville wou'd be con- 
 sider'd "vain oblations." It so happen'd, howsomever, 
 that a grate mistake was made. Instead of praisin the 
 God of battles, they turn'd their praise all tu the gin- 
 eral, and while the censors were scattering incense 
 the peals ascended from an organ, in deepasin. — 
 " Jackbon all hail !" our country's bride and boast, 
 Whose mind's a council, and his arms a host^; 
 Welcome, blest chief! accept our grateful lays, 
 Unbidden homage, and spontaneous praise," &c. 
 If this wasn't buttering up the hero tu some purpose, 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSOJ^. 131 
 
 giviri the praise intended for heaven a slantin direction, 
 and by hocus pocus jugglery makin it pop intu the gin- 
 eral's pocket, I don't know what tu call it. Howsom- 
 ever he'ven onctand awhile seems tu let itself be cheat- 
 ed of its rites by a sartin species of divil-catchers, for 
 the use and behoof of grate men. 1 wonder if it wont 
 some day or other bring these holy diddlers up tu the 
 ring, and demand a settlement of old scores. The 
 gineral wasn't a bit tu blame. Not bein a divine, he 
 cou'dn't tell how (lir he shou'd go, where he shou'd stop, 
 or when prevent fools from rushin in where angels 
 fear'd tu tread, I swou the gineral had so much glo- 
 ry about him jist then; he was rapt up in the elyseum 
 of sich joy, was incens'd w^th so much praise, that he 
 tell'd me he sometimes didn't know whether he was in 
 the clouds, or on earth. But what was strange, as the 
 gineral found arterwards, the men who chaunted can- 
 ticles tu him in their highest key, was then secretly 
 sowin discord in the city. They found his soft side 
 and grope'd it tu purpose. One or tu rash fellers who, 
 like the gineral, wou'd've their own way, and wou'dn't 
 swing the censer tu him, found their mistake; the rest, 
 seein how things work'd piously cri'd meet culpa, ex- 
 claimin God is great, and the gineral is next tu him in 
 the United States ! These censer-swingers so curious- 
 ly manage'd things and so struck the gineral's fancy, 
 that he took 'em intu pay from that day, and made 'em 
 stipendary's for the remainder of his life. The gineral 
 here tell'd me tu say, that in the church, the Reverend 
 diocesan did ofter thanks tu heaven, ascrib'd all the 
 victory tu him who, sittin on his lofty throne, moves ev- 
 ery scene below; tu him who, when rulers are good, 
 
132 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's Lll'fi 
 
 makes 'em wise, when wicked, flabagates their under- 
 standing, and in their self-will'd notions brings mise- 
 ry and distress upon the ruled. When the people, said 
 he, forgettin tu give the glory tu the cause of good pour 
 it upon the instrument^ and the instrument receives its 
 with as much eagerness and readiness as if he was the 
 cause, then like as he did tu Neb'nezar, he lowers 
 their pride, turns their blessins intu a curse, and makes 
 the people groan under the effects o^ their own dolus. 
 But tho' the Reverend preacher did do so, the people 
 wou'd have it their way, and the gineral now found 
 himself fairly started in the course the konjurer had 
 tell'd his mother so long afore. The Bishop linish'd by 
 crownin the gineral with a wreath of laurel! Some 
 folks have said that this crown infus'd the same sperit 
 intu him that a similar one did intu Bonaparte when re- 
 ceivia the honers of his'n academy as tell'd in his life; 
 this I don't believe — the gineral is every inch of him a 
 patriot. He was born in the very year the present Pa- 
 cha of Egypt was, a year fruitful in grate men, as chron- 
 icles may see, and if the fates have said that he shou'd 
 be grate, and take po;\'er intu his hands, he isn't tu 
 blame. He can't help it no more nor Maelzel's Turk 
 when he sees a move made on his chessboard. 
 
 The gineral havin fairly ramsquabbled his inemies, 
 was peaceably enjoyin in his glory. 1 didn't tell in the 
 rite place, that he had hang'd up the governor's author- 
 ity for a while, and declar'd marshal law. This put 
 all the governor's power intu h^s'n and his officer's 
 hands. The power he oney us'd for the people, but 
 when doin their work while they was plovvin, and tradin, 
 and mindin their own bisness, it was but rite he 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 133 
 
 shou'd'ye liberty tu do it in his own way, especially 
 since he'd bin anointed and crown'd with laurels by 
 the Primate of the diocese. The military law was, of 
 course, kept up; the governor was still hangin up tu 
 dry and be ready, and every thing went on as afore.— 
 The legislater, that had bin stopt by the governor from 
 makin laws, now assembled, and forgettin tu ask 
 whether their laws or the gineral's was in force, begun 
 their law-makin in the old manner. One of the mem- 
 bers, Mr. Louaillier, spontinaciously published in a 
 newspaper a complaint that the militia warn't jist in a 
 comfortable place for their helth. Th'e gineral, 'spo- 
 sin no one hadn't a rite tu say oney thing about it but 
 himself, sent his solders and made him a prisoner. — 
 His solders and his cannon serv'd him for all kinds of 
 argument; and sav'd his hed a nation site of bothera- 
 tion. Louaillier, supposin the civil laws mite now be 
 in force, as the inemy was 300 miles distant and didn't 
 like tu come near him a bit, got a Habus Corpes from 
 Judge Hall,tu bring up the gineral and inquire intu his 
 reasons for this imprisonment. The gineral apply 'd 
 the same arguments tu Judge Hall, and swore by his 
 laurel crown they shou'd both stay in prison a week for 
 doubtin that he was intitled tu '< unbidden homage, 
 and spontaneous praise," becase the people sung it. — 
 The Legislater now took dudgeon, voted thanks tu 
 the man who first suggested the battery, the men who 
 built and who fou't behind it, but didn't say a word 
 about the gineral, makin it a lump job. 
 
 While these matters were goin on, news that peace 
 had bin concluded at Ghent comM, anj put the gine- 
 ral's law out of joint at a jump, and Judge Hall mount- 
 
134 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 ed his bench. The inemy had bin beaten from our 
 shores, but it v/as necessary tu have inemies made, tir 
 keep excitement alive and maintain authority in exis- 
 tence. Tu do this, there's alwase enufF mischief ma- 
 kers at hand. It was done by some one — the gineral 
 wascompell'd still tu maintain power till his private in- 
 emies were subdu'd; and soon treason and disaffection, 
 in loud grumblin, was heard among the people and found 
 among the troops. The gineral howsomever, hung on 
 like a good feller till there warn't any more chance for 
 fitin, but havin receiv'd a despatch from the War de- 
 partment that a treaty ot peace was sined, and the 
 President's proclamation " extendin pardon and for- 
 giveness for past offences', he giv'd up, the civil power 
 begun, the governor's commission was taken from the 
 hook, the militia discharg'd, and all things put tu rites 
 agin as afore. 
 
 Judge Hall's turn now com'd. The gineral was tu be 
 haul'd over the coals and tri'd for contempt of the civil 
 authority, and for his arbitrary conduct. The gineral 
 pleaded issue and prepared tu stand his trial. While the 
 trial was pending the gineral who knew a thing or tu, 
 chang'd his dress. Thou't he, if I appear,in coortdrest as 
 a gineral, they will say I appeal froir. my services, and 
 they will withhold their sympathies — if in the dress of a 
 civilian, they will say, here is the man who is a hero 
 in war and a citizen in peace, and I will be hoora'd, — 
 This was consarn'd cute of the gineral. He exactly 
 hit it. Had he appeared in his dress, not a word wou'd 
 have bin utter'd. Now, the moment they seed him 
 in the way they didn't expect, they hoora'd till they 
 amost got the lock-jaw ! The judge and jury, 
 
r>F GENERAL JACKSON. 135 
 
 wlio joined in the hoora, howsomever, finM the gineral 
 one thousand dollars. When the judgment of the 
 coort was announced the hoorain recommenced, the 
 gineral was carried off, and the citizens rais'd the mon- 
 ey for him, but he refus'd it, pajin his fine out of his 
 own pocket -^ H^^^i*^* y^. 
 
 Lest my readers will be at a loss tu know why the 
 gineral was tin'd, I will here make a few short re- 
 marks. The rite of Habus Corpes is one of the pe- 
 culiar privileges of freemen. It is a writ from a judge 
 of a coort, demandin a hearin in behalf of a person 
 who supposes himself wrongful imprisoned, tu know 
 why he may not be set at liberty. In times of trouble sus- 
 picious or malignant persons may have any one they've a 
 pick at, imprisoned. The Habus Corpes in France 
 wou'd've rendered the Bastile null under the old re- 
 zeem when power v/as the law; but by the laws of 
 the United States, the power tu suspend, (I don't 
 mean hang here, but put a stop tu the rite of its 
 use) the Habus Corpes isconfin'd tu Congress alone. — 
 Now, the gineral think'd he was congress when he 
 suspended the habus. If he hadn't, I guess he 
 wou'dn't've done it a bit. Some say he didn't under- 
 stand the laws, and thou't becase he had power he'd 
 use it; but the gineral wasn't oney a son of battlement 
 but also a son of prattlement, and there wasn't a mis- 
 take in the way of ignorance about him. All he did 
 was for the good of the people. Next tu the grate su- 
 preme, he was gratest in the United States, and con- 
 gress hadn't no rite tu make laws tu thwart his views 
 while doin the nation so much good. Those who said 
 so he'd crop their ears off*, that be wou'd. Others thou't 
 
136 
 
 that the conduct of the gineral, when the danger was 
 over and every one wanted tu be glad, was like using 
 a hatchet tu break an egg, and that he was desirous tu 
 show he'd be like Julis Cezar or nothin, but they are 
 all mistaken, the gineral knew that if he give up a bit 
 of his power, he wou'd squinch his glory — and so he 
 thou't while he had it he'd hold it, which is the milita- 
 ry mode. 
 
 Louaillier was brou't afore a coort marshal, charged 
 under the same section the president wou'd've hang'd 
 all the Hartford Convenshionists. Suspicions not be- 
 in proof, and the gineral's resentment not bein law 
 when marshal law wasn't in vogue, he was discharg'd. 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 The six militia men tri^d and condemnhL 200 others 
 trVd and condemn'^d tu be half shav\l, half starved, 
 and drum\l out of camp, deflexions on the shootin 
 of militia men. Sergeant Joel's opinions. His elo- 
 quent arguments about shootin m,en unacquainted 
 with discipline^ and its bad tendencies. My own 
 reflexions on the subject. 
 
 Mj readers will recollect, that when I made 'em 
 loUer the gineral from Mobile tu New Orleans, he was 
 jist on the point of tryin the six militia men. Much 
 has bin said aginst the gineral for this act, but it is 
 clear this bisness wasn't never understood. In no 
 part ot his hull life has he bin more consistent, more 
 like himself, or displaj'd more of his rale sperit. I 
 can't never find out the reason why his zellus friends 
 are so hoppin mad when they hear this part of his life 
 tell'd, and take so much pains tu keep it from bcin 
 know'd. The gineral thinks this deservin of minute 
 explanashion, and begg'd me tu let all the nashion 
 know it, as he hop'd every man in't wou'd buy a copy 
 of my book. 
 
 "When the gineral started from Mobile, he left a 
 ngshion site deserters in prison tu be tri'd for muteny. 
 The coort was compos'd of kurnel Perkins, President, 
 M 2 
 
138 ' MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 Lieut. Robeson, Judge Advocate — members, Major 
 Smart, Captin Blackmore, Captin McKay, and Liften- 
 ent Boyd. 
 
 The charges and specificashions were muteny, de- 
 sertin, &c. The prisoners were ofl&cers, uncommis- 
 sion'd otficers and privates, in all about 204 persons! 
 The officers sentenced were dismissed the Service,hsi\m 
 their swords broken over their heds. The men, six 
 excepted, were chiefly sentenced tu lose half or third 
 their pay, tu serve their time out, be half shaved, and 
 drummed out of camp I Six of 'em were sentenced tu 
 
 SUFFER DETH BY SHOOTIn! 
 
 On the 22d of Jinewary, tu days arter the gineral 
 arriv'd in New Orleans from the battle ground, at a 
 time when he was in the midst of the glee and excite- 
 ment occasion'd by the publick congratulashions and 
 rejoicings on account of his victory, the Report of the 
 proceedings and trials of the six militia men were 
 placed afore him. The gineral, havin pour'd out the 
 life blood of \\\^inemies so freely, it is suppos'd might 
 on that account have spar'd his friends, I confess 
 when I examin'd intu this bad bisness my dander was 
 up,* I thou't it probable he'd bin gammon'd by his 
 inemies who wanted tu make him out cruel and vin- 
 dictive, so I went strate tu the gineral and ax'd him 
 how 'twas. Major says he, I haint time tu tell you 
 now, but jist go tu the War Department and they'll 
 tell you all. for its^all there snug in the pigeon holes. 
 I went and found the facts as stated. For a day or tu 
 I cou'dn't think of nothin but the shootin of these 
 men — of Harris who hadn't no hart tu face deth, but 
 wept, and pleaded, and trembled, and beg'd time tu 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 139 
 
 prepare, as he warn't ready, while his son stood weepin 
 by him; and of the others, who were forc'd from their 
 prison tell their doom with feelins of innocence, 
 hopes of pardon, and "their country,'^'' dyin upon their 
 tongues as they were sent out of this world! I tell ye, 
 fellow citizens, I amost wept myself at the thou't of 
 it, while writin. 
 
 While thinkin it over, the followin thou'ts com'd 
 thro' my mind. Mite not the jubilee have soften'd 
 down the gineraPs severity at the time he sign'd this 
 decree; or mite not his amost bloodless victory on his 
 part 've made his feelins relent; or mite not the ap- 
 proachin day of thanksgivin and praise for his success 
 have caus'd him tu say enutt" blood has bin spilt; or 
 mite not the thou't, that as .the God of battles was pro- 
 pitious tu his arms by an intervension amost miracu- 
 lous in throwin the shield of his protectin hand over 
 tu preserve him and his men unscath'd in the hour of 
 peril and of strife, when "a thousand fell at his side" 
 and hewnliarm'd, have induc'd him tu return these 
 men tu their belov'd families and homes as a thank 
 ofFerin tu he'ven; or mite not the former bravery and 
 companionship in peril of these men, when they had 
 so gallantly thrown glory around the gineral in the 
 Ingin wars, have atoned for delinquencies, for which, 
 under circumstances, deth was a more than adequate 
 retribushion, have caus'd him tu relent, — their anxie- 
 ties also tu be with their families; their belief that 
 they had faithfully discharg'd their responsibility tu 
 the laws; the sanction of their officers who abetted 
 them; the legal opinion of enlighten'd jurists in their 
 favor; the governor admittin their claims by sendin a 
 
140 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 new levy tu take their place at the very time they 
 return'd tu their homesj the probability of the war's 
 bein ended; their voluntary return tu camp arter 
 havin bin tell'd they mite get troubble for a premature 
 departure fearless of consequences, all these thou'ts 
 came runnin thro' my mind, and made me think the 
 crime wasn't grate enuft'for the punishment, and that 
 men whose bisness it is tu fite often hold human life tu 
 cheap. These conclushions wou'd have bin tu me 
 overwhelmin. They wou'd have touch'd my hart; 
 have thrill'd the chord of my sympathies; have spoken 
 in accents tu powerful tu be resisted; and in the 
 gineral's place, I wou'd have said, — brave men are 
 generous, heroes are merciful; the laurel about tu en- 
 twine my brow shall not be stain'd with the blood of 
 my companions; on the president, at least, shall fall 
 the responsibility, for I'll not be anxiously grasp at an 
 authority delegated oney in extreme cases tu another, 
 and as he stands cool, calm, collected, and isn't mov'd 
 by pashion or prejudice, he shall decide upon their des- 
 teny; I will not be charg'd with the deth of men 
 whom my own example in a constant resistance tu the 
 laws, may have misled; I will not let the historian of 
 my life and actions say I had these men shot for re- 
 fusin tu aid me in breakin the laws and violatin the 
 Constitushion; in this case, if my sceptre is not exten- 
 ded in mercy, my sivord shall not be extended in anger. 
 But I wasn't the gineral. He nother thou't of their 
 past services, the president, clemency, heroism, ex- 
 ample, sympathy or any thing else, but his own glory; 
 and as glory is all the same, one letter bein blink'd, as 
 gory, the gineral thou't that they were the same, and 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 141 
 
 that we cou'dn't have any glory until we were gory I 
 This is the meanin of glory all the world over. Who 
 ever made out glory tu consist in clemency? or in 
 magnanimity? or benevolence? or charity? or forgive- 
 ness? or in sparin those in our power when we can 
 crush 'em? or in savin life? or in dryin widow's sighs 
 and orphans tears? The gineral knew pri tty well this 
 wasn't the way tu git glory. He well knew sich deeds 
 wou'dn't never gain Imn immortality; or that from 
 'em he cou'dn't expect no incense, nor laurel crowns^ 
 and so he sat rite down, and, without thinkin of any 
 thing, as he telPd me, in the wide world but his grate- 
 ness, risin like a volcano from the ocean, and makin 
 all wonder and stare, he took up a pen and sined his 
 name without ever examinin intu the matter — sup« 
 posin his men who tri'd 'em knew it best. I thou't said 
 he, these rascals mite as well be shot now as die agin, 
 that knowin they wou'd die, they'd be quick tu get 
 ready, that four days was long enough tu be thinkin 
 about it; and that I mite as well, since my commishion 
 giv'd me the power, do the work myself, and then 
 folks wou'd know what power 1 possest. 
 
 The six militia men were accordingly executed four 
 days arter the order arriv'd in Mobile. It appears that 
 in this case at least, a most cruel murder was committed ! 
 Every man of the six, voluntarily returned from their 
 homes tu the camp. They were all legally and fully 
 entitled tu their discharge when they went home* 
 Their lawful time had expir'd. A new levy tu take 
 their places had bin order'd out in conformity with the 
 law which releas'd 'em, on the very day they went 
 home, (the 20th Sept.) as the law of Tenese^ req^uir'^ 
 
142 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 only three months service, unless the President shou'd 
 say six, which he had not done. I wish the gineral 
 hadn't dipt his hands in these men's blood. Sich 
 cruelty is injurious tuthe service; as it discourages 
 men from puttin 'emselves in the hands and at the 
 mercy of officers who, for their own /jer^o^a/ pique, or 
 tu answer their own designs, may wantonly expose 
 their lives, and offer as an apology the power they 
 possess tu do so. 
 
 Not exactly sure whether my own feelins accorded 
 with other military men on this subject, I ax'd Sargent 
 Joel, when he was goin down tu Madawaska tu squad- 
 die 'em are Inglish and release the prisoners, whether he 
 wou'd like tu be shot by apintment while standin quiet- 
 ly lookin on. Major says he, I and my men will fite 
 for you when you bid us, and die when the inemy pleas- 
 es, but we woudn't like tu stand and be shot for nothin. 
 There is no sport in that. But, said I, Joel, you are 
 a solder, and shou'd be us'd tu shootin in any way it 
 comes without flinchin, as a part of your trade. You 
 recollect the six militia men ^jest then they all star- 
 ted from the log on which they sot, and Sargent Joel, 
 bein foreman of the Jury, and who has nation good 
 sense, says, major, that are bisness aint fit tu be 
 talk'd over afore solders. It puts 'em in the meagrims 
 at onct. It acts on their nerves as the mountin song 
 does upon the Switz solder in foreign service. It 
 makes 'em think that power deprives the poor solder 
 of all his rites when he enters the ranks, and that if 
 he seeks redress, or is even misled, he may be sacri- 
 ficed. Every man in this nation knows now that those 
 men were innocent— ^were murder'd, if you like the word 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. I4S 
 
 better. In their condemnashion and deth they suiFer'd 
 more than the guilty in all but their consciences. — 
 They thou't of reputations they desired tu leave a leg- 
 acy tu their posterity; they thou't of their families who 
 wou'd suft'er from a kinder attainder which the stigma 
 wou'd cast upon 'em on account of the ignominy of 
 their dethsj they thou't of the injustice of their doomj 
 they thou't upon the injury inflicted on their country 
 by so flagrant an abuse of power; they thou't that in 
 their deth they mite be number'd among transgressors, 
 and tho' innocent suft'er as the guilty. Now, major, the 
 guilty has no sich feelin; he's rather glad tu escape 
 from a world in which he is morally ded, and in which 
 he can never, if spared, without hidin himself from all 
 who know him, raise for himself a name or character. 
 Their cases are intirely different; their feelins are dif- 
 ferent; the effects of their executions are different; for 
 howsomever an arbitrary order tu execute the sentence 
 of a coort marshal may be carried intu effect, the survi- 
 vors will soon find out whether justice or vengeance 
 has bin the cause, and act accordingly. It is well 
 known, major, and I mention it as a fact in illustration 
 of my sentiments, that arter the shootin of these are 
 men, the desertions from the army was doubble, and 
 the excitement and discontent tenfold ! Think you, 
 if danger, hadn't bin near, that any on 'em wou'd 
 have remain'd. The men love their country, and will 
 be ever ready tu fite for it, but they will never wil- 
 linly be hecter'd intu a blind submission tu unjust dic- 
 tation. This isn't the character of freemen in partick- 
 ular. In the case of the six militia men, we have an 
 idea that it was done tu give vent, thro' bullet holes 
 
144 
 
 made in their bodies, tu a large quantity of pent up 
 wrath; that this wrath burn'd hot, and like Greek fire, 
 coudn't be extinguish'd by water — blood must do it, 
 becase the offence was personal. The nashion wasn't 
 askin for their deths, for if the offence had bein aginst 
 the nashion, the president wou'd've bin calPd upon tu 
 exercise his discretion, as a thing properly belongin tu 
 his department. I am, major, a friend tu the laws, and 
 tu my country, and its constitushion. I will never en- 
 courage defection from duty, but I may be allow'd, at 
 this distance of time, tu say, that the act was mur- 
 der when the president didn't do it, becase the offence 
 wasn't aginst any existin law. Our officers may be 
 ambitious of imitatin the usages of despotic countries. 
 This is a country of laws, and the officer who forces a 
 militiaman tu prison that had deserted, has no rite tu 
 be the accuser, judge, and executioner himself. 
 
 That we militia, ignorant as we are suppos'd tu be, 
 understand our rites is sartin. This is a subject deep- 
 ly interistin tu freemen, and a lesson which every man 
 shou'd imprint on the minds of his children, becase it 
 involves his interests, his happiness, and his liberties. — 
 You well remember the case of Thomas McGraw, at 
 Baltimore ',in 1814. He was tri'd and condemned tu 
 be shot for neglect of duty and offerin violence tu Sar- 
 gent Townsend on duty. The coort marshal was 
 form'd by the direction of gineral Scott, an officer as 
 good as he is brave, and as high minded as he is humane. 
 Gineral Scott disapprov'd the sentence, becase he 
 woudn't spill blood where it was unavoidable. He 
 thou'ta militia man not tu be treated with the same se- 
 vere discipline as a regular, he thou't McGraw had a 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 145 
 
 family and friends; he wou'd not be instrumental in 
 hurryin him intu eternity; he thou't the President of 
 the United States shou'd decide his fate; tu him 
 he sent the proceedins of the trial, arter respitin 
 the time appinted for his executin, and then he solici- 
 ted and obtained for him a pardon ! Sich a commander, 
 major, solders will feel 'emselves safe under; they 
 know they are safe under their orders, and that they 
 will receive justice at their hands. The shout of joy 
 which spontaneously burst from the assembled multi- 
 tude who went tu witness McGraw's execution show'd 
 what men feel at a humane act. It will form a strikin 
 contrast tu the subject upon which we first commenc'd 
 tu talk abou't, and let me say, will even- have the appro- 
 bation of the good and the wise, while the execution of 
 the six militia men now begin tu be regarded with uni- 
 versal horror as the influence of the men thro' whom it 
 was achiev'd ceased tu be felt. I am done, major, no 
 more on this subject. 
 
 This speech of Sergent Joel made my dander rise 
 considerable. I thou't he intended tu insinewate the 
 gineral as the cause of their desertin, and when 
 made prisoners, of orderin their trial by men devoted 
 tu his cause, and then of orderin their execution. I 
 felt a kinder rathy for a spell, and tri'd Sergent Joel 
 tu know if he dar'd tu insinewate any thing rong of 
 the gineral; but the cute critter wou'dn't say a word on 
 it, and arter considerin a spell I thou't it' d be best tu 
 keep silent tu, for that it was a subject upon which 
 the least said was soonest mended, and as there isn't 
 any use in cryin for spilt milk, I will leave the hull 
 facts, as a chronicler had out tu do, and let every 
 
146 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 party draw their own inference. It is true that grate 
 men, like Absalom, alwase sin upon the house top that 
 the people may see it, for the more pretence they make, 
 the more they're believ'd sincere. The people wont 
 support a man who isn't above the landmark of equity^ 
 the majority hasn't an innate love for it; and they like 
 any thing which encourages propensities in 'emselves 
 which the laws and usages of society forces 'em tu 
 repress. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 The gineral in difficulties with the civil power at New 
 Orleans. The President rebukes him, and he goes 
 tu the Hermitage, Collects friends around him. — 
 The gineral a military Farmer. His period of ser- 
 vice and expenses, The glory of a solder, its kind, 
 quality, and nature. 
 
 I am onct more in the field of progress, and tu con- 
 tinue my story must carry my readers back tu New 
 Orleans. The difficulties atween the gineral and the 
 civil power was put an eend tu by a gentle hint from 
 the President thro' his Secretary at war, in which he 
 said he hoped tu receive sich explanations from the 
 gineral as will reconcile his sense of public duty with a 
 continuance of confidence, which he reposes in the gin- 
 eral's judgment, discretion, aiid patriotism, and begs 
 him tu cease all extraordinary exertion of military au- 
 thority. The gineral, not havin any more opposition, 
 and havin bin forbid by the President tu make war on 
 the civil authorities, prepared tu return home, and be- 
 come agin the farmer of Tenesee. 
 
 It aint tu be understood here that the Farmer warn't 
 
148 
 
 still the gineral ; that he giv'd up his commisshion, his 
 paj, and his title. This wou'dn't be jist rite, for as tu 
 the matter of farmin, I guess he didn't know much 
 about it. He cou'dn't till the chronology of a cow 
 by the rinkles on her horns; but as tu bosses, chickens 
 and niggurs, he was up tu trap; and among the quid, 
 nuncs of the stump, he knew the hull breed, — he cou'd 
 transmografy a tory intu a republican by the flour- 
 ish of his tooth pick, and convert a feller in a minit 
 who wou-d break his finger in a posset intu a martinet 
 of the drill, a cross-bite of the course, or a bell- 
 swagger of the tavern. There was somethin magi- 
 cal in the gineral; nothin cou'd withstand him. The 
 people were all either his friends till deth, or his foes. 
 The latter were rather made sich, from his inclination 
 tu act on the maxim, " he that isn't for me is aginst 
 me." Some were his friends from affection, some 
 from interest, some from hope and some from fear.— ^ 
 Nor wou'd he allow any half way measures. They 
 must be devoted or they soon were sent a woolgather- 
 in. He was a little tweagueish in his temper, and if 
 any one was suspected of not bein fully in his interest 
 I guess they soon found 'emselves in trib. 
 
 Tho' the gineral continued tu remain on his farm he 
 was retain'd in the United States service tell the year 
 1821. His commission was dated June 8th 1814, 
 and he continued tu draw his pay tell May 31, 1821, 
 bein in service seven years wantin a few days. The 
 gineral has bin alwase a friend tu economy, and re- 
 form. The amount of salary he drew for upon the govern- 
 ment was 49,014,28, or 7000 dollars a year; but five 
 years of that he was a farmer, and attended his own 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 149 
 
 bisuess. The first year closed the war with the Brit- 
 ish; and the third with the Spanish authorities. The 
 rest was spent at the Hermitage, in the enjoyment of 
 his glory. 
 
 I've now telPd you about the gineral as a lawyer, a 
 a judge, and a gineral; I have seen him in the conven- 
 shion of his own state, in the Sinnet of the United 
 States, and in various employments. But of all the 
 bisnesses I've seed him in, he didn't never seem in 
 his proper ilement oney when he was ramshacklin 'em 
 are Inglish or Ingins. He is a master hand at that — 
 He warn't easy when he was quiet at the Hermitage. 
 Farmin warn't the fun he lik'd. It wou'dn't never 
 lead him tu glory. If all the glory he had ever reap'd 
 from his labors, except what he got in fitin, was put 
 together it wou'dn't lite him tu bed. There aint any 
 glory got but in killin folks, and the gineral all the 
 time he was at the Hermitage, was desperate afear'd 
 his glory wou'd die out, and not leave a spark tu kin- 
 dle with, if he didn't raise another row. He thou't 
 he'd made provision enuft' for a new one in the treaty 
 with the Creeks, by jist gougin 'em out of amost all 
 their lands. He guess'd they'd be quiet tell they'd 
 forgot him, and that when their treaty, obtain'd by dic- 
 tation, wou'd be swallow'd down, it wou'dn't sit easy 
 on their stomachs. Some day they'd toss it up agin, 
 and that'd give him more glory. A lop-sided treaty 
 is the best thing in the world tu create discontent; and 
 as the Ingins warn't all smabbled, havin begg'd any 
 conditions, and accepted whatsomever was proposed, 
 it was but reasonable they wou'd rally, and unite oth- 
 ers who might expect similar oppression from the 
 N 2 
 
^50 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 white Christian when they'd a ehance, and desire veir- 
 geance where thej felt rong. 
 
 It is consarn'd nice tu see so many agree in my no- 
 tions of glory. Uncle Josh has a proverb, sayin, the 
 blood of the solder is the glory of the gtneral. This 
 agrees like all natur with my notions of glory. That 
 nation cute feller at siferin, Hezekiah Niles, tell'd me 
 that at the Battle of Brandy wine the day afore he was 
 born, a British grenadier, that he mite have the glory 
 of killin tu rebels at onct, made a lounge with his bag- 
 net at his mother, and wou'd have settled the hash with 
 'em both, hadn't one of his companions giv'd the gren- 
 adier a blow across the gob with his cheese-toaster at 
 the moment, and Hezekiah has done his best since his 
 mother tell'd him about it, tu make the nation indepen- 
 dent of the Inglish by learnin it tu do its own bisness, 
 and get all the profits of its labour tu itself. 
 
 The gineral had a hawk's eye upon glory very ear- 
 ly in life. AVhen he was first sent tu the sinnet, the 
 thanks of that body was propos'd for General Wash- 
 ington. Tne gineral didn't think Washington deserv'd 
 glory, 'cause he had so many chances tu crash all his 
 inemies, which he mist for fear the inemy wou'd crash 
 ail his men. But as ''the star of Jackson's glory first 
 emerged tu brightness from the clouds and darkness 
 of the revolutionary tempests," jist as Pat openM the 
 cellar door in the mornin tu let out the dark, so the gine- 
 ral begin'd tu lay up a store of glory that when he'd enuff 
 it mite burst out in a blaze, and so he'd no notion of giv- 
 in any on it away tu an undeservin person who hadn't put 
 all 'em are Inglish tu bed with a shovel, when he had 'em 
 in his power. As the gineral wou'du't vote thanks tu 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON, 151 
 
 Washington, the sinnet did, for which he went hoppin 
 mad, as every patriot ought tu, and resined his seat 
 and went home. He wanted all the glory tii be laid 
 up careful as a stock tu draw upon when he'd come tu 
 claim it — and he vow'd tu be the deth of the sinnet 
 one day or other, for dividin the glory, knowin by his 
 horryskope that if it warn't squander'd foolish away, 
 it'd come some day tu be his'n. The gineral is now 
 makin the sinnet settle a few things on hand, and is 
 goin tu tell 'em that he can do without 'em with the 
 assistance of Martin, Amos and Blair. 
 
 That grate beneficence and liberality is n't glory is 
 sartin as dems trashion. Mr. Adams, that the gineral 
 has jist turn'd out 'cause he didn't know how tu keep 
 things strate in the government, giv'd 200 acres of 
 land, rich in good sile and an everlastin quarry of 
 stone in't, tu the people of . Quinsy, forever, and besides 
 his grate and learn'd library of books. But no body 
 didn't think this glory, nor did he git a bit of glory 
 for't. I guess, had he got tu work, and rais'd a row, 
 and set the folks a ramsquaddlin one another, his glo- 
 ry wou'd've then begin'd tu shine. But he didn't, and 
 now he's all in the dark, while the gineral will've himself 
 all the glory there'll be in the country for a grate while tu 
 come, tell 'em are fellers in Carolina begins tu nullifi- 
 cashion it, and then it'll briten up, I guess. I intend 
 tu make the gineral press the bank and the people 
 pritty hard, 'cause I want tu catch a leetle glory tu, 
 and if the people won't be quiet, we'll have a fine gig 
 in makin 'em swallow down his Experiment^ and then 
 we'll send in our bill as the Irish farrier did, " tu cur- 
 
152 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 
 
 in yourhoner's hoss that di'd." I swow we'll trans- 
 mografy things nicely, when there'll be no Bank, no 
 sinnet, and the people's representatives on our side, 
 wheresomever we turn or whatsomever side we take. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 The gineral takes grate heroes or the emperor for his 
 model. The Seminoles begin tu feel the pressure of 
 the Fort Jackson Treaty and are discontented. They 
 begin tu murder, and the Georgia militia are calVd 
 out. They get on the field exactly ivhen their three 
 months duty are out. The second levy do better, and 
 file bravely. The Seminoles become formidable, and 
 file cautiously. The gineral takes the field. Seal- 
 pin, The gineral leaves the Ingins and invades 
 Florida. Takes St. Marks, and with it Arbuthnot 
 and n^mbrister, who are trihl and executed. Take 
 possession of Pensacola and concludes the war. 
 
 Havin show'd what glory is in its tru meanin I jist 
 went tu the gineral tu read it tell him. The gineral 
 laft rite out; why Major, says he,your pen has touch'd 
 this glory bisness as if it bin sharp'd on one of Pack- 
 ard's or Morgan's razor straps. It beats all natur 
 how you tell things. I can't find out how you gues'd 
 so trig tu a hare how I thou't on't. I'll tell you, 
 Major, and I'm sure the people'll like it a nashion site 
 better than oney thing else if you jist tell 'em its from 
 me; — in my doins I like tu take the grate men of the 
 day for my model; with a good deal of the president,. 
 I like tu've a leetle of the Emperor. In all my hat-^ 
 
154 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 ties I've never been beat — 1 stand among the first 
 gineral's of this are age, and there isn't any thing I've 
 engag'd in since I gain'd the battle of New Orleans, 
 but what I have shov/'d master skill in. Afore that 
 time I cou'dn't perform any civil oflBce tu please me. 
 The glory that surrounded me arter that fite burnt 
 up all that spifflicated me when I went intu civil 
 matters, and since that time I can tittup thro' it jist 
 as if I'd bin born for't. I tell'd ye a spell ago. that 
 fitin and gainin battles is the way tu make a grate 
 gineral knowin in every thing, and now you see how 
 'tis. The people says I'm consarn'd powerful in 
 statesman bisness, and when I'm tri'd I find since 
 that time all the grate men in the nashion, are out for 
 me. Some say he's the devil's chaplain who preaches 
 war, but I think he'll never be fit tu do more than 
 shoulder brown bess who preaches peace. All the 
 honers and understandin I ever cou'd lay claim tu 
 com'd by the sword, and I'll praise the bridge that 
 carries me safe over, whatsomever slang-whangers may 
 say about the matter on tother side. 
 
 I tell'd ye in another place that the gineral had 
 made a treaty by dictation at Fort Jackson with the 
 creeks arter he'd conquer'd 'em. The lands ceded in 
 this treaty didn't all belong tu the creeks, but tu the 
 Seminoles, Chocktaws, Cherokees, and other Tribes. 
 The other tribes demanded that their boundaries wou'd 
 be describ'd, intendin tu show that much of that ces- 
 sion of land was not the property of the Creeks tu sine 
 away, and but a few of the chiefs even of the Creeks 
 was willin tu sine, or did so. They found the gineral 
 determin'd tu make a treaty by dictation, and they 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 155 
 
 agreed, as he must've land, tu give him most of their 
 own and all their neighbour's. The other tribes 
 wou'dn't agree tu this a bit. They was discontented^ 
 and tu satisfy these discontents, and make all strate, 
 the gineral was sent in September 1816 tu make the 
 Chocktaw and Cherokee part of it notch with the 
 Creek treaty of the year afore. In the Fort Jackson 
 treaty of 1815 the Creeks alone were "in at the deth^" 
 the others not likin tu be partners in the distribution 
 of the gineral's blessins, ask'd and obtain'd a Treaty 
 of their own. 
 
 The Treaty of 1816 with the Chickasaw Ingins was 
 a fair one. They were tu relinquish all land claim'd 
 by 'em north of the Tenesee river, containin 10 millions 
 of acres, and all their claims tu part of the Creek 
 session of the year afore tu which they hadn't then 
 agreed for S10,000 a year for eight years, and some 
 presents. This throw'd intu Tenesee and Kentuck 
 a valuable body of land, and clear'd the Ingins off* it 
 from all future disputin. This Treaty was creditable 
 tu both parties, and highly important tu the States 
 named. 
 
 The gineral now remain'd a bit restin himself, havin 
 nothin tu do, but answer'd letters from all parts forrad- 
 ed with presents of boots, hats, swords, medals, 
 drinkin cups, walkin canes, hickory took-picks, and 
 a raft of other nick-nackories> more than a feller cou'd 
 count in a long spell. Next year, howsomever, the 
 Ingins beginM tu throw oft* what they cou'dn't keep 
 down of the Fort Jackson Treaty. In this they were 
 aided by Woodbine, an Inglishman, who got among 
 'em for trade, and findin it profitable humor'd 'em 
 
156 MAJOR JACK downing's life 
 
 bv tellin that the IngUsh wou'd watch for their inter- 
 ests and not let 'em be rong'd out of an acre of their 
 land— that the Ghent Treaty binded the President 
 tightly, and they'd see that it was kept strate, with a 
 grate deal of sich like plasterin up. With the Ingins 
 their is oney a step atween discontent and war. They 
 was told how as they'd bin humbugg'd out of their 
 lands, and that they shou'dn't let go any more of t; 
 that the Inglish was their friends, and wou'd see em 
 protected. As soon's they got dissatisfi'd they quarlt 
 with their squattin neighbours. Then they com'd tu 
 blows; the Ingins got smabbled; they took vengeance; 
 and in a wink the war begin'd. The Ingins hav.n no 
 iudges nor coorts, cou'dn't demand the white aggres- 
 sors, so they went unharm'd. But the Senimoles 
 warn't so safe. Their murderers was demanded, and 
 refus'd, unless the whites who attack'd 'em was giv d 
 un Thus matters stood, when the gineral begm d tu 
 kindle up his glory and order'd gineral Gaines tu col- 
 lect forces at Fort Scott, and order'd the governor of 
 Georgia tu send him a battalion of riflemen and another 
 of lite infantry on horseback tu assist, tu meet at Fort 
 Hawkins. The murderers, play in hide and seek 
 among 'em, the Ingins refus'd tu give up, expect.n an 
 IngvJi agent in their nation tu settle the b.sness. They 
 .aid the murder of the whites was in retaliation. The 
 Creeks, in this war becom'd friendly with the gmeral, 
 and ioin'dtu aid in the war aginst the Seminoles w.th 
 600 iarriors. Gineral Gaines with 3000 men reg'lars 
 militia and Ingins, now mov'd forrard ag.nst 2700 
 S minoles, located within the limits of F or.da-- 
 Gaines, on arrivia at Flint river sent a friendly mes- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 157 
 
 sage tu the hostile Ingins, but they wou'dn't listen tii 
 it. Major Twiggs with a small party then crossed. 
 They fired upon him, and a battle foiler'd. The In- 
 gins havin 4 kill'd, fled, without loss tu Twiggs. The 
 Ingins had said tiie powers above and belozo had both 
 commanded 'em tu defend their soil, and they'd do it. 
 Major Tw^iggs was now sent tu the Ingin town tu twig 
 'em, which he did pritty slick, smabblin several and 
 inakin the rest skim it, quick time. The Ingins had 
 bin deceived with tarradiddles by a few holy lambs 
 from among the Inglish, who promis'd aid from the 
 north and other places. 
 
 At this time the war becom'd bloody, the scrimma- 
 ges frequent, the deths many. Mcintosh with his 
 friendly Creeks 1000 strong join'd Gaines. The 
 murders was numerous^ 12 men from Fort Scott was 
 kill'd, Lil'tenant Scott with 50 men was attack'd 12 
 miles below Fort Scott,and six oney escaped by swim- 
 min. Gineral Gaines sent major Muhlenbc^rg tu assist 
 Scott with boats plank'd on side for protection havin 
 port holes. These boats were attack'd by 1^00 In- 
 gins, and arter a severe battle beat 'em' off with a small 
 loss. 
 
 At this time the gineral was bissy as a pip«r, gettin 
 things redy tu ramsquaddle 'em. He call'd out 1000 
 Teneseeans mounted. They was all engag'd for the 
 war this time; the work was intended tu be cut short, tu 
 save a deal of smabblin and botheration. The Geor- 
 gians made gineral Glascock send a militia force tu 
 the field, but afore they cou'd be brou't tu act their 
 times of service was out. Another militia draft was 
 made, and the snale trot speed they made was near 
 
158 MAJOR JACK DOWNINC'S LIFE 
 
 savin their bacons also from Ingin bullets afore they 
 were brou't iiitu the field. A company of Kentuck 
 volunteers join'd the gineral. The gineral sent 'em a 
 speech, they giv'd a hoora, and ivent ahed. 
 
 The Seminoles had now collected 4000 warriors 
 and niggurs in a grate Swamp, which they had forti- 
 fied and provisioned, havin put intu it all their squaws 
 and papooses, and burnt up their towns. The gineral 
 forbid letters from his army givin information of his 
 movements. He wished tu move along mysteriously 
 so that all things wou'd be done safe. The gineral 
 had a thing in view which he wish'd tu do afore they 
 wou'd know about it at home, as'll be seed bime by. 
 
 About the 10th of March 1818 the gineral crossed 
 over the Spanish side intu Florida. Mcintosh with 
 1500 Creeks aidin him. His army was now oOOQ 
 men Arter some skrimmagin in which a number was 
 smabbled the gineral advanc'd and took possession ol 
 St Mark's, a Spani^h Fort. The Spanyards did their 
 fitin by a protest. At St. Mark^s, Arbuthnot was 
 taken Ji^t about this time some gun boats was as- 
 cendin the river St. Mark's. The gineral's men hmst 
 an Inglish Flag; this decoy'd a squad of the Ingms on 
 board wl» was all taken. Among these was a Chief, 
 and their profet Francis. These were instantly made 
 tu put on their Friday face and were put tu bed with 
 a shovel tu save future mischief. . . ^. . 
 
 The -ineral who is nation lucky in catchin his ine- 
 
 mies na'ppin, besides Arbuthnot, got also Ambnster 
 
 n^u his' clutches. These men, ^^VVOsn.^.e ^.n^X 
 
 wou'dn't invade the Spanish dominions thou't them- 
 
 Xt safe within the Spanish lines. They ^v.re 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 159 
 
 mistaken. The gineral alwase does things like no- 
 body else. Ambrister headed the niggurs, and in a 
 skrimmage with 'em, arter half was kill'd was 
 taken. Several severe battles in which the Ing-ins 
 arter losin several hundred men, about 350 women and 
 children, a vast many cattle, and havin their towns 
 burnt, were glad tu hike off, or nock under. Jist 
 
 about this time a partv of the gineral's men in pursuit 
 of the inemy com'd upon a squad of Ingins murderin 
 a white family. They had killM and scalp'd all but 
 one, a beautiful girl about 16 years old, which one of 
 the Ingins had jist commenc'd scalpin when the party 
 com'd upon 'em. The Ingin had giv'd her a dread- 
 ful cut tu take her scalp off when one of the Tenesee 
 
160 
 
 riflemen took sure aim and shot him thro' the hart. 
 The rest was mostly smabbled or taken. The young 
 lady was taken tu a place of safety, her woond attend- 
 ed tu, she got well, and arter blest the arms of the 
 heroic and brave Teneseean who sav'd her life. 
 
 As soon as the bisness of smabblin was over, the 
 gineral order'd gineral Gaines tu try Arbuthnot and 
 Armbrister by coort-marshal. The gineral alwase 
 means by tryin, tu jist ax what they'd tu say why 
 sentence of death mayn't be pass'd upon 'em. The 
 evidence aginst these men was, that one was a British 
 officer, and the other a pedlar of muskets and ammu- 
 nition among the Ingins. The claims they set up in 
 defence was that they were subjects of Great Britain, 
 N\ere then in the service of a nation at war with the 
 United States, and by the law of nations was intitled 
 tu be treated as pris'ners of war. They denied the 
 rite of any civil or military tribunal tu try 'em. But 
 all woMn't do. The gineral wasn't a bit acquainted 
 with the law of nations, but he knew he had enuft' of 
 hemp and lead tu pay 'em with for promplin the war, 
 and furnisldn the materials for it. The coort-marshal 
 however didn't find evidence tu convict one on 'em, 
 and they acquitted him, but the gineral, on seein their 
 decision, jist sent it back and order'd 'em, instead of 
 in7iocent tu say guilly; they did so, bein commanded 
 by a superior officer, as all obedient solders shou'd, 
 and he was order'd forthwith tu be shot. He met his 
 fate like a brave man. The other was hang'd. Bein 
 a gentleman he didn't like the ruif treatment of the 
 executioner when tyin the rope round his neck. He 
 didn't like tu die that way a bit, but the gineral 
 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 161 
 
 tell'd him tu be brave, for that there wasn't any 
 help for 'em. That was his way, and he cou'dn*t 
 help it. 
 
 The gineral now muster'd all the men he cou'd 
 spare and martsch'd strate tu Pensacola. On his way 
 he was met by a threat from the Spanish governor, 
 denouncin him for makin war upon his master, tell'd 
 him he wou'd meet him if he advanced with deth and 
 terror, and promis'd tu repel force by force, but I 
 guess he didn't mean that. The gineral had visited 
 him onct afore; arter whippin and takin all from him, 
 the governor becom'd all at onct his rale friend. The 
 gineral alwase made friends of those he quilted — arter 
 they got in his fingers; then they becom'd incense- 
 swingers, and soon the gineral took 'em iiitu favor; but 
 this time the gineral said when he'd come agin he'd 
 not spare: and nother did he, for he took possession, 
 sent all the authorities home tu their master and put a 
 governor over the place tu take care of it frr him. 
 Now he'd no objection tu his men ritin home tu tell 
 their friends all about it for the inemy was driv'd out, 
 and he was conqueror. The militia were now sent 
 home, and the gineral foller'd 'em as fast as he cou'd, 
 the Seminoles havin bin squaddled till they was tired 
 and ready for a peace by dictation like the Creeks. 
 
 Much has bin said on the cause and progress of this 
 war. The pious folks were offended becase the gine- 
 ral didn't fite the Ingins in a civilization way. They 
 thou't he'd've done better tu've not made the Ingins 
 believe the christians were savages like 'emselves, and 
 not have adopted their system of revenge, and decep- 
 tion in the war. They wanted the gineral, while he 
 
 O 2 
 
162 
 
 chastis'd 'em, tu do it with all the forbearance he 
 cou'd; tu give quarters, and teach the Ingins that 
 white tnen warn't all as desperate wicked as the 
 squatters on the border, and that thej cou'd be merci- 
 ful in tlieir chastisements, and show a christian sperit 
 while kill in on 'em. But the gineral knew a thing or 
 tu better — there warn't no glory in doin kindness. 
 The more was squ addled he knew there was the more 
 land, and the more hooras for himj and then com'd 
 the glory: then com'd plate, and silver hedded canes, 
 and hats, and boots, and beef, and carriages, and a 
 nation site of the good things of this life, which were 
 all in token of profound submission tu him as a hero, 
 and then'd come the consarn'd squabblin over the hull 
 nation tu see who'd've the best chance tu swing the 
 censor and raise him on a cloud as big as Jupiter on 
 Olympus. This was somethin worth fitin for, and the 
 man, who cou'dn't smabble his inemies he well knew 
 cou'dn't get it. 
 
 In the trials of Ambrister by a coort marshal, he 
 was sentenced tu be shot^ but the coort reconsider'd 
 the sentence, and condem'd him tu receive 50 stripes 
 on his bare back, and he confin'd with a ball and chain 
 for twelve calender months at hard labour. The min- 
 eral, didn't like the glory of that, so he revoked the 
 sentence and order'd him tu be shot next mornin and 
 Arbuthnot tu be scragg'd, both sentences were prompt- 
 ly put intu execution. 
 
 That these men descrv'd their several fates is a 
 truth that can't be disputed; but that they were ac- 
 cordin tu the law of nations murder\l, is confidently 
 asserted by men learn'd in the law. They will serve 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 163 
 
 as a warnin tu otiiers not tu do mischief behind a 
 screen, beoise that screen may not, tu those who in 
 pursuit of justice overleap the law lines, serve 'em as 
 a sure protection. Had they done exactly lite they 
 wou'd've bin reveng'd by the blood and treasure of the 
 Inglish nation. That nation, deep as it felt on this 
 occasion, cou'dh't open its mouth in their behalf, and 
 so the matter ended. That the unfortunate men were 
 not at the discution of the coort-marshal for either trial 
 or execution is a fact — they wou'd've bin prepar'd for 
 a different defence had they known in whose hands 
 they were, the peril they brav'd, and the tender mercies 
 they'd ought tu expect from its derisionv 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 The ginend receives the popular favor in marble statues, 
 and his picture at New Orleans. His picture a 
 Naches. He is commission'' d with governor Shelby 
 fu make a treaty with the Chickasaw Junius. His cute 
 managin tu get a separate private treaty for his 
 friends. His defeat by Gov. Shelby. His attempt 
 tu crop the ears off the Sinnet at Washington. 
 
 The gineral's dem strations of Christian practice in 
 the Seminole war, was foller'd by a nation site tokens 
 of popular favor. The city of New Orleans voted 
 50,000 dollars for a marble statue of him, and 1000 
 dollars tu Mr.Earl, for his likeness. The city of Naches 
 voted 1000 dollars for a similar paintin. He had rub- 
 bed up his glory, by scarce leavin a Seminole be- 
 hind, and as for the Spanish power in Florida, which 
 at best was like the leetle eend of nothin whittled down 
 tu a pint, he put it all intu the pocket of his unmen- 
 tionables, havin shipped the governor and his men home 
 till they wou'd be better qualifi'd tu protect their neu- 
 tral relations with him. 
 
 In the fall of 1818, the gineral was appointed with 
 governor Shelby tu proceed tu and make a treaty with 
 the Chickasaw nation, for a reservation of land. I 
 guess the gineral was a master hand at makin treaties 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 165 
 
 with Ingins. Gov. Shelby, his son, and acme friends 
 set out with the gineral and his party from Nashvil 
 about the middle of September. On the journey the 
 gineral took a notion that as the sinnet had refus'd let- 
 tin him have the three square miles giv'd by the Creeks 
 as a present for ramshacklin 'em so well, he wouM jist 
 see if he cou'dn't spifflicate the ivybush of Uncle Sam 
 in sich way that he cou'dn't tell cheat from timothy. 
 Now, says he tu himself, I'll work 'em, and they'll not 
 know who did it. Ridin up tu governor Shelby, he 
 ax'd him how high he was willin tu go for the Ingin 
 boundary. Rather than not succeed I'd go tu SSOO,000 
 said the governor, but I've no idea that half that sum 
 will be required. The gineral rode on thinkin like 
 pat's parrot, but didn't say never a word. The Ingins 
 assembled at the treaty ground. The gineral's 
 friends and the Ingins soon be com'd as thick as 
 incle weavers, but their aim cou'dn't be yet dscover'd. 
 Once the gineral and part of his company staid all 
 nite in the Ingins huts, and it was discover'd that all 
 the gineral's old rath and spite at the Ingins had left 
 him in a jerk. His studied silence on the subject of 
 his intimacy with the Ingins rais'd some suspicions that 
 he was goin tu plant seed for a new war. The govern- 
 or at last found out that he had bin in close confab with 
 Colbert one of the principal chiefs. It was soon as- 
 certain'd that some of the chiefs were violently op- 
 pos'd tu the treaty or tu any sale of the land. This 
 the gineral stated tu the governor. A council bein 
 call'd, the Ingins urged that as the United States were 
 largely in arrears tu 'em, they wou'dn't sell any till 
 that was paid. A despatch was sent tu Nashvil for 
 
166 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 money tu pay it ; the money came, and the claim was 
 satisfied. 
 
 A second council was now called. The gineral be- 
 comin foreman ot the jury, now address'd the chiefs — 
 
 '' What do you ax for your land ?" 
 
 Jngins. — " We don't know — what will you give r" 
 
 The gineraK « We will give you $150,000." 
 
 Ingins, *« We can't take it. 
 
 The gineral. «' We will give you 8200,000." 
 
 Ingins. '' No, we cannot take it." 
 
 The gineral " We will give you $250,000." 
 
 Ingins. " No, no." 
 
 The gineral ' ' $500, 000. ' ' 
 
 At this moment the governor left the table, and the 
 council broke up. 
 
 The gineral now tell'u the governor that the chiefs 
 contended for the privilege of sellin a large track tu 
 whom they pleas'd. The governor objected tu this 
 proposition, sayin they mite sell it tu the king of 'em 
 are Inglish that he click'd so nicely at New Orleans. 
 The gineral repli'd that a company of gentlemen were 
 on the ground who would pay 'em their price, 20,000 
 dollars. To this Gov. Shelby positively refus'd ; he 
 said the Ingins shou'dn't sell lands tu private indivi- 
 duals, insistin that the government shou'd have the 
 rite of choice ; that they were commission'd tu sustain 
 the government and not private individuals. The gi- 
 neral and the Ingins were obliged tu agree, or do no- 
 thin. 
 
 The governor now told the gineral that he hadn't 
 ouglit tu offer so high a piece. *'Why governor, 
 d n it, did not you say that you wou'd give 300,000 
 
OF GliNERAL JACKSOK. 167 
 
 dollars? said the gineral. «*No, sir," said the go- 
 vernor, " I gave you no authority tu speak for me ; I 
 am heretu speak for myself." " Why governor, G— 
 
 d n my soul* if you didn't say so.'' *'I did not 
 
 authorize you tu make any sich proposition." The 
 parties waxin roth and threatenin blows were separated. 
 They preserv'd silence till the next day when they 
 agin met for bisness. The gineral broke out in a rale 
 tantrum upon the governor, ruff, noisy, and threat- 
 enin. The friends of the parties now interfered, Ma- 
 jor Smith ax*d leave tu be moderator, and they was 
 kept apart. The governor now said he shou'd go home. 
 "Go, governor," said the gineral, '' by G — I will 
 make the treaty without you.'* While the governor 
 and party were saddlin their bosses tu start, they 
 was persuaded tu remain. A. new council was 
 form'd, the Ingins demanded 300,000 dollars, and it 
 was at last agreed tu. The governor said, that the 
 gineral, from an anxiety tu make a speckulation for 
 private individuals, cost the government from 100,000 
 dollars tu 200,000 dollars! The guess of the go- 
 vernor was, that by allowin 'em a Ugh price for the 
 public treaty, they wou'd, by collusion accept a small 
 price for the lands in private treaty ; (he private treaty 
 reservation bein the choice part of the Ingin's territory. 
 Well now, I don't see as how the gineral is so much 
 tu blame arter all. Avarice is a disease of the mind 
 as the measles is a desease of the body. The gineral 
 
 * In giving this dialogue literally as it occurr'd, Jack 
 Downing is n't tu be understood as approvin of swearin. He 
 despises the practice as bein vulgar and wicked. 
 
1^8 MAJOR JACK DOWNING*S LIFK 
 
 is by natur selfish— hadn't he bin so, he'd now 've as 
 
 leetle glory as any on us. Glory can't be obtain'd 
 
 withoJt a deal of fitin and blood, but tho' the men do 
 
 all the fitin, he gets the glory by wholesale and they 
 
 by retail. Every solder has tu blow his own trumpet 
 
 when he wants a ray of glory, but if the officers and 
 
 men don't all put their lungs intu the tube of one 
 
 trumpet and make the earth fairly tremble with the 
 
 blast of 't, the gineral who wants the glory will take 
 
 care tu make 'eoi food for glory next time the inemy 
 
 comes athwart 'em. Now, gittin lands and specklatin 
 
 is a great temptation tu those us'd tu it ; and when one 
 
 has tlie notion that he is popular enuff; when he abets a 
 
 scheme of the kind alluded tu above tu carry it along, 
 
 how easy it is for himself and his friends tu feather 
 
 their nests amost at the public expense. Had gov- 
 
 ernor Shelbv consented, the gineral's friends mite 've 
 
 obtain'd a track equal tu a German principality for 
 
 amost a song, and the i.ation 've bin leetle the wiser, 
 
 and not a bit the worse, if that are Sinnet wou'd've 
 
 thou't so. 
 
 The gineral was variously employed during the year 
 1819, but I haven't time tu rite upon more than a few 
 of the more important ones. In winter of 1818 and 
 1819 the Seminole war and invasion of Florida ques- 
 tion com'd up in Congress. Some of the members 
 treated him with their gloves off', in pritty ruff style, I 
 tell ye ; and warn't very pernickity about the severity 
 of their languidge nother. The gineral had friends, 
 who sent him word when the alarm was sounded that 
 he mite be prepar'd tu defend himself. Like the snap 
 of a steel trap he was on his way tu Washington, and 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 169 
 
 soon arriv'd there. His friends, no doubt tu currj 
 favour, for tiieir are spaniels enuff of this kind, had 
 made the story look as blue as possible: and so the gine- 
 ral was considerable chaf'd, and threaten'd fearful. 
 The president, hearin he was in the tantrims and 
 foamin with rage, sent his brother tu see, calm, advise, 
 and induce him tu respect the constituted authorities. 
 Ina leetle time thegineral was quiet ; but Mr. Lacock 
 makin his report tu the Sinnet on the Seminole Corn- 
 pane, the gineral receiv'd it at a public dinner table in 
 Baltimore, and jumpt rite up, sajin he was wanted at 
 Washington tu chastise some on 'em are Sinneters for 
 their insolence, and especially Mr. Eppes, whose castin 
 vote brou't it afore the Sinnet. In a giffy he was on 
 his way tu Washington and arrived at day lite, travel- 
 lin all nite. Sendin for his aids, he repaired tu the vici- 
 nity of the Sinnet room. About the same time as the 
 gineral Commodore Decatur arriv'd, and bavin his 
 wife in the lobby withdrew tu the outer passage where 
 thegineral was as rip-roarious as a baited bull, Deca- 
 tur seein his agitation and hearin his threats axed Mr. 
 Kemper tu dissuade the gineral from his purpose. 
 Kemper wou'd n't 5 and expressin his concurrence in 
 the design of the gineral tu cornubble every rascally 
 member who wou'd question his conduct, or examin 
 it. Decatur then axed the gineral if he really intended 
 violence on any of the people's representatives. I am 
 a democrat, said Decatur, and i\\Q people^ s representa- 
 tives in Congress shou'd be left tu the immolested dis- 
 charge of their duties. I want tu know whether you have 
 ralley utter'd the threats the folks say you have. The 
 gineral answer'd yes ', and with an oath said he was 
 
170 
 
 aetermin'd tu stash their proceedins against him, or 
 ribroast with his hickory tooth-pick every d d ras- 
 cal on 'em jist as they sit in the Sinnet. Decatur tri'd 
 tu persuade him from his intent, sayin that if he did, 
 his inemies wou'd be glad of it, and use it against him. 
 The general said he wou'd n't jist scalp 'em rascals, 
 but he'd crop tlieir ears off, and hang 'em up as a 
 warnin tu others who mite examin his doins. Decatur 
 exerted his besttu dissuade him, and at last succeeded, 
 but not tell arter he'd skeert Lacock, Eppes, and 
 others consarntly, and made them get arms tu protect 
 their ears. 
 
 In this are bisness the gineral was amost tu fast. 
 The democracy of the country is always for a govern- 
 ment by representatives. Thro' these they have their 
 grievances redress'd, and laws for the general good of 
 society formed. These are the rale protectors of the 
 people's liberties. Tu check the rites of the people's 
 representatives in Congress, or curtail the liberty of 
 speech, or of the ;5re5s, would be fatal tu freedom. The 
 glory ot our victories wou'd be of no use without these. 
 We mite as well be under one tyrant as another, if 
 the people arn't tu be hi^ard thro' a popular legislater. 
 It is fortenate that no one is above the laws or public 
 opinion, for imperious rulers and bears often worry 
 their keepers, and a despot in fermentation throws up 
 a crate site of scum, which floats on the surface and 
 bears with weight upon all beneath it that is good. The 
 people can be heard thro' the men they elect, but if a 
 despot says no, who will draw the sword tu oppose him ? 
 This is rebellion, and the party who do so must flmg 
 away the scabbard, and make up his mind at onct t« 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 171 
 
 die if he is n't victorious. In the case of the gineral 
 and the Sinnet, it will be remember'd he had long 
 vow'd its deth, and has alwase waged war with it. 
 The gineral never forgives, but jist puts up his rath in 
 a warm place, tell he can bring it out for use, and he has 
 the nack of keepin it fresh for all occashions. I do sin- 
 cerely regret, and so does' the gineral, that he talked 
 of croppin the Sinneters, 'cause they'd be a curis lookin 
 company when collected all together without ears. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 The gineral quads uith Crawford secretary at ivar, 
 Quarts with gineral Scott, for not sayin he luas rite 
 in all he did. Has a quarl with the Legislater oj 
 Tenesee about Banks and bills of credit. Insults 
 'em and makes 'em swoller their oaths of office. The 
 gineral is sent tu Florida tu receive it from the hands 
 of the Spanish and then govern it. Quarls with Cat- 
 lava, with all the Spanish officers, and with Judge 
 Fromentin Suspends the Ilahus Corpes on his 
 bagnets. Imprisons Spanish citizens who come 
 from Havana for their families. Conversation afween 
 me and the gineral. 
 
 In the year 1817, James ISIonroe was augurated 
 President. A correspondence was held atween the 
 aineral and the president, in which the gineral recom- 
 mended tu reconcile all parties in the nashion by ap- 
 pintin a cabinet that woud'n't be oney but a half 
 breed or mungrel one, so as tu please both sides. Craw- 
 ford, 'secretary at war, be hated, and soon took occa- 
 sion tu insult him by a general order which wasn't ve- 
 ry nice about givin him a reprimand. This produced 
 a controversy atween the gineral and gineral Scott, m 
 a long correspondence. The gineral forrarded tu 
 Scott a newspaper with a squirt at him about his order, 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 173 
 
 tu know whether he (Scott) rit it. Scott hadn't, but 
 admitted sajin that it was, as tu the future, mutinous 
 in its tendency. The gineral replied that he took Ma- 
 jor gineral Scott for a gentleman, and rit tu him as 
 sich, but he mistook, his languidge was insolent, he de- 
 served contempt, that he was ignorant of the obligations 
 and duties which honer impose, and is past learnin. 
 
 This kind of politeness run thro' a long letter. The 
 gineral insinewated that Scott was one of the pimps 
 and spies of the war department, an intermeddler, a 
 hector, a bully, a backbiter and slanderer, and that 
 his brest was filled with base and guilty passions. That 
 the gineral had the best of the abuse partis sartin,— of 
 course of the argument. Gineral Scott woud'n't foller 
 his example by givin railin for railin, but in a very gen- 
 tlemanly way and in severe but smooth words re- 
 plied. He thou't that the gineral was spoil'd by suc- 
 cess and applause, but declin'd any exchange of abuse. 
 The gineral by this time had got his rath pritty high, 
 and he didn't like tu let it off except, like one of his own 
 pistols, with a bullet. He com'd on from Tenesee tu 
 fite Scott, but gineral Scott didn't think his commission 
 was giv'd him tu fite his brother officers, and begged 
 time till. the next war tu show his courage, Gineral 
 Scott, in this, show'd a good sperit, and the gineral 
 went home till he'd get some other chance tu let off his 
 rath, which, as he hated tu keep it in, bein alwase ready 
 tu get rid of sich an unruly companion, was nashion 
 troublesome tu him. 
 
 The next leadin act of the gineral was his attempt 
 tu make the legislater of Tenesee swaller their own 
 oaths of office, in a memorial tu the house of Repre- 
 P 2 
 
174 :major jack dowmng*s life 
 
 sentatives of that state on the subject of the Tenesee 
 Bank and Relief law. A bill tu charter a Bank at 
 Murfreesburg with sartin powers was afore the gineral 
 assembly. The gineral and others sent in a remon- 
 strance tu the bi.l, in which he said the bill established 
 a loan office, in violation of art. 10. Sec. 1. of the 
 Federal Constitushion which forbids coinin of money 
 or the emission of bills of credit, or any thing but gold 
 and silver a legal tender for the payment of debts. — 
 The notes are designed tu be issued are bills of credit, 
 said the gineral, becase they are made tu represint prop- 
 erty, and whatever represints property must be bills of 
 credit, or specie I Bank notes must then be a bill of cred- 
 it. These notes said the gineral, are tu be emitted on the 
 cj edit and security of the borrowers guaranteed by the 
 sales of unappropriated lands in the state, and will be re- 
 deemable with dollars ! The gineral next quoted in the 
 remonstrance the oath of office of the members, begg'il 
 'emtu read it, said their responsibility was a high and 
 awful one, and, (as was said in the house,) had declared 
 out of doors that the members might hear it in doors, 
 that any menjber who voted and issued notes was per- 
 jured, and that twelve honest jurors wou'd convict 'em 
 of perjury. The remonstrance was thrown out and the 
 Bank bill passed both houses, and became a law. 
 
 In the beginnin of 1819, the government and Don 
 Onis, the Spanish minister made a treaty for the cession 
 of Florida tu the United States. Congress also passed 
 a law for puttin tilings strate there in the govern- 
 ment way. The treaty was confirm'd in October 1820 
 by Spain, and in February 1821 by Congress. 
 
 By the law the officers and solders of Spain were tu 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 175 
 
 be remov'd, and the Spanish citizens tu be protected 
 in their rites, and property, and religion. 
 
 The gineral was now giv'd three commissions, one 
 tu take possession — one tu govern — and one tu carry 
 the treaty bargains in tu effect. Kurnel Forbes was tu 
 receive the achieves and public documents belongin tu 
 Florida, and also orders tu receive the Floridas from 
 the governor of Cuba, tu which place he was tu go for 
 'em. E. Fromentin was appointed Judge of all west 
 and part of East Florida &c. 
 
 When the^gineral was apprised of his appintment, 
 he set out in April with Captin Call, and Doctor Bro- 
 naugh as surgeon gineral. 
 
 At New Orleans findin his quarter master hadn't 
 funds tu carry his object intu effect, nother authority 
 tu draw, he said he wou'd take upon him the responsi- 
 bility tu do it. He accordinly appli'd tu the Branch 
 Bank of the United States for 10 or 12,000 dollars, 
 but was refus'd. A considerable rathy, he next ap- 
 pli'd tu the collector of the port, who also refus'd.— 
 The Cashier cou'dn't, 'cause his '' instructions forbid 
 his dealin in drafts." The Collector cou'dn't 'cause 
 the Secretary of the Treasury had sent him no instruc- 
 tions. The gineral who cou'd'nt get no one willin tu vio- 
 late their instructions, and was thereby prevented from 
 it himself, was in a foam. He then and there vowed 
 that he wou'd be the deth of the Bank, as he had de- 
 clar'd he'd be of the Sinnetj but as the customs are ne- 
 cessary tu get money and he forgiv'd that. 
 
 On demandin Florida from Governor Callava, he re- 
 fus'd givin it up tell he had orders from Havana. 
 
 The delay of Forbes made the gineral suspect the 
 
176 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 merchants had entered intu a trick tu get goods^in afore 
 the Custom House was establish'd. The gineral was 
 now preparin tu let loose his long pent up rath. He 
 didn't like Callava — he thou't he wou'd make difficul- 
 ties — and other surmises occupied his mind. The gin- 
 eral's hand begin'd tu tremble — when he lifted his 
 soup he splash'd himself — all went rong with him, and 
 he beat himself intu a sweet preparashion for his duties. 
 Forbes not comin as soon as was expected, the gineral 
 propos'd tu the Secretary of State, tu take possession 
 by force, provided he wouldn't come soon enuft'. In 
 July, Forbes arriv'd — the Territory was given up, 
 and his duty as governor begin'd. In his first law, he 
 appints a mayor, aldermen, the christian sabbath, the 
 assessments &c. Upon an aflfadavit that papers of 
 importance for the proof of certain property, w^as goin 
 tu be carried out of the country, and were in the 
 hands of certain individuals they were demanded, but 
 havin bin refus'd,a party of solders with their officer was 
 sent with order tu demand 'em by force. The house of 
 Callava was instantly beset. The papers agin demand- 
 ed; agin refus'd — but the party entered, procured lights, 
 and tlie inmates were made prisoners and brou't tu the 
 gineral. The papers were reported at the house of 
 Callava, when the military, at the hour of 12 o'clock 
 at night were sent back tu open and search the boxes 
 and papers of Kurnel Callava in his house. It was 
 done — the documents obtain'd, and the parties dis- 
 charg'd. One of the parties in the presence of the 
 governor attempted tu draw up a protest. The giner- 
 al thumpthis fist on the table, and said he wou^vvi per- 
 mit it, nor wou'dn't allow *em tu translate the Spanish 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 177 
 
 intu Inglish lest he mite say what was unpleasant tu 
 hear. The gineral thou't it wasn't any use tu play the 
 o-intleman or be coorteis when he had solders at com- 
 mand. The president he thou't knew his way, and 
 approv'd it by givin him his commission, and of course 
 he was authoriz'd he thou't tu hector and dragoon as 
 a short cut tu bisness. 
 
 The Spanish military officers havin bin sent oft* by a 
 public conveyance at short notice tu quit, left their 
 families behind 'em. They then left their commissions 
 in Havana, and returnM as private citizens for their fam- 
 ilies. As soon as they landed they was arrested and 
 imprisoned. They pleaded that they had obeyed the 
 laws and returned as private men for their families 
 tu bring 'em out of the country. The wife of one 
 these men was dangerous ill, and he petition'd Con- 
 crress for a release from an illegal confinement. Con- 
 gress discuss'd the subject, and arter censunn the 
 gineral, did nothin. 
 
 The difficulties of the gineral with Callava involv d 
 him with some of his own administrators. Judge Fro- 
 mentin issued a writ of Habus Corpes tu have Callava 
 brou't afore him. The gineral suspended the Habus, 
 accordin tu his interpretation of the Constitution, and 
 forbid the investigation. The Judge, tho' ''sworn tu 
 execute and fulfil his duties accordin tu the constitu- 
 tion and la.ws of the United ^States," took a sudden 
 a-er fit on hem cited afore Governor Jackson, and 
 cou'dn't come. But he did at last appear, and re- 
 ceiv'd sich a lecture from the gineral, upon how he ought 
 tu understand and explain law as tu cure him of bem 
 pernickety about trifles. The gineral was tu give him 
 
ITS MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 a pair of specks tu see the constitution with. But a 
 rumor that the Judge had made an humble apology tu 
 the gineral, made the Judge ask of the gineral a deni- 
 al. The gineral was astonish'd said he had made an 
 apology for issuing a Habus, and that he knew it was 
 hanged up. A bitter and abusive correspondence 
 now took place, at which the gineral beat the Judge all 
 holler, fairly drownin the Judge with hard names and 
 words. This ended the dispute, but the Judge ap- 
 pealed tu the Secretary of State, and there it was re- 
 viv'd with tenfold gusts of revilin, which oney di'd by 
 havin no one tu oppose. 
 
 A glance at this are bisness made me shrug my 
 sholders. I cou'dn't get along with it, so I went and 
 ax'd the gineral how 'twas. Major, says he, this bis- 
 ness is like all the others I've bin consarn'd in^ 1 don't 
 know why, but for the life of me, I raise a row as soon 
 as I open my mouth. I've alwase a storm about me, 
 and yet I alwase get ahed, and do my bisness some- 
 how. Its true, accordin tu coortly usage I transgress, 
 but this aint the short cut— it don't strike the public 
 attention, major, and don't make talk, and raise friends 
 and inemies. Tu raise a storm, major, is the way tu 
 draw round us all the bold sperits, and 'em are fellers 
 that, like myself, aint pernickety about responsibility. 
 All of this sort in the hull nation rise up at onct, and 
 come out for me. Wi^i sich as these the timid folks 
 are kept quiet, and I can do jist as I'v^ a mind tu, 
 which saves a nation site of troubble. Where folks 
 are independent I'm not sure of 'em. Those who'll 
 support me from principle, will leave me from princi-^ 
 pie when they think me rong, but these never inquire 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 179 
 
 whether I'm rite or rong, but how I'd have it, and they 
 are ready tu help me out. Major I'm no statesman; 
 you guess that, but I've got energy, and when I know 
 what's rite I'll do it in spite of the devil.— Well, well, 
 gineral, I know you're the rale grit, and all for the peo- 
 ple; but some of the folks say that you alwase do bis- 
 ness in a t-.mpest of passion, and that you arn't 
 well able tu judge what is rite from what is rong at 
 sich times. — Major, when my instructions aint alwase 
 tu my mind, I've no help for't but jist tu git in a 
 passion, tu force my way thro', and hasn't govern- 
 ment alwase taken my side.? I don't care about the 
 ivay of doin things, supposin I get it done— I leave that 
 tu those who've more time tu spare; so no more now 
 about it 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 */^i hull crowd of matters brou^t intu one chapter.^ 
 The gineral nominated for President. His talk tu 
 himself on hearin the news. Is appinted tu the Sin- 
 net of the United States. Electioneerin on a large 
 scale. Public favors. The gineral defeated in Con- 
 gress^ where a President is elected. Is a leetle rathy 
 with Mr. Clay., and puts stories intu circulation which 
 Mr. Clay denied, and the gineral' s backers ivouhl 
 n''t prove, which set him mad as a hornet. Me and 
 the gineral have a talk. End of the Life. 
 
 I'm now come tu the most important time of the giner- 
 al's life — a time long expected bj him, tho' not without 
 some misgivins as tu qualificashions and consequences. 
 The gineral was nominated for the Presidency by the 
 Legislater of Tenesee in July 1822, and in the follow- 
 ing session of the same body he was appinted 'tu the 
 sinnet of the United States, in place of Mr. Williams, 
 who resined his seat tu make room for him. 
 
 When the gineral receiv'd information that he was 
 nominated for the Presidency he was sittin in his ofl&ce 
 at the Hermitage. It was a surprise tu him. Arter 
 hearin the news he threw one trapstick over tother, 
 folded up his arms, fixed his eyes on the carpet, and 
 begin'd a soliloquy with himself, thus: "So — gineral 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON, 181 
 
 Jackson is nominated for President — Do the people 
 ralej believe that he'd be competent tu guide the af- 
 fairs of this grate nashion ? — Jackson — President — aye 
 indeed — what a prittj President he'd make — don't 
 believe it — well — if they think I'd make one — why 
 then they'll be satisfied with the kind I'd make — 1 
 may try — with kinder help I may get along — this is 
 easy got — I wou'd then have a chance tu have my own 
 way — the people wou'd let me — faults I'd commit — 
 what then — enuff wou'd make 'em out virtues — all 
 grate men have flatterers — coortiers they call 'em — 
 my doins wou'd be lauded — my errors wou'd be for- 
 gotten — my sins forgiv'n— my name render'd immortal 
 — 1 swow — well, if the people will have it so, I may 
 try it — I'll accept — hoora!" 
 
 When it was announced that he was appinted tu the 
 Sinnet, Mr. Richie of the Richmond Inquirer, said, 
 *« The country may yet rue the change," alludln tu 
 Williams makin way for him. — This same Richie 
 found that the gineral was goin up hill, and that if he 
 wou'dn't catch hold of his skirt he must go down; so 
 that his own predixion mite come true, he com'd round, 
 and begin'd tu help him along. 
 
 The gineral was now started on the political race- 
 course. His friends were warm and zealous — They 
 know'd their man and stuck tu him like deth. They 
 circulated a thousand of the gineral's good sayins, and 
 a thousand he didn't say, as those he did. The giner- 
 al was pledg'd tu oney one term, if successful, and 
 also tu destroy faxions as he did the Ingins. He 
 
 receiv'd a sword from the Legislater of Tenesee he 
 
 was publicly escorted in his travels — was supported by 
 
182 
 
 Hickory Clubs — invited tu 50 dinners in every place 
 he went — was sent tu New Orleans tu make a parade 
 — and received a golden medal from Congress. All 
 the politicians, and even the president himself, got tu 
 squabble about his rale or s'pos'd letters ritten tu 
 Monroe, recommendin Fideialists and Dimocrats tu be 
 welded in his cabinet. The gineral was now call'd up- 
 on for his public sentiments — his private ones every 
 body know'd and publish'd. His letter tu Dr. Cole- 
 man in favor of the Tariffj his letters tu some dozen 
 or tu aginst it, and others intended for effect which 
 nother Daniel, nor a konjurer cou'dn't tell what they 
 meant, so nacky was the gineral when he wish'd it. — 
 Now, books were dedicated tu him. He footed it, 
 and ball'd it, and din'd it, and corresponded it with 
 Aaron Bur's old croney Swartwout, and defended 
 himself aginst a thousand imputations and accusa- 
 shions, and sought hundreds tu witness his assertions, 
 tu attest his veracity, tu refute calumnies — tu contra- 
 dict foolish sayins he was reported tu've made about 
 40,000 muskets tu reg'late Kentuck politics, and fifty 
 other matters, so that if he hadn't a pleasant, he had a 
 merry life. The sweets of bein a public man had gone 
 aibre; now he begin'd tu feel the thorns. Still there 
 was many tu give him cloth for his coats, beef for his 
 table — rings for his finger, and the Telescope and pis- 
 tols of Washington. If it hadn't bin for one and ano- 
 ther who kept his sins in remembrance, [the gineral 
 wou'd've bin one of the happiest men in existence as a 
 politician. 
 
 But the Presidential election com'd at last. The peo- 
 ple wou'd've their own way, and voted as they were 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 183 
 
 pleas'd. No one was elected, and the work now past 
 over intu the liands of congress. The members of 
 congress in the lower house are appinted, when the 
 people fail, tu give a president tu the nation. Some 
 argufj that every representative is bound tu vote as 
 his state had voted. Others contend that if thej vot- 
 ed as their constituents had voted no president cou'd 
 be made. That the constitution committin the woi'k 
 in which the people had f^iil'd, tu other men, with 
 other views, and feelins, and opinions, intended tu 
 leave the representative at liberty tu do as he seed rite. 
 Some said that the sp:^ it of the constitution intends 
 that the candidate si all be afore Congress for a free 
 vote— that up tu the last hour of votein facts may be 
 develop'd which wou'd change the mind for or aginst 
 the candidate, and that, therefore, the voter shou'd 
 be free tu give his ballot accordin tu the public in- 
 terests. 
 
 Mr. Adams was elected. The gineral was not 
 pleas'd at his defeat, and reproached Henry Clay for 
 makin a bargin with Mr. Adams. Among political 
 rivals sich charges show bad, whether true or false.-- 
 They raise bad blood, and bring the worst passions 
 intu play. They flabagast good manners and good 
 morals, and only show that one of the parties is vex'd 
 and disappinted. The gineral had charged Mr. Clay 
 with a bargin with Mr. Adams. Mr. Clay denied; the 
 gineral affirmed, and referred tu individuals. The in- 
 dividuals referr'd tu had bad memories, and cou'dn't re- 
 collect. The gineral now getted intu a foam,and terribly 
 threaten'd the forgetters of things so important. In 
 this way the petty discussion agitated for a long time 
 
184 MAJOR JACK DOWNING*S LIFE 
 
 the public mind, the friends of each believin pritty 
 much as thej did at first. 
 
 The political contest now raged with grate violence* 
 The gineral know'd he'd be president, but he thou't he 
 must fite for it. His friends was rale pluck, who said 
 they'd put him in, if his opponent was as pure as the 
 angels that surrounded the throne of God ! The giner- 
 al was now of the opinion that he wou'd make a first 
 rate president. His friends made hinv believe it, and 
 he had this advantage over all his competitors, he pro- 
 mised every thing he was ax'd tu promise, loudly de- 
 nounced his opponents, coorted the people, and led 
 the poor tu believe that he wou'd distribute among 'em 
 the welth of the rich. 
 
 The gineral was agin put intu nomination. He at- 
 tended as Sinneter in Congress, a spell or tu, and re- 
 sined, becase he wanted tu reserve all his knowledge 
 tu use whe he'd come tu be president. He didn't like 
 thesinnet a bit, and wou'dn't remain among 'em any 
 more, 'cause he had doom'd 'em. He seed they was 
 of no use oney tu plague the President, and he cou'd 
 n't see why the President needn't save the troubble and 
 do the work without 'em to save expenses. He was 
 all for economy, and this wou'd help the poor, 'cause, 
 the public money wou'd be spent in works upon which 
 the poor wou'd be employ'd. His professed object was 
 tu make the rich poorer and the poor richer — tu favor 
 the people, and biing back the golden age, when pigs 
 and poultry, all ready roasted and gratis, wou'd be car- 
 ried round, beggin tu be eat, and no one wou'dn't eat 
 'em. 
 
 When I had comM this far I went and ax'd the gin- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 185 
 
 eral if he wanted onej more put into his life, as I was 
 jist agoin tu make him President, and if he hadn't I 
 wou'd close this part of my book. The gineral jist 
 look'd it over a leetle, and begin'd tu laft' for all natur. 
 Why major, sajs he, I guess you'll give some on 'em 
 the collywabbles laffin at: my life. You've beat major 
 Eaton ail tu chips, he cou'dn't hold the candle tu you 
 in Biografy. Even the learn'd Walsh hasn't hit the 
 pint so exactly as you have. You've brou't me afore 
 my friends in the true lite. Hadn't I jist done what 
 you've said, I wou'dn't never have bin president, and 
 that which has made me the first in the nashion ought tu 
 stand out in my life tu be most seed and admir'd. — 
 But, major, if you're goin tu rite my administratshion, 
 I want }ou tu git it from my own lips. You'd better 
 sit with me, and we'll talk it over, and you rite it down 
 arter we're done, and then you'll be sure it'll be 
 jist the thing. When I tell you what I think, and do, 
 and the reason of it, if you can show cause why it 
 isn't rite, or can tell me what the people say in opposi- 
 tion, I will hear you, for major, I've a notion that you're 
 an honest man, and, tho' we differ in some matters, that 
 you see intu things pritty sharply arter allj and whe- 
 ther I'll foller my own counsel, yourn, or Amoses, I'll 
 hear all you say, and can say, and then we'll tell the 
 people, whom I love dearly, and whom I'm so anxious 
 tu support in all my measures. 
 Q2 
 
CHAPTER XXVL 
 
 Tlie gineral made a president of. His augural speech. 
 Me and the gineral converse about it. The gineral 
 gives the substance' of it, explains a part^ and con- 
 sents tu give more in the next chapter, 
 
 Havin past over bj a hop, skip, and jump, the hull 
 fitin and sparin of the electioneerin campaine while the 
 gineral and Adams, was on the course, I come up tu 
 the time when the gineral was made President. Gosh! 
 what a pucker the Adams men were in when they dis- 
 covered that the gineral had more than doubled his 
 rival. I guess the hero ot the quill had tu streak it, 
 and make way tor the hero of New Orleans in short 
 meter. 
 
 Well now the gineral is president at last. He had 
 a tug of it; but his opposers had tu yield, and the man 
 of the people has received a victory as hardly contes- 
 ted as any he ever fited in all his born-days. 
 
 I guess the best way tu give my readers a true ac- 
 count of the gineral's glorious administration is tu be- 
 gin at the first eend of it and go strate thro'. Tu 
 know where tu find the beginnin I went and ax'd the 
 gineral. Major, says the gineral, dont you recollect 
 my augural speech. That is my first step, says he, 1 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 187 
 
 delivered that afore I took the oaths, and then I went 
 at work with my sleeves roll'd up, and soon I clear'd 
 the decks of 'etn are fellers that've bin so long tryin 
 tu fatten 'emselves on the public crib. Begin, Major, 
 at the augural speech. 
 
 I then took up the augural speech. Gineral says I, 
 I want tu read this are speech over, and ax you about 
 it, as 1 go along I It is a master work, and isn't no 
 wonder the nation look'd forrard tu the glorious times 
 from your wise administration. But I want vou tu 
 tell me what is meant by your «' acknowledgin the ac- 
 countability tu which your station enjoins." Why 
 Major, I meant that when I quit the office I will leave 
 the house, and furniture, and public offices, and docu- 
 ments, and all 'em are things belongin tu the nation tu 
 my successor. 
 
 0, I guess how 'tis, gineral you'll take care of the pub- 
 lic property, and afore you leave it provide some one 
 who'll take care of it arter you. Gineral, I'd jist like 
 tu've your influence with the people, tu get your place 
 when you quit. I'll promise ever so much, if you'll 
 recommend me, and I know they'll do what you bid 
 'em.— But youtill'd'em also, that 'Mhe best return 
 you can make is the zealous dedication of your humble 
 abilities tu their service and their good." I 'spose 
 this means, that the people had giv'd up all tu yourn 
 hand for safe keepin. Now, their aint any trouble 
 in takin tmbf folk's property oney when it must be 
 kept in theirn way : keep it your own way, and their 
 amt no fuss in managin— all goes strait^ or if there'd 
 be any jerrycummumblin in the bisness, you've oney tu 
 say, like a squire givin judgment, this is accordin tu 
 
188 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 my under standiu of it, and their aint no law of Con- 
 gress for makin all folks think alike. 
 
 Major, says the gineral, the care of the hull nation 
 is now in my hands. In the beginnin it is alwase best 
 tu promise well. You know any augural speech goes 
 over the nation in a flash. My friends will believe it 
 all and forever, so I may do arter, what I like. If I for- 
 get my promises, jist becase the opposition charge me 
 with wrinklin, my friends won't believe, and they 
 are the majority. You read there, major, what I 
 teird 'em about the gratitude their confidence in- 
 spires. Now, as my friends oney giv'd me aid, tu 'em 
 oney is my gratitude due. I don't owe my inemies 
 o-rLtitude. I've taken their great interests intu my 
 hands, but I'll take special care they'll ouey git the 
 benefits as I carve 'em, and tu my inemies that'll be a 
 car.t pattern. I reward my friends who put me intu 
 office— those who didn't put me in earn'd no reward 
 and cant expect any. I'll execute the laws -for a 
 stated period," but I didn't say how long that period 
 was tu be. This promise I've fulfilled tu the let- 
 ter, and as tu the constitution, as I said afore, there 
 is no act of congress that this shou'd be constru'd 
 any one way. They've left me tu do it my own 
 way, and that must be accordin as I understand 
 
 it. , , 
 
 The revenues tu, major, are plac'^,^ my hands.— 
 I'm tu say whether they shall be large or^rnall, where 
 they shall be kept and who shall take charge of 'em.— 
 The people's money shou'd be in the hands of the peo- 
 ple's man. In me the people have grate confidence. 
 They will be contented with any disposition I make 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 189 
 
 of it; and I don't see why it shou'dn't be a leetle us'd 
 tu perpetuate or preserve in rite of succession the re- 
 publican cause and ascendency. For what better use 
 cou'd it be appli'd? Pni the first who got intu the 
 government chair who ought tu be call'd republican. — 
 My party was not call'd Fideral or Dimocrat,^ but 
 JACKSON. It is a new party, with a new name, and 
 embracing new principles. It is formed out of the odds 
 and eends of all paities. It contains the old Fideral- 
 ists who hated Adams for becomin a Dimocrat, and the 
 young republicans who wou'dn't be call'd dimocrat 
 'cause they despised 'em for their hypocrisy — of sol- 
 ders who lov'd fitin, and hop'd I'd give 'em plenty of 
 smabblin if an inemy cou'd be got up tu attack; of 
 disappointed office seekers, who looked for a change, 
 of bar-room and oyster-cellar politicians who alwase 
 have most influence among the voters. Of the boss ra- 
 sin, and gamblin. and diiellin, and tickle-pitchers; and 
 those who think independence tu consist in an obstinate 
 and hedstrong self-will; of thegougers, and rip-roarious; 
 the screamers who love tu rub one another down with 
 their tooth-picks; the strong lung'd who hoora in cho- 
 rus 'cause they like tu join with those who make most 
 noise, of the sycophants who flatter and the servile who 
 obey — these major, are my friends ; can they be 
 chang'd? Can you make 'em understand law, or the 
 requirements of the constitution! These men wou'd 
 hoora for the hero of New Orleans if I wou'd openly 
 defy the constitution and laws, so long as they believe 
 I'm on their side — and I can be there as long as I please. 
 But you know there's no danger of that, 'cause I'm 
 sworn, and by virtue of my oath am bound tu interpret 
 
190 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIVE 
 
 it rite whatever construcsliion 1 may put upon it — and 
 I hadn't tak'd the oaths when I made 'em are promises 
 in my augural speech. 
 
 AVell, gineral, I want you jist now tu go over your 
 augural address and 'splain it tu me. You know I'm 
 your friend, and want tu be able tu defend you when 
 you are attack'd by your inemies. 
 
 Major, says the gineral, that are augural address 
 was the cutest thing I ever rit. It'll make me presi- 
 dent as long's I've a mind; 'cause every man on 'em 
 that reads it will lay it up tu read agin, and they'll 
 not believe a word my inemies say. I tell'd you about 
 'gratitude,' but I meant it tu my friends, mind, that put 
 me in; about my executin the laws, and I've executed 
 mujjy on 'em without judge or jury; about 'accountabi- 
 lity* — arter all, major, this word stumps me, for as I 
 don't know any one grater, I don't know who tu ac- 
 count tu; about the 'magnitude of the public interests' 
 — it is easy, major, tu lessen their magnitude and ease 
 the burthen off me; and a 'zellus dedication of my 
 humble services for their good' — this, major, means tor 
 the good of my friends, it can't surely mean all the 
 nation, as well my friends as inemies. There isn't 
 any thing, major, like pinchin our inemies. This'll 
 make 'em veer round, and give us their support. Now 
 the men that join'd me in the first instance from love 
 will be mine alwase; I don't want tu hold out tu 'em 
 any bribes, or give any on' em rewards. Principle is 
 reward enuff, and this cost 'em nothin. But my hum- 
 ble abilities tu their service and good, looks for re- 
 turns. The men that comes over from tother side tu 
 mine oney make sacrifices; they don't come over with- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. l91 
 
 out expectin somethin; and if they come over, leavin 
 me tu saj what I'm tu give, the laws of honer binds 
 me tu give an equivalent. Am I tu be worse than any 
 cocker, or blackleg in the hull country?— No, no, 
 major, the president must be just. One man, paid 
 for, will do my biddin better thfin one hundred who 
 were mine from principle. They will strane their 
 throtes louder in hooras, and be more noisy, and zellus, 
 they will be more ready tu git up m.eetins, make 
 speeches, offer resolutions and drink toasts than all 
 others, 'cause thei'- benefits depend on me; in my 
 fall the hull on 'em falls, nor will they ever rise, 
 'cause no one wou'd ever trust 'eri arter. 
 
 Now, major, says the ginerul, in administerin the 
 laws of Congress, I promis'd tu *' keep in view the 
 limitations and extent of the executive power, trustin 
 tu discharge the functions of my office, without trans- 
 cendin its authority." The management of the public 
 revenue will, of course, demand no inconsiderable 
 share of my official solitude. I promis'd the " observ- 
 ance of a strict and faithful economy." This I pro- 
 mis'd more 'specially because Ihop'd tu have the glory 
 of payin off* the national debt, 'cause it will counter- 
 act the tendency tu public and private profligacy which 
 a profuse expenditure of public money is apt tu engen- 
 der. The prompt accountability of public officers tu 
 Congress will be powerful auxiliaries tu this. I pro- 
 mis'd, also, tu encourage the productive labour of each 
 part of the grate sections of our country which mite 
 be found essential tu our national independence. In- 
 ternal improvements and the promotion of knowledge 
 by the constitushion, and also the military service was 
 
192 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 embraced in my pledge. I tell'd the people that our 
 *' government will be worth defendin so long as it's 
 administer'd for the good of the people, and is regu- 
 lated by their willj so long as it secures the rights 
 of person and property, liberty of conscience and of 
 the pressj that joar/ia/ injuries and mortificashions mite 
 fall on some, and that a million of armed freemen 
 can't be conquer'd by a foreign foe." I also, promis'd 
 reform — the correction of abuses in bribin at elections 
 —the right course of appointments — the removal of 
 unfaithful and incompetent hands, and the selections 
 of men of diligence, talents, integrity, and respecta- 
 bility tu fill offices. But, major, I tell'd all the folks 
 I was diffident, that I doubted my abilities, that I wou'd 
 look with reverence on the examples of public virtue 
 left by my illustrious predecessors, and that 1 wou'd 
 depend for instruction and aid from the co-ordinate 
 branches, that is from Congress, and the supreme 
 coort appinted by the constitushion tu expound the 
 laws, and last ot all tu a kind providence. Now, 
 major, isn't my augural speech the best that you ever 
 see. Hasn't it promis'd all that a grate man ought tu 
 tell a grate people.^ Isn't it jist the thing tu make the 
 people stick tu me tu the last? What more couM 
 I've promis'd — or cou'd the people ask? 
 
 Gineral, says I, that are augural speech is the best 
 ever giv'd tu the people of this country, but I want it 
 further splainM. I don't understand some on it. 
 And as this chapter is jist now full, in my next, me 
 and you will talk this matter over more at large, for 
 as I'm comin forrard I want tu know how I'm tu act 
 if elected tu fill that seat when your time's out. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Me andjhe gineral converses further upon the proceed^ 
 ins of the administration. He splains his augural 
 speech, and tells his meanin of '^Co-ordinate branch 
 of the government.'^ He forms an assistant cabinet 
 tu aid*him, like Moses dividin the labor inthe wilder 
 ness; give a picier o/'Amos Kindle, secretary of the 
 chatkin Cabinet ; the loay he manages the Sinnet tu 
 curtail their poiver ; and 7ny opinions as tu matters 
 and things, for the sake of makin things look rite 
 which seem hard tu reconcile. 
 
 The next mornin me and the gineral met in the 
 grate east room. He held out his hand tu give me a 
 shake, for grate men and old men ought alwaise first 
 give the hand tu the lower in rank, or the younger. 
 
 Now, gineral, says I, I want you tu splain some of 
 your augural speech. You spoke about executin the 
 laws ; I dont quite understand what is meant by exe- 
 cutin. Are they tri'd and condemM." 
 
 Quite the reverse, Major ; the meanin of the augu- 
 ral speech is tu put 'em in force, but some on 'em are 
 not constitutional, and arn't tu be kept— ^they are tu 
 be nullified. 
 
 But, gineral, I want tu know what you said in an- 
 R 
 
194 "^MAJOR JACK DOIVNINg's IfFE 
 
 other place about <* Co-ordinate branches of the ^o^ertl- 
 ment." What is meant by *' Co-ordinate ?" 
 
 "Co-ordinate," major, is a word used for a branch 
 of the government that the constitution intends shou'd 
 be aid tu the president in performin the duties of the 
 government. There, major, is Webster's dictionary, 
 uhat says it ? — an equals not an inferior. 
 
 But, gineral, if there are co-ordinate branches^ with 
 powers equal tu yourn, arn't you president, and that 
 means above them. I don't understand this dividin of 
 power. But as you took 'em are oaths, I 'spose you 
 m.ust submit, there's no help for it. 
 
 Not always, major, I've a way of doin things altoge- 
 ther my own. Myself, Congress, and the Supreme 
 Coort, are the three pillars of the Constitution. Con- 
 gress makes laws, the Supreme Coort splains 'em, 
 and I see 'em enforced, and make the people obey 'em, 
 Bii-t, major, as there is a majority tu make me pre- 
 sident, that majority makes the representatives in Con- 
 gress, and a majority in Congress of my friends goin as 
 I wish 'em supports me in all I do. Now what is Con- 
 gi-ess, v/hen a majority are all my friends, but the name 
 of a thing. If they do an act I don't approve the consti- 
 tution gives me power tu veto it, and there isn't any 
 use of the veto power except tu use it. The govern- 
 ment goes on snug when they are all my friends, but 
 they aint all mj friends ; some of 'em are fellers are 
 inspectin intu tlie doins of the government all the time, 
 and must know every thing. Some things they do, but 
 many things I take care they don't know. 
 
 You see, major, the Constitution allows me a number 
 of secretaries. These do sartin laborin ; but I've fix'd 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSOX. 195 
 
 It SO that I can keep tu set, one tu sit in the parlour, 
 and one tu watch the kitchen. These are a kinder 
 balance of power, so that I mite be safe among many 
 counsellors. The gentlemen appointed as my legal 
 advisers, are selected from among the talent, and wis- 
 dom, and learnin of the states. Those I have taken 
 intu my confidence tu watch the others are men distin- 
 guished for schemin and cunnin. Now, upon the prin- 
 ciples I intend tu conduct my government these are 
 men are necessary ; 'cause I'm president of the United 
 States, and the Cabinet proper counsel me in all mat- 
 ters relatin tu the states 5 but I'm partiklary the pre- 
 sident of all the men in this are nation who rally round 
 my name and flag, and a second cabinet is essential tu 
 represint 'em, and manage their affairs. If this cabinet 
 who represents the loaves and fishes were not tu aid 
 me, my inemies mite git intu office. The cabinet pro- 
 per don't attend tu matters of this are kind ; and if I 
 hadn't this assistant cabinet I cou'dn't get along a bit. 
 Tu my wisdom the merit of this improvement in the 
 system of government is due ,• it saves me a nation site 
 of troubble, as all applications for office must first 
 come thro' them ; and arter they've examin'd intu it 
 jist tu see that the applicant is a friend, it is then sub- 
 mitted tu me. At the hed of this cabinet stands Amos 
 Kindle, Esq. who is in my iotire confidence. Here, 
 major, is a beautiful likeness of him, drawn by Peter 
 Fogrum, and shows him a man well calculated for his 
 profession. 
 
196 
 
 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg'^S Llfi: 
 
 AMOS KINDLE, Esq. 
 
 Secretary of the Cabinet for chalkin Candidates for 
 
 office, and makin ''em marketable. 
 
 Gineral, you tell'd me about the ''co-ordinate 
 branches," what connexion have you with 'em. Are 
 you all independent of, or do you mutually support 
 each other? 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 197 
 
 Major, our constitution is formed on republican 
 principles. In England they've King, Lords, and 
 Commons. Here we have the President, Congress and 
 the Supreme Coort. Congress is form'd of the Sinnet 
 andtheloA^er House. The Sinnet must act upon all 
 my nominations, for the Constitution requires me tu 
 nominate men tu fill all offices which are not sub- 
 ordinate ones, arter they've past the assistant Cabinet. 
 This Cabinet, like Moses in the wilderness, when he 
 divided the labor among his princes, / have call'd tu 
 my aid. All appointments, whether ordinary or sub- 
 ordinate, from the Secretary of State, tu the most 
 insignificant clerk, comes up afore 'em; they examin 
 candidates, and when found true Jacksonmen they are 
 chalkW and sent tu me, jist as flour or Pork is mark'd 
 in the Filadelfy market for shippin. When the 
 chalk'd candidates present tu me their certificates I 
 enter 'em on the list. This saves me a nation site of 
 botheration; for I've oney tu go tu this list, examinin 
 the numbers, and take out of the number I want a 
 selection from any name that pleases me, and send it 
 tu the Sinnet. If the Sinnet don't approve, why I 
 guess I've found a way tu work 'em. I jist send no 
 more nominations till that Sinnet rises, and then ap- 
 point that are candidate tu the office the Sinnet refus'd. 
 'Twas thus I did with that are Gwinn who call'd me 
 <*the rock of ages," tu be a Register of the land 
 office in Missippi, tho' not a man in that State had 
 ax'd for him and the Sinnet had twice refus'd him. 
 
 But gineral, you tell'd me that the Sinnet is a co- 
 ordinate branch of the government. If it's equals as 
 you say, you are bound by your oaths of office tu 
 R 2 
 
198 MAJOR JACK DOWXIXG's LIFE 
 
 treat it not onej with respect as a member of the Con- 
 stitushion, but tu honer it as you expect it tu honer 
 you. Now, I'm of the opinion that in this you draw 
 the cord tu tight. If the Constitushion intends that 
 the office be fill'd it appints the way, namely, that you 
 nominate and they agree. Now, it'dbe jist as rite for 
 the Sinnet tu appint without your nomination as you 
 without they're agree'd. It wont do, gineral, tu stop 
 nominatin if your nominatin aint agree'd tu. You've 
 tak'd the oaths, and must continue tu nominate. 
 When it comes tu personal matters, — when you nomi- 
 nate those whose oney merit is, that they are attatch'd 
 tu you. as a man, and not tu principles, they mayn't 
 be so much tu blame. The people are jellus of men 
 who use their influence tu attach friends tu their per- 
 sons instead of general principles. They say, gineral, 
 this is the first step tu monarchy — the line of martsck 
 which all monarchs 've pursu'd, and they've the ex- 
 ample of amost all nations that grate military men as 
 you are, git from habit rite intu a spent similar tu what 
 a monarch has. He is positive in his comm^ndsj is in 
 the habit of implicit obedience, is usually courted by 
 his officers for a good word in promotion, is flatter'd 
 by the people who love military fame, and is accus- 
 tom'd tu honers and rewards. Gineral, I say these 
 things 'cause I hear the folks down east among your 
 friends talk 'em over. But in speakin of your augural 
 speech, you said, you iU'd the folks you was 'diffid- 
 ent,' and wou'd "look »vUh reverence on the examples 
 of public virtue left by your illustrious predecessors, 
 and depend for instruction and aid on tlie co-ordinate 
 branches (ri the government. Now, if you will not 
 
OF* GEN'ERAL JACRSON'. 199' 
 
 nominate tu the Sin net 'cause thej don't agree tu ap- 
 pint all you nominate is that dependin for aid from the 
 '^co-ordinate branches." Is that "lookin with rever- 
 ence on the examples left by your illustrious predeces- 
 sors." Gineral, this looks tother way, and, unless 
 you've tu faces on' one hed, you cant be lookin tu your 
 pledge. It looks more like disrespect towards *«your 
 illustrious predecessors;" it seems like dispisin the 
 aid of the other, equal tu you, branches of government, 
 especially if you have time tu nominate and they tu 
 act on it. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 7%e conversation continued about the augural speech, 
 in which the gineral tells about his promises. The 
 gineral amost peek'd at my plainness. He talks of 
 Blare, as one of the dial kin cabinet. Gives his picter 
 with a high charackter of him. Intro ducted the name 
 of Mr. Van Bur en as his Vice, and gives his picter for 
 my book. Tells that Martin is the link ativeen the 
 upper and the lower cabinets Reason why the gine- 
 raVs promises cou\Mt be fulfiWd. The gineral^s 
 peculiar friends. Dignity and respectability is the same 
 as aristocracy. The post-office, and Judge M^Lane, 
 Barry a belter Postmaster. Why. His cute managin. 
 The gineral tells about bein hoax\l, and other mat- 
 ters important tu know about, sich as Nortonizin. 
 and reformin. Afeiv words about Mrs. C. Mrs B, 
 and a change in the cabinet. 
 
 Major says the gineral, do you mean to insinewate 
 that I didn't promise 'em are things in my augural 
 speech. 
 
 Yes, yes, gineral, says I, you promise'd 'em I 
 know, but I'm very anxious for your honer, and the 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 201 
 
 folks say that you haint kept your promises^ thi& rais'd 
 my dander; and so I ax'd tu know your meanin, tu be 
 able tu show the people, when I argufy with 'em, that 
 all your promises and acts are in agreement. I want 
 tu know whether you've discharg'd the functions of 
 your office ivitliout transcendin Us authority. This 
 you've promised. 
 
 Major says the gineral, gif you do go on at this kind 
 o' rate I can't answer any more questions. I tell ye, 
 major, I'll stick till the people like a shock from a tor- 
 pedo fish. You've oney tu read the Globe, and it'll 
 tell you all about it. Mr. Blare is my friend. He is 
 one of the chalkers, and is nation cute at findin out a 
 false from a pretended friend. He marks in red all he 
 suspects; and they are put on the shelf till they are tri'd. 
 If they hoora for a week arter they think they're re- 
 jected then they're call'd up and chalk'd. But go tu 
 Blare the Editor of the official, and read his paper. — 
 This Blare is a most intellectual, patriotic, disinter- 
 ested, honest man. Here is a picter of him; for I al- 
 ways keep the picters of my assistant cabinet near me— 
 they are my main props. 
 
 In addition tu editor Blaire, there is Martin Van Bu- 
 ren, my Vice He is th3 trigest feller in this are na- 
 tion. I guess he's up tu trap. He's one time in the 
 upper cabinet, and another in the under one. He is a 
 linkatween 'em, and reg'lates 'em both. He don't sit 
 with cither, but oney fixes matters with 'em afore they 
 meet, and they do the work. He has a nation good 
 face, major, and is as cunnin as a fox. How glad I 
 am, that are feller Calhoun got out. I want you major tu 
 put Martin's picter in your book, 'cause it'll be read, 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 
 
 £00 
 
 all over. When and the folks see it they will think 
 more of me for havin sich a grate man for my aid. 
 Here is the Hon. Martin Van Buren. 
 
 I 
 
 You and he major, may yet be rivals — may be both pre- 
 sident alter I'm done, tho» I think I'll be able arter all 
 tu stand three terms of service in the chair. 
 
 Three terms of service I gineral, didn't you promise 
 tu the people that you'd oney serve one period. 
 
204 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 So I did, major, and recommended in my message 
 that the constitution be altered tu allow the president tu 
 serve oney one term. But I put that in arter my message 
 had bin put together by Amos, and when it was read, 
 the assistant cabinet took the alarm, threatened tu re- 
 sine their places if I wou'dn't forget that promise, 
 and continue tu be president as long as 1 liv'd, for they 
 said the cause'd be ruin'd that way, the friends of Jack- 
 son wouldn't be enuft' rewarded, and the nation wou'dn't 
 have time tu be put safe from danger and the Jackson 
 principles establish'd— so I agreed. 
 
 But, gineral, you said in your augural speech that 
 you'd selectable men , tu your offices — men "of tal- 
 ent, dignity, integrity and respectability' to fill office." 
 I don't understand wh} so many venerable men have 
 bin turn'd out — men who fou't and bled in the revolu- 
 tion, men of good moral charackter, virtuous, honest, 
 faithful, and competent^ tu make room for young braw- 
 lin politicians who had never serv'd oney their selves 
 and who make a noise in oyster cellars and on elec- 
 tion grounds. 
 
 Major, if you talk in that are way my dander is up. 
 I receiv'd 'em are fellers chalk'd by Amos; they are 
 the rale grit — incense swingers — who'd swear and 
 tite, and bully a nation site of your aristocrats who 
 shou'dn't never be allow'd tu give a vote on election 
 days. These are the larks that'll hoora for me rite or 
 rong! One on 'em is worth twenty. They'll go thro' 
 all weathers — they'll each make as much noise asfiftyj 
 will make 'em are Irish, jist as they land, walk rite 
 intu my ranks and give their votes for me slick, I tell 
 you. Major if you want me tu aid you tu be president, 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. S05 
 
 go my gaitj there's no fear of us, while these are fellers 
 are on our side. They get good salaries, and can spare 
 the funds in a hard pinch tu help a good cause. 
 
 Yes, yes, gineral, I'd like tu've 'em are men on my 
 side, and so I will; but what I want tu get at is the 
 promises you made. Are these men, chalk'd by Amos, 
 competent, dignified, talented, and all that? 
 
 Says the gineral, major, says he, it is oney the aris- 
 tocrats who talk of dignity. Office gives dignity, 
 consequence, or competence, when it comes from me. 
 Nobody'U daretu say that any one chalk'd by Amos 
 wont be honest. There is Barry, that was chalk'd, 
 and marked No. 1, for my cabinet; he has filled the 
 Post-office department tu a T. Judge M'Lean who 
 isn't good for oney thing, was in that Post office, and 
 made it pay one or two hundred thousand dollars 
 a-year profit over its expenses, but Mr. Barry, has spent 
 near a million in a short while, over and above the 
 income. Barry found that congress didn't make 
 any propriashions for the contractors at the command 
 of the chalkin cabinet, and so he has made fu contracts 
 with most on 'em; one tu tickle congress on account of 
 its cheapness, tother tu make amends for the cheap 
 contracts, by give 'em plenty of pocket money as extra 
 wages tu make 'em be active all over the country in hoo- 
 rain, and makin speeches and resolutions, 'cause 
 they work for 'emselves as they work for me. You 
 know, major, I Nortinized a score hundreds of 'em fel- 
 lers left in office by M'Lean. It was important we'dVe 
 all the postmasters on our side, 'cause they can rite 
 gratis, and with three or four thousand agents spread 
 over the states, who watch for me and for 'emselves at 
 S 
 
206 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LifE 
 
 onct, nothin cou'd escape us. By this the chalkin cal)^ 
 inet find out who is our friends, and who not. 
 
 I recollect, gineral, that some tricks was onct plaj'd 
 off on jou fur your laudable zeal in reformin the post- 
 office. A parcel of mischievous bojs hoaxt you, 
 bj petitionin for the removal of a man who did n't 
 exist from an office that wasn't no where. This arose out 
 of a dispute atween tu men, one of whom said the post- 
 master gineral didift make the removals, but }ou did. 
 They tested the bet by this trick ; for tl>ey knew the 
 post-master gineral wou'd've look'd intu his post office 
 book and seed the office and name afore he'd attend tu 
 it ; but you promply discharg'd the duty, and sav'd 
 the time, unknown tu the postmaster gineral. 
 
 You also promised that you'd not make appoint- 
 ments from Congress. These pleas'd the people na- 
 tion well, gineral, 1 think you forgot these tu. You've 
 made more on 'em are Congress intu Upper Cabinet 
 men, ministers, — I don't mean preachers,— and tu 
 other offices, than all the other presidents afore you. 
 The people were pleas'd tu the life on hearin this pro- 
 mise. They said, here's the hero who is goin tu clean 
 out the Ogean stable, and send 'em i^reprockle afany, 
 --I think they call it — fellers tu plow and grub, quick 
 time. They lieard you, joyful, tell the folks that ap- 
 pintin Congress tu offices was bribin over the dexter 
 shoulder by hull sale, and that you'd purge off the 
 corruption. Gineral, I donH know what tu tell the 
 folks about this. I must tell 'em that when you pro- 
 mise one thing you mean tother. 
 
 Says the gineral, says he, major, I meant well in all 
 my promises. But the chalkers, supervising the na- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 9.07 
 
 tton of Jackson men in the midst of the nation of other 
 men, vvou'dn't alwase jist let me do as I intended. I 
 cou'dn't do without 'em. They wou'd act without 
 plenary power ,' and so I had tu submit for the good of 
 the nation. 
 
 I want tu know, general, what you mean by Norto- 
 nize. This is a word I've never heard afore. 
 
 Major, says the gineral, that are Norton, Postmaster 
 in Harfard, Cohecteket, was a long time in office, so I 
 jist turn'd him out tu make room for a friend. He ax'd 
 me a reason why I turn'd him out. My answer was 
 reform — it was necessary tu reform. He contended 
 that merely changin by puttin one out and another in 
 warnt reform — it was change. I contended it was re- 
 form, 'cause he warnt a Jacksonman and cou'dn't be 
 trusted, and this put an eend tu the argument. Well, 
 what does these wicked fellers in the opposition do, 
 but call my reform Nortonizin, 'cause I want tu put 
 all my friends in and my opposers out, and so if they 
 choose tu make a word for it, so be't. 
 
 But, gineral, your turnin faithful men out tu put un- 
 tried men in isn't servin the interests of the country. It 
 may be servin the nation ot Jacksonmen, but then these 
 men may act bad and bring disgrace even on Jackson 
 liimself. When you declare war upon all who have 
 not thou't you the most properest man tu be president, 
 you, by that, open the door tu knaves, and cheats, and 
 political swindlers tu sell their own principles for your 
 offices, while good and lionest men are compelled tu 
 submit tu insult and oppression, or resist. Now, re- 
 sistance tu a prince is treason in one sense, and he 
 that draws the sword must fling away the scabbard 
 
208 MAJOR JACK DOWNING^S LIFE 
 
 and fite tu the last. If all this warfare of opinion aint 
 for republican doctrine and sentiment, but for your 
 exclusive benefit, then this personal homage will fla- 
 bagast republicanism, and soon the people will fite for 
 men, instead of principles. You, tu, gineral, may so 
 love yourself as tu be proud of your mistress — you may 
 be a gallant tu yourself — you own parasite — a worship- 
 er of your own perfections. In an ambitious man, gi- 
 neral, this'd be dangerous tu the country he governs. 
 Sich a man mayn't mean bad, but the effects are the 
 same as if he did. The leetlest thing in natur will pro- 
 duce great changes. You see how 'twas with Mrs. 
 
 C and Mrs. E 'Cause Mrs. C • wou'd 
 
 n't visit Mrs. E a quarl took place which set the 
 
 nation in an uproar. It warn't any thing tu the peo- 
 ple, tell you took Mrs. E 's part, and then every 
 
 one took sides. Soon your Upper Cabinet got 
 intu the snarls ; you cou'dn't make 'em think of Mrs. 
 
 E as you thou't of her, and when they wouldn't, 
 
 you roared like a lion, and wou'd have Mr. E tu mark 
 
 'em with red ink. Now, gineral, I can't see as how 
 this was fulfiUin your promise of payin " reverence tu 
 the examples of public virtue left by your illustrious 
 predecessors." This, gineral, was leavin an example 
 which I'm feart ^our successors wont imitate. You 
 sdou'd've stood aloof from sich bickerin, and left 'em 
 tu settle their quarls in their own way. Tu make a 
 change in your cabinet on account of sich matters — 
 your endeavor tu make that good which they thou't 
 bad-~gineral where men pride 'emselves on their free 
 volitions, thev will not easilv be made tu submit to hu- 
 miliations. Him of Kiiiderook, who is us'd tu swaller 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON, 209 
 
 what others prepare, who is a practis'd coorteer, and 
 aims tu please at any cost, may do it, but the sturdy, 
 stubborn, independent republicans, accustomed tu have 
 their own way, won't submit tu it— that they wont, in 
 spite of all you can do, so I'd jist advise you tu let 
 'em have it. 
 
 Gineral, you've tell'd me about your inemies. The 
 president of these states hasn't no inemies. You, as 
 gineral Jackson may have opponents, but when the peo- 
 ple have elected you tu office, every man oppos'd tu 
 you submits tu the constitutional president. This is 
 rite and proper. Your suppos'd inemies may even op- 
 pose your measures, but every man in this country is a 
 member of the constitution, and any attack on the pre- 
 sident, as sich wou'd be promptly put down. Now all 
 my aim, gineral is tu raise the president, by makin the 
 gineral forget himself and think he is president of all 
 the nation instead of bein the hed of a faxiun. When 
 you bring your person intu the chair and reward or 
 punish your friends or inemies as they are or arn't your 
 personal friends, you set a precedent that I'm afeart 
 gineral may in futur do grate harm. I'm for the pre^ 
 sident. 
 
 S 3 
 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 A very interestm conversation about the gineraPs ad- 
 ministration worthy of jjerusal by poor and rich, 
 and should be a party text book> The gineraPs 
 method of makin war on the Sinnef. his ingenious 
 plan of gittin out of difficulties. Reform, retrench- 
 ment, and what is meant by it. Experiments. How 
 experiments shoiPd be trPd, Public credit, its natur 
 and benefits. The poor, the country, and public 
 morals benefitted by public credit. The specie system 
 a blast on the hopes of the poor, and on public pros- 
 perity. Remarks. 
 
 Gineral, I want tu ask you why you have so often 
 sent tu inform the Sinnet that you had nothin more tu 
 lay afore them, while the offices upon which the Sinnet 
 had constitutionally tu act were yet unfiU'd, 'cause 
 your nomination wasn't approved. Gineral, the peo- 
 ple say that you either cou'dn't find another man in 
 your party tu fill it, or you were resolv'd tu appintyour 
 man in spite of the Sinnet. Was not this rather dis- 
 pisin than seekin "aid from the co-ordinate branches 
 of the jrovernment." 
 
 Says they gineral, major, says he, I know better 
 yA\^V\\ promote the good of the party than the Sinnet 
 does. Us like a mob, and no mob hasn't any brains. 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 211 
 
 They don't think abit whether the person I've nomi- 
 nated is a friend or a foe, or whether the place tu be 
 vacated is fill'd by an inemy or not. They oney talk 
 of competency, character, integrity, and all that. Its 
 no use, major, tu gratify 'em^ if they don't take such 
 as I send 'em I'll give none. 
 
 But, gineral, they say they don't think you alwase 
 the best judge. Your partiality tu personal friends 
 makes you overlook the dignity due tu the United 
 States. For instance, a man named Lee, who'd bin 
 your secretary for a longtime, and whom some repre- 
 sented as havin no good character tu spare, you made 
 Consul tu Algiers. I don't blame you for this. Our 
 country cou'd spare sich a man and no vast sum be 
 found subtracted from its morals. There was a man 
 also, who wasn't a Rector of any church, nother, who 
 fled from Missouri under an indictment for assault and 
 battery with intent tu kill: )'ou appinted him tu office 
 spite of the Sinnet. Another feller by the name of 
 Jeffers, who'd bin a forger, and who had fled from 
 Ohio tu escape prosecution, you appinted tu some place 
 in South America as charge of affairs. Now, gineral, I 
 havn't no doubt you meant well, but as the character 
 of these men were made known tu you afore they were 
 appinted, and as you made 'em without consultin the 
 "co-ordinate branch of government" who had a con- 
 stitutional rite tu exercise a control lin power, is it any 
 wonder the Sinnet wou'd think itself not treated with 
 respect, while it wou'd doubt whether you were as 
 good a judge as it was of what was rite. 
 
 Fury and deth, major, says the gineral, why, weren't 
 these officers chaWd by the under Cabinet, and don't 
 
212 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LlfE 
 
 the members of this Cabinet hold correspondence with 
 postmasters allj over, and aint these postmasters as 
 honest as the Sinneters, and aint every one on 'em 
 instructed in their duty. Nother havn't I confidence 
 in the Sinnet except they're my friends, and as they 
 ar'n't the majority, mustn't I seek a remedy for thisr 
 
 Gineral, I've no doubt the Postmasters are all honest 
 men when that are feller Simpson, with his Lynx eyes, 
 is arter 'em; but the Constitution don't say any thing 
 about Postmasters reportin tu the chalkers, nor the 
 chalkers reportin tu you. And mind, gineral, some 
 on 'em Sinneters will send you your oath tu ^pport 
 the constitution some of these days, as you did the 
 Legislaters of Tenesee, when you so fiercely oppos'd 
 State Banks as tu make 'em swaller theirn oaths tu 
 prevent their votein for 'em. You were then oppos'd 
 tu State Banks, mind, and you took no half way 
 measures tu oppose 'em. . rxL 
 
 But, o-ineral, vou mention'd that the majority of the 
 Sinnet were your inemies. I don't understand this. 
 Does it foller that all are inemies who don't approve 
 all our sentiments, or our practices. Gineral, this 
 aint the rite view of things. Men will difter very 
 honestly in opinion, and yet not be our inemies. But 
 if we look upon all men as our inemies who difter 
 from us in sentiment, and then treat 'em as sich we 
 will soon make ^^m so in spite of 'emselves. We 
 force men intu actual enmity when we deprive em of 
 the rite of opinion. You promised great r.^m.; but 
 folks say that you mean changes by reforms. You 
 promis'd economy, but what has bin the result. Let 
 us see. Adams you turn'd out for his extravagance. 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 213 
 
 The highest year's expense under him was thirteen and a 
 quarter millions of dollars, Yourn, in 1832 was rising 
 eighteen millions; and in 1833, more than twenty-two 
 millions of dollars!! You've three years yet tu rule, 
 and if your expenses increase in the same degree for 
 the next, as they did for the last three years your year- 
 ly expenses wUl, in 1834 be 26 millions,- in 1835 30 
 and a half millions, and in 1836, 55 or 36 millions 1 1 
 Now, gineral, don't be alarm'd at what I tell you. 
 My estimates are in the proportion of your last three 
 years expenses, and if in a few years you've spent 
 withioi a few thousands of doubble what was spent the 
 first y^ar of Adams' administration, why I swou, it is 
 time you were makin e'en more noise about reform than 
 you now do, for it all wont drown the reproaches of the 
 people. 
 
 I don't wonder, gineral, you wanted the United 
 States Bank located at Washington under the officers 
 of government, as you recommended in your first mes- 
 sage, for in a few years your annual expenditer wou'd 
 be equal tu its whole capital, and all the aids you cou'd 
 find added tu the revenue wou'd be leetle enuff. Now, 
 gineral, I'm not gwine tu censure you for all this ex^ 
 penditer. It has bin no doubt earn'd ; but Pmjist 
 tellin you what folks say, that you may, ar'ler I'm done, 
 put me rite. Your friends were zeallus -, those who 
 don't support your measures say they more than earnt 
 It in the sacrifices of their consciences in the pros- 
 tration of their moral naters by servility, and in jumpin 
 from one cause tell another without any reason. It is 
 true, a number of verydistinguish'd mencom'd over 
 tu our side without knowin their price afore they'd 
 
214 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 bill chalk'd, but thej''ll never be chalk'd now I 
 guess, as they know they must stay with us havin 
 play'd Arnold tu their own party, who'll never trust 
 'em agin. The folks complain, gineral, tliat you can't 
 git a man tu stay minister tu Russia. You sent Mr. 
 Randolph there 5 he stay'd eight days ; and while he 
 remained a year or tu in England he charg'd, and you 
 paid him, as if he'd bin at his duty. Gineral this wasn't 
 *' the observance of a strict and faithful economy.'^'' 
 The orator received 25 or 30 thousand dollars for nine 
 days service. You sent also a grist of ministers tu 
 foreign parts. One of 'em you sent tu Turkey, and 
 when 1 saw the appintment, gineral, why I laft rite 
 out, for when you was appointed minister tu the Coort 
 of Iturbide in Mexico, you refused tu accept, sayin 
 you was a republican and wou'dn't never serve as mi- 
 nister at the Coort of a tyrant^ in consequence of which 
 no one was appinted in your place, and the commerce 
 of our country for several years suifered grately for 
 some one tu take care of it. Folks said then, gineral, 
 but I didn't believe 'em, that your true reason was, 
 you expected tu be nominated for the office you now 
 hold and wanted tu be near at hand. This was all 
 right--who cou'd blame you. They'd all, gineral, do 
 the same, but then the country suffers for self. 
 
 The instructions of Mr. M'Lane as minister tu 
 England, and his treaties, you said much for when they 
 took place. Now, gineral, no one says a word for 
 'em. Your warmest friends keep mum. That was 
 arter all a bad bisness, but there aint any use cryin for 
 spilt milk. Why I wish, gineral, tu mention these are 
 things over, tu put you on your guard. 
 
bt GENERAL JACKSON. 215 
 
 You sayjou are now makin a great experiment. Wlien 
 a fiirmer you made experiments on puttin in your crops. 
 Some on 'em hit prittj well, but ten mist for one that 
 hit, and it takes so long for an experiment tu operate, 
 that wise farmers, trjin experiments, are in the habit of 
 riskin leetle. They try on a small scale, and make 
 a number of experiments go on at onct. Now a farm- 
 er, or a kemist, or any other kind of experiment 
 makers never think of puttin any thing intu general 
 practice till arter the experiment is ivell proved. If a 
 doctor wou'd make experiments on you, gineral, when 
 sick, with untri'd medicines, wou'd you not think he 
 trifled with your life— wou'd you not discharge him at 
 onct— wou'd you not, in case he fail'd and you were 
 left worse by the random trial of medicines with 
 unknown virtues, lile an action of trespass aginst him 
 for puttin your life tu ^hazard. You recollect the 
 Swiss patriot Tell ; the Austrian tyrant made him* 
 trifle with his son's life by shootin an apple off his son's 
 hed. This was an experiment, and was foller'd with 
 the tyrant's life and the independence of Switzerland. 
 When the Inglish made an experiment on the people of 
 this country and tax'd us, what foller'd ? Resistance, 
 and it was successful tu. Your notions, gineral, of 
 hard money currency wont never do. I say it'll never 
 answer. Now, gineral, let me tell you Imw I think ; for 
 I'm lookin forrard tu try a tug with Martin when 
 youre gone, and I want tu let you see I think on this 
 are bisness a leetle tu. You say folks who go intu 
 credit ought tu break. That cash capital is the oney 
 capital. Now, gineral, see here. There's a poor 
 man. He breaks, or some how gits tu be poor. Well 
 
216 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 
 
 he hasn't any money. He hasn't any property ; he has 
 n't any trade ; but he has a wife and a family ot chil- 
 dren tu give bread tu. ^ow, gineral, on your system 
 what is this are man tu do ? You say starve, or go tu 
 the poor house. Well, now, this is hard, gineral, and 
 I'll tell you why 'tis so. This are man is honest, and 
 industrious, and frugal, and enterprising. So.ne on h,s 
 neighbors know this ; and they say, I know you are 
 honest and careful and industrious andhave experience. 
 I'll endorse you a thousand or two dollars, it you 11 
 pay your note a year hence, with interest. It 
 isa-^reedtu. The poor man goes tu work. He ,s suc- 
 cessful in makin a livin, paying his rent, and a part of 
 his capital. He is agin trusted, and he is going on pros- 
 perously ; but your bank veto comes on, and he is 
 Tcredft and has payments tu make. The bank is 
 hrea en'd with a government run. It prepares for it 
 and calls in. It refuses tu extend, fhe poor man. 
 note is thrown out. He offers it at another bank. 
 They tell him they owe the bank and must curtail tu 
 be prepar'd for a draw when it comes. What next ? 
 The poor man who paid simple Interest conveniently 
 goes tu the rich men who 've money. He axes tu borrow 
 Tolly. What note have you? Peter Poodle's note with 
 Tacob Ginger's endorsement. They 'reoney so and so, 
 ay Pontfus Pilate; I'U see, and let you know to- 
 morrow. In the mean time Pontius Pilate goes all 
 Te, inquiring intu the bisness and circumstance of he 
 dlawer and endorser. These inquiries raise susp c on 
 that affects his credit, and when morning come^he no 
 is discounted for two per cent a month, or 40 dolla.s 
 on S at four months! But this is not the worst, gi- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 217 
 
 neral, credit is impair'd. Now credit is the glory of 
 this country as the victory of New Orleans is of yourn. 
 If you injure credit, you dissolve the golden chain that 
 binds the hull of society together. This is what has 
 made us a moral and an honest people. The hull mass of 
 the community is held together in a chain of reciprocal 
 dependence. Men become ambitious, gineral, tu have a 
 good name — a reputashion for honest, intelligent and 
 industrous punctiality. Gineral, take away the paper 
 system, and public credit, and that ambition which pub- 
 lic credit inspires, and you make him worthless. See, gi- 
 neral,— look over our grate emporiums of merchandize. 
 Who are the active, the enterprizin, the perseverin, the 
 honorable and industrous ? It is the man of credit. 
 He is all anxiety tu deserve it. The idea of not meet- 
 in his engagements is amost deth tu him. He strains 
 every nerve, he tries every honorable expedient tu meet 
 his engagements, and if he fails, it is a shock hardly tu 
 be endured. Tu sich a man poverty is nothin. It is the 
 loss of his good name he feels and dreads. 
 
 Well, now, look there on Simon Saveall, who has the 
 hard dollars. What is he? How does he move? Has 
 he enterprize? or industry? Or even intelligence, ex- 
 cept what he presumes money gives him? He may 
 have a leetle of your sperit, gineral, 'cause he thinks 
 homage will be paid tu him thro' his moneybags? Why, 
 gineral, he draws himself intu his self sufficiency jist 
 like a homadod in its shell. If he pokes out his peep- 
 ers it is cautiously tu see where he can get some man tu 
 grind who is depindent and unfortunate. Sich a man 
 never advances the public interests. His dollars affect 
 enterprize as a ball does the foot of one of tlie Sing- 
 
218 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 Sing stone sawyers. Society is leetle improved by him. 
 Here and there you will find exceptions tu this rule, 
 but in gineral the heavier the bag of dollars is,the heav- 
 ier his°head and the less^ his activity. Let the man 
 of money onct fail, and he is poor forever. His 
 money, renderin him selfish, had extinguish'd his 
 public sperit, and left him a drone-a mere muck-rake 
 in creation. 
 
 Now, gineral, as sure as you destroy credit you cut 
 the chain that binds society together, and let man loose 
 on his fellow man that he may prey upon his fellow. 
 In this country we pride ourselves on our public 
 character for honesty. Our honesty is tried, and 
 we oney confide in one another arter trial, for it is oney 
 among fools that confidence is establish'd at a jump. 
 • The cat and the mouse, the hound and the hare, the 
 snake and the man^all these grow intu confidence by 
 trial They come together, become familiar, and soon 
 the charackters of both change. Men's esteem increas- 
 es the more they know one another. Intercourse begets 
 confidence and respect. It is said but few men wou d 
 become abandon'd rogues if they were confided in, or a^i 
 appeal was made tu their honesty f^^ -^" ^^^^^ 
 proud,it he has any good feelins, when his honer and in- 
 Lrity is relied on. The growin confidence among com- 
 m!rcial men, and the strictness [of their dealins is 
 repeat, the glory and dignity ot the nation. Take it 
 lway--destr:y thecredit system-with it this confidence, 
 lies and soon we'll have a dissolution of all trust, a 
 teal u^ fear of all around, a Timon like hatred, a univer- 
 tal selfishness-the rich become richer, the poor poorer 
 distrust, dislike, dishoner, dishonesty, and worse than 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 219 
 
 all civil war\ This is the natural consequence of 
 sich a system as yours, gineral. From sich results 
 he'ven forfend us. 
 
 Nor is your vetoe principle eny better with regard tu 
 the states. Every state shou'd be sovereign in its 
 own concerns. But there are sartin things in which 
 they ought tu be ti'd together. They shou'd be hung 
 together by roads, and canals, and general improve- 
 ments. These, like the veins and arteries of the sys- 
 tem, shou'd run thro' all, and be made in part at the 
 common expense. The coinage shou'd be general, and 
 in those exchanges of commerce the coin, the measures, 
 the various rules and standards required by trade and 
 in equity shou'd be the same all over. 
 
 The subject of borrow'd capital requires oney one 
 word. If the trader can make ten or twenty per] cent 
 over and above the interest he pays on his capital, 
 he needn't care if it comes from the Emperor of 
 China, He can soon pay it back, for his industry^ 
 alwase his best capital, will enable him him tu re- 
 turn the principle and interest and leave him a capital of 
 his own. This, gineral, is the true policy. Yourn, — 
 I'd rather say Martin's, which you've adopted, is quack- 
 ery, nor can you save the nation from ruin if it be pur- 
 sued. 
 
CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 TTie gineral a convert iu my opinions. His hints 
 about the explosions of his Cabinet^ and u picter of 
 it. Some hints about the cause. The Unit Cabinet. 
 Some on ^em wool-dyhi The gineral employs bell- 
 swaggers tu keep the sinnet in awe. The gineral' s 
 dimocrasy. His vetoes. The people thinks he's not 
 on their side. The gineral storming the bank. The 
 Bank stands firm The discovery of Strong about the 
 gineraVs axin a nomination in Fermsylvania. The 
 missionaries taWd about. The gineraVs reasons for 
 lettin 'em remain so long in prison. The gineral 
 wou'dnH pay the Ingin's annuilies. The reason. 
 
 Major, says the gineral, Vm amost of your opinion. 
 I confess your argument stumps me consiilerable. — 
 While you were discoursin so eloquent on the credit 
 system, 1 thou't I seed the merchants of Nashvil count- 
 in their specie, and ringin their dollars tu detect coun- 
 terfeits, and boxin 'em up tu send tu Filadelfy or New 
 York tor merchandize. Gosh I what a load of metal I 
 And then the country merchants, who hav'n't water- 
 carriage, and who must have waggons tu draw it at a 
 grate expense! Major says he, I find it'd never do. — 
 If a steamboat got sunk or burnt, the dollars are tu 
 heavy tu move, and they are lost, while a pocket book 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. S21 
 
 will contain ten, twenty, or more thousand dollars 
 quite snug. I never seed it afore as I see it now, and 
 I swou, major, but I believe I didn't look at things 
 thro' the rite specks arter all the aid I had from Mar- 
 tin, and the assistant cabinet, and Mr. Tawney, and 
 all them are fellers, who I now find don't know nothin 
 at all about it. 
 
 But, major, you're pritty sharp I guess, on me in 
 some things. I hope I hav'n't bin rong in every thing 
 as I've bin in that. Hav'n't I bin careful tu watch for 
 the public interests ? When I found my cabinets did 
 n't do rite, and wasn't a unit, I blow'd 'em up ski 
 high, I'guess, and sent 'em home with a lesson that'll 
 do 'em good a long spell. 
 
 Gineral, says I, as tu the exploshions of the cabinet, 
 you know every thing went on pritty well tell 'em are 
 ladees got tu sparin with their visitin cards. Then 
 com'd the sparin atween Mr. Calhoun, and Eaton, and 
 Branch, and Ingham, and Berrien, — sich a row they 
 had, I never seed afore. 
 
 The blow up, major, was one of the gratest sites 
 you ever see. There was Calhoun, who had said 
 things aginst me tu or three years ago. The fiste — but 
 I soon made him scamper, tho' he's a nation cute crit- 
 ter, and tells his story pritty well. But he cou'dn't 
 stand afore me. My arm is stronger nor his pen, and 
 I'd oney tu say be off! and a million voices, with fly- 
 traps half open, cri'd hoora! — oft* with him! Well, 
 next, there's Ingham he wou'dn't say Mrs E. was 
 what I said she was; he must be pernickity about soci- 
 ety, and respectability, and select company. He must 
 be an aristocrat as soon's he com'd intu my cabinet, 
 T 2 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON 223 
 
 and so I giv'd him his pass-port, and like a slag he 
 skulk'd without ritin his name with ^' Red Ink,^^ while 
 Eaton threaten'd so terribly tu bore holes in his hide. 
 And Branch to— he must pretend tu call himself a 
 Jacksonman and talk of select society. High times, 
 major, I svvou, it's high times. Berrien, also must 
 oppose my wishes with his Georgian high blood and 
 notions. Well, major, I sent 'em all a wool gatherin, and 
 I'm determin'd tu've none in my cabinet who won't 
 agree tu keep the company I select for 'em. Pritty 
 work this — that my servants shou'd think 'emselves 
 better nor their master. But I've sent 'em tu grass, 
 short notice, major, and you'll never hear a word about 
 'em in your born days agin. 
 
 And now, major, I'm goin tu form a Unit cabinet. 
 I can't get ginewine Jacksonmen tu fill the vacancies, 
 for there aint eny with the talent I want, but I've dy'd 
 a few on 'em in the wool. M'Lane, who made that 
 are treaty so nicely with the Inglish accordin tu my 
 notions of dignity and independence I put intu the state 
 Secretary office. He's bin alwase true. There's Cass, 
 one dip di'd him afore he was chalk'd. Woodbury'U 
 do; he's full blood. Barry has the nack of keepin his 
 credit good, he borrows money slick tu keep the Post- 
 office aflote. so that tho' I'm oppos'd tu the credit sys- 
 tem, yet all mv plans aint yet ripe, and a leetle credit 
 is necessary a while yet, 'cause I change my ministers 
 who go abroad so often that it requires a nation site of 
 funds tu pay 'em all; and yet if I don't change 'em of- 
 ten I can't never revvard 'em, they're so pressin anx- 
 ious tu have their turn. 
 
 Now, major, I think with the dye tub tu colour over 
 
224 MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE 
 
 that are Fideralism of some of mj cabinet, I've got a 
 pritty good one. Van, I've sent tu England, and Bu- 
 chanan tu Russia. They've bin sent oney for a lee- 
 tle spell. You know I call'd that are Jefters back 
 after he was one ^thousand miles on his way, 'cause 
 the hull nation made sich an uproar about it^ and 
 I'll now git along by the rule of thumb with my Unit, 
 oney I'm determined tu have a hickory tooth-pick hung 
 up over the door of my Sinnet, and send for a few of 
 the rale bell-swaggers jist tu trim the jackets on 'em 
 are Sinneters when they become contankerous. 
 
 But gineral, arter all it wasn't foUowin the example 
 of your predecessors tu set that are Houston and 
 Heard on the Sinnet, and members of the house. These 
 
 are the people's representatives. 
 
 People's fiddle slicks — major, theyaint the people's 
 representatives if they aren't ginewine Jacksonmen, 
 'cause a majority of the people are for me, and all the 
 minority had ought tu come round and be with me be- 
 case the people are. 
 
 But, gineral, the people arn't all for you, and they 
 send men of their own choice tu speak their sentiments. 
 Now, gineral, the constitution gives every one liberty 
 of speech, and if the people say we want Roads and '11 
 petition for 'cm, and the people's representatives agree 
 in majority tu've roads, they say when you veto'd their 
 bill, you ain't a true Jacksonman,— -you aint for the 
 people, — you deny the people the laws they make for 
 'emselves,and that your vetoes arn't republican a bit. — 
 Now, gineral, 1 tell you without any circumbendibus, 
 what the people say, and I want the people tu know what 
 you say in answer for I'm your friend, and want tu de- 
 lend you. 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 225 
 
 In addition tu your vetoe on roads, and other mat- 
 ters, your friends by your orders, as they now say, had 
 the Bank United States notes put tu auction in one 
 place, refus'd on deposite in another, and that couriers 
 were sent by your friends tu speculate on its stock in con- 
 sequence of your message, by men in your confidence, 
 that are affair in relation tu the Branch of the United 
 States Bank at Portsmouth, also, they say is a dark af- 
 fair. They say that your under Cabinet sent men over 
 the west states among the farmers tu skeer 'em with 
 United States five dollar bills oflferin 'em for sale at 
 any thing they wou'd give tu make believe the Bank 
 was goin tu break. Now, gineral, this ere stormin the 
 Bank tu bear it oft' tu New York, or destroy it altugeili" 
 er, may be sport for the government, but it is deth tu 
 the people. The people, gineral, says you won't let 
 'em have any will but yourn; and that you are hoppiti 
 mad and roar like a lion when they go against your will. 
 They say you are either blind on one side, or obstinate, 
 and unwillin that any one shou*d think different from 
 you. Your vetoe of the land bill, the harbour bill, the 
 Maysville and Cumberland road bills, the United States 
 Bank bill, and other vetoes are the exercise of a power 
 for which in this or no other country is there any prece- 
 dent. The vetoe power they say is for extreme cases 
 where facts had not bin known when the bill was passed, 
 or where there was a suspicion of bribery and corruption. 
 
 Major, says the gineral, the hull on the opposition 
 has bin brib'd. The Bank has brib'd 'em, or they 
 wou'dn't vote for it, and now major, I'm determined 
 tu be its deth, as I onct afore did at New Orleans.-^ 
 1 never forgivcymajorj one of the chicks of that Bank onct 
 
226 MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 affronted me. Here Amos — call up the assistant cabi- 
 Het, with all your arms, — major, I'll see if you are the 
 rale grit — belt on your sword, for that are Bank— I'll 
 level it — I'll carry off the deposites, and may I be sent 
 tu the deserts cf Arabia, if 1 don't leave Nick Biddle 
 a beggarly account of empty boxes. Let us at onct 
 storm it; throw down its proud pillars, and take pos- 
 session. [^Bere the Bank is stormed.~\ 
 
 Gineral, I swou, but we've had fine fun. That Biddle 
 arter all is rale grizzle. I thou't as how you wou'dn't 
 get all for nothin; he knows how tu stand the tug — 
 he's rale jonnock, and isn't goin tu hike off when he 
 has the dollars tu take care of. 
 
 V/ell, uiajor, arter ail I like spunk; and when I 
 seed him give Amos sich a flyin boss when he was 
 enterin the Bank, I was mad enuff, and yet amost ready 
 tu laff tu — I didn't know which tu do. That are Biddle is 
 a pesky keen feller tu snitch for his bags. In the hub- 
 bub he was calm — I thou't he'd at onct think the jig 
 was up with him, but how quick he stash'd Blare, 
 Lew is, Amos, — and yourself major thou't it best tu 
 stand at a respectful distance; why, major, I cou'dn't 
 move one of the pillars of that Bank while he held it 
 with his hand. 
 
 Gineral, says I, I'll tell you a thing or tu. You 
 can't budge that Bank except by vetoe. Now avetoe 
 is a defiance of the sovereign will, and if tu oftefi 
 exercis'd it'll learn the people how tu govern without 
 you. Some of your secrets've leak'd out, in that are 
 letter you frank'd tu gineral Krebbs of the Pennsylva- 
 ny Legislater axin for a nomination in that State. 
 Them are Pennsylvanyins, if they git tu see things, are 
 
228 MAJOR jackdowning's life 
 
 consarn'd honest, and will kick like a young zebra 
 hitch'd tu a waggon, at any thing like "paddy come 
 over me." I'm rale glad the hull hasn't bin publish'd 
 yet— if they'd known that the hull proceedins were 
 made and prepar'd here, and sent on as they were, 
 gineral,they'd'vekick'duparalebubbery,and've thrown 
 
 the fat intu the fire in a jump, and we'd all had a 
 pritty kittle of fish of it; but they didn't, and we had 
 the snigger at their expense; tho' I'se a while in 
 a twitter when that are wicket feller Strong, of the 
 Intelligencer, com'd out upon us. Tell I found out all 
 he'd tu say, I guess it warn't any laffin sport. 
 
 But, gineral, your refusin tu protect 'em are Mission- 
 aries in Georgia, and also the Cherokees, who are a 
 . consarnt cute christianized sort of pagans, has made all 
 the friends of Missionaries oppos'd— they said it was 
 oney for you tu say the word and they'd be releas'd, 
 and you not sayin it shows that you wern't their 
 
 friend. „ . ,, u ^i ^ 
 
 Says the gineral, major, says he, all isn't gold that 
 glitters. I had one Baptist Clergyman shot as a de- 
 serter I cou'd'vehad 'em xMissionaries releast at a wink; 
 but when they resisted the authorities of Georgia who 
 were all Jacksonmen and my friends, I thou't they de- 
 serv'd their fate. They'd've show'd 'emselves good men 
 had they let 'em Ingins alone. Weren't they as well 
 the way they had bin? Let 'em remain pagans and 
 they'd soon kill one another oft', and we'd get their 
 lands without more trouble; but when you make chris- 
 tians of 'cm, then they sittle down tu do as white men 
 do-they thrive and prosper, and soon they come under 
 laws, and there's no gettin their lands from 'em any 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 229 
 
 more. So I jist let *em be well punish'd as a warniii 
 tu others. 
 
 Thej say you are so oppos'd tu the Ingins you won't 
 give 'em any justice: that you withheld their annuities 
 from 'em, and provok'd 'em, and that you are alwase 
 makin trouble when you deal with 'em Ingins. 
 
 So I did, major; I wanted tu harrass and worry 'em. 
 In this country there isn't no large estates. Now if we 
 don't git 'em Ingins lands the grate men and the poor 
 '11 be all as one. But if they're made tu move off, 
 there'll be tine chances tu speck'late, and get large 
 bodies of land, which can't be got no how any other 
 way. You recollect, major, how I tri'd tu get for 
 my friends a large estate from the Chickasaws. I'll 
 never get a chance successfully tu speck'late tell the 
 Sinnet is put down, and then I'K work 'em — that I 
 will. 
 
CHAPTER XXXh 
 
 The gineral hears me out. IteWd him about his trea^ 
 sury hank, his officers, the way tuhave a pure press, 
 and my advice about it. The nuUifyin proclamation. 
 The United States Bank, and its new Report. This 
 report dissipates all the delusion about its insolvency ^ 
 and shows it the true friend of the public. Picter of 
 jV. Biddle drivin his Conestoga loaggon, representin 
 the Bank, as in my letter tu Mr. Dwight. of New 
 York. 
 
 Gineral, says I, you are complaia'd of by the people 
 as not bein eny more political honester than your ine- 
 mies. They say three hundred thousand dollars was 
 drawn from the Nashvil Bank tu aid your election, 
 that there is positive proof of this, and that there is 
 n't eny way tu jouk it. Well, now. arter hearin this, 
 and seein your first message, recommendin the destruc- 
 tion ot the United States Bank, and the formashion of 
 a Treasury Bank at Washington under the care of 
 your tu cabinets, it n't reasonable tu blame a people, 
 ieallus of their liberties when they make opposishion. 
 Gineral, the voters was, sartin, paid for by your zeallus 
 friends, at five dollars a vote, in New York and in some 
 of the western states. Your custom house officers have 
 bin taxed 5 dollars a month from their salaries, and bin 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSOK. 231 
 
 made tu pay, or go out if they didn't. Now, I know 
 they didirt tell you ai.y thing about it, or you'd 've 
 vetoed 'em ; bat I oney tell you that you mayn't com- 
 plain of the opposition so bitterly, who've some reason 
 for bein dissatisfied with your doins. There's one of 
 
 yourn officei s in P — — , G G— — , who is so notorious 
 
 atarradiddler that he's a disgrace tu your cause, even 
 with all its sins, gineral, admittin they were true as your 
 inemies say. He prides himself in sinnin that all may see 
 it. Ke is n't the oney one who puts no restraint upon their 
 consciences ; and the chalkin cabinet seem tu think in 
 some of their recommendations, that no man who dont 
 take pains tu damn himself is fit for office. Fact they 
 take this for the test ; they measure men's abilities by 
 their alacrity in swearin, so that those who hang tu con- 
 science holds back afear*d there I'sn't no chance for 'em. 
 The opposition also, gineral, complain that the press 
 is c(;rrupted, and that you are upheld by wicked m?n 
 whose principle is their interest, and who make the 
 end sanctify the means. The Globe, your official, they 
 say was establish'd by corrupt means. The office 
 holders were assembled m New York, and a subscrip- 
 tion of $2500 ax'd of 'em tu buy presses and types. 
 They say a good cause don't require sich bolstetin. Gi- 
 neral, you are an LL. D. and knov/ that these literary 
 twaddlers oney want tu get the drippins of your fryin- 
 pans fur their labour ; they are a set of trimmers, who 
 have n't any conscience, men labell'd, with tu be let 
 pinned tu their hats, and who 'd sell you for a dollar 
 more than you give — a squad of white-livered grubbers 
 in the scum of politics — cats-paws for knaves, — mere 
 squirts, — the trim-tram companions of your insense- 
 
232 
 
 swingers in chief. If you want your name,gineral, tu live 
 in the grateful remembrance of this nation arter you leave 
 that chair, take your tooth-pick, rub 'em down with it, 
 and get honest men about you. Mind, gineral, I'm 
 your friend^ if you dont take my advice foller journ, 
 but remimber, if ye go on at this gate a leetle longer, 
 you'll have yourself and this nation in trib, when you 
 mayn't 've Jack Downing at your elbow tu assist you. 
 
 Gineral, every one hates a hawk, 'cause its alwase 
 for fitin. It may be a virtue tu contend for what we 
 think our rites, but it becomes a vice in excess. It 
 won't do tu lay a heavy hand upon our opponents, or 
 tu say I don't care how much they hate, if they oney fear 
 me. Every one has his day ; and the weak, when 
 driven hard, are often the victors. Tu trust no one 
 who isn't of our own opinion provokes a distrust of 
 ourself in retaliation. Every nation, curst with the 
 bickerins of selfish and jeallus men aspiring arter dis- 
 tinction, is on the downfall ; and he who dyes his 
 political sentiments for interest will be sure, at every 
 new dip, tu make 'em darker. Sich fellers are troub- 
 bled with a vertigo in their consciences, and are never 
 very pernikety how they steer if it leads 'em tu profit. 
 
 That are proclamation of yourn aginst the nullifiers 
 rais'd you, gineral, in one section of the nation, and 
 sunk you in another. You know I'm always ready tu 
 martch at the word, and fite 'em nullifiers, if they be- 
 come obstropulus. But, gineral, I think, howsomever, 
 that your winkin at the doins of the far south, led the 
 nullifiers tu be bolder than they wou'd've bin. Arter 
 all, the South Carolinas shou'd 've bin kinder treated 
 different. I can't see as how its rite jist tu let men 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 233 
 
 getintu discontent, without anj pains tu reconcile "em, 
 and when thej become rebellious child er then fly tu 
 hard knocks. Gineral, I think there was faults on 
 both sides. You lost the south, and gain'd the east. 
 Well, this is changin old friends for new ones, which 
 is experiment in. When I get tu be president, I'll 
 try tu keep the old, and gain new ones South 
 Carolina has rites, and they shou'd've bin res- 
 pected. The big charter of Brittin says *• we shan't 
 refuse, nor delay the justice which is due tu eny 
 man." But your system, gineral, was tu let 'em alone 
 tell they were ripe for fitin, and then ply the last rea- 
 sonin of presidents tu 'em— as an LL.D. mite be ex- 
 pected tu do, in the way of nullifyin — by smabblin 'em. 
 Now, giaeral, I'm consarn'd glad you let me have 
 all the talkin for a spell, and heard me so patient. I'm 
 nowgwine tu talk a leetle about that are bank in Phi- 
 ladelfy that gives you so much troubble. Gineral, I 
 cou'dn't never understand why you oppos'd state Bank 
 as gineral Jackson of Tenesee, and supported 'em as 
 president of the United States, tell I thou't a spell on 
 the borrow in of the post-office, and the necessity of 
 havin interested friends who wou'd shell out the kett tu 
 keep power in their hands. The borrowin tu election- 
 eer from the Bank at Nashvil, reconcil'd you tu state 
 banks, and the stern independence of 'em are fellers in 
 the United States Bank who won't be nother led nor 
 driven by threats nor coaxin, put you out with it. Now 
 I see how 'tis. I'll examin it a spell, and if it isn't 
 jist the thing, we'll have it pull'd down and remov'd 
 tu New York, where they do things by safety-fund 
 
 machines, and where the Banks can't fail if they have 
 
 V 2 
 
234 MAJOR JACK DOWNING S LIFE 
 
 ii't no money in 'em, jist because they've a safety 
 fund. 
 
 By a report jist publish'd sined by the casheer of 
 the United States Bank I find the followin exhibit. — 
 It is worth all the cant and spifflicated argument that'd 
 fill all the books in the nation. It is argument by 
 figgers. The report says : — 
 
 From the 1st of October tell the 1st of March, the 
 total reduction of local discounts was ,$4,845,143,56. 
 In the same time there has bin an increase in domestic 
 bills of g918,77'0,49. Makin the total reduction of 
 loans, ^3,926,393,07. Durin the same time the re- 
 duction of the government deposites was §7,264,201,96; 
 and of private deposites ^665,732,86, makin a total re- 
 duction of deposites, of $7, 929,934, 82. 
 
 Durin the same time, (from Oct. Ist.tu March 1st.) the 
 specie of the Bank has diminish'd ^278,002,36, and 
 the circulation of the Bank ^605,000,57. 
 
 Now, gineral, what think you of this } Can you 
 charge a bank with oppressin, injurin and embarras- 
 sin the people, while it has actually so far exerted it- 
 self for the public benefit, as tu curtail its discounts 
 four millions, while you took means out of their hands 
 with which they mite've help'd the peojile, for whom 
 your peculiar sympathies are so loudly express'd, of 
 more than 7| millions 1 ! That is, the reductions oi 
 loans by discount made for tlie benefit of commerce is 
 not 'SO grate as the *mount of money you've taken 
 from 'em by more than four millions of dollars. 
 
 It is stated that of near eight millions drawn from 
 the United States Bank, and left in otlur Banks, half 
 that sum has not bin loaned out, by the banks tu which 
 they were sent. 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. £35 
 
 This wicked bank has in the three last months sent 
 intu circulation nearly two niil lions and a half of it;* 
 bills more than it had afore, in order tu benefit the 
 people for whose interests jour energies are so wisely 
 directed. 
 
 In the last three months, (Jan. Feb. and MaJJch) 
 the Bank, altho' 7| millions had bin carried off in the 
 stormin scene, has extended its loans U millions. All 
 this grate effort of the Bank, gineral, has bin made 
 for the relief of the poor and industrious. But your 
 pets 've got money, and they won't let it out. Had 
 the Bank you order us tu attack tooth and nail, and 
 pull down, that it may be turn'd irtu a political estab- 
 lishment, bin inclin'd tu've foUer'd the wise, prudent, 
 and cautious plan of your pels, few of the merchants 
 in our cities, cou'd now be standin. As you've said, 
 the dealers on credit " ought iufaiP' I strongly com- 
 mend the prudent means you have taken speedily tu 
 eflect it. You are puttin the credit systems in the fire^ 
 and when all confidence, credit, and the links of soci- 
 ety are wound up, the silver, loose from dross, will run 
 below, and the hull nation be soon in a blaze of glory. 
 
 Arter all, gineral, what I telTd you in my letters 
 about the Bank, in my report at the Rip Raps, was 
 every word on it true. That are Biddie is jist like a 
 man drivin a Coi estoga waggon, as I show you in this 
 here picter. His team is a rale on^, and carries the 
 bills. He'd haul his own load, and twenty on 'em are 
 state Banks, pets and all, arter they'd got swampt and 
 cou'dn't budge a bit. Arter they're all either broken 
 down, or upset in the storm, liiddle hitches his bosses tu, 
 drags em out, and puts' 'em rite, while he drives along 
 safe in all weathers. 
 
CHAPTER XXXlt. 
 
 All interesting conversation atween me and the gineral, 
 about the principles of his administration, which is 
 broken off, tu begin with in the next chapter, 
 
 Gineral, says I, of all things I like consistency in 
 a pnblic officer. The man who aint this, hadn't ought 
 tu be trusted, 'cause he haint eny tixed principles, for 
 it is this that gives a guarantee that in his hands their 
 interests are safe. 
 
 Major, says the gineral, aint I consistent in all my 
 doins. Answer this, major. 
 
 Gineral, says I, I didn't say you weren't consistent; 
 but I'll jist tell you what was then in my mind. You 
 recollect that Tobias Watkins that you put in prison, 
 and kept there, 'cause he put three or Jour thousand 
 dollars tu his own use of the people's money. Now, 
 there aint eny doubt he was guilty, yet the fraud wasn't 
 so grate as that are teller's who took sixty-three thousand 
 dollars, and large lots of land, whom Amos chalk'd and 
 endors'd for a place in the land -office of one of the 
 western states. Now, gineral, this man warn't dis. 
 turbed He was let go about his bisness; and not a 
 word was said about him, while the papers teemed with 
 abuse of Watkins. Now, gineral, the folks say, that 
 AVatkins hadn't bin friendly tu you and the big rogue 
 was. There is no doubt, gineral, that you are consist- 
 
238 MAJOR JACK downing's life 
 
 ent and disinterested tu. You never tliink of yourself. 
 Gineral, while standin on the sea-shore, I seed the 
 waves rollin on the beachj but lookin sharp, I seed a 
 strong undertow^ which carried it all back agin. Now, 
 I'm afear'd there's an undertow near you. You mean one 
 thing — the undertow another. The waters are mix'd, 
 but both are consistently goin contrary tu each other — 
 and all consistently aginst what the public say is their 
 interests. 
 
 In my letters I tell'd the public about my ax, sent 
 me from Starks and Co. New York. I'll be short 
 M'ilh a leetle statement of it here. When Tawney, 
 and Amos, and Blare, and Barry and others were met 
 one mornin in counsel tu look ovei the Post-Office ac- 
 counts, which had got so tee-totally spifflicated, I thou't 
 I'd bolt rite in with it, and let 'em see it. So I went 
 up tu the counsel-room, and walk'd strate forrard tu 
 the table, where they was sittin. On comin up tu 'em 
 I held up the ax, and was jist a gwine tu tell all about 
 it, when on holdin it up, and afore I cou'd speak, the 
 hull on 'em except the gineral spring'd tu their feet, 
 and begin'd tu scamper for bare life. I tri'd tu hed 
 some on 'em, but the more I tri'd the more they 
 stieakedit. Gosh! what a twitter they was in. They 
 roll'd over one another, in the scamper, and danced 
 jist like as many caper- merchants. Barry look'd as glum 
 as Balshazzar when the hand appeared. He look'd 
 for all natur as it I was gwine tu split a log, and put 
 him in for a wedge. The gineral was complete fork'd. 
 He look'd at me rite earnest, and arter gollopin tu or 
 three mouthfuls of air, he held up his hands as if he 
 thou't the day of judgment was come, 
 
240 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 
 
 Gineial, says I, what does all this mean ? Major, 
 says the gineral, I must ax you tu splain. Why, gin- 
 eral, 1 couvd here tu show you this are fine present of 
 an ax, sent me from Carthage, New York. Major, 
 says the gineral, call 'em are counsel-men back— haw. 
 haw! haw! Major, says he, they were tryin tu settle 
 accounts that had got so consarntly flabagasted— haw! 
 haw! and the sudden appearance of your ax was like a 
 vision of judgment among 'em. But no matter, major, 
 now we understand one another, haw! haw! haw! 
 
 AYhen the counsel break'd up, the gineral com'd tu 
 me, and says, major says he, I'm vext every day with 
 committees of my friends, as they call 'emselves, or 
 rather inemies, from Philadelfy, New York, Baltimore, 
 and all over, beggin tu have 'em are deposites restored tu 
 Nic Biddle's Bank. But I'll never do it. I wish 
 they wou'dn't pester me. If they all fail, as they say 
 they must, I'll not restore them. It aint but stock-job- 
 bers, and brokers, and men who've overtraded, or trad- 
 ed on credit, that fail, and they ought tu fail. It'd be 
 a blessin tu the nation if they fail. But if every man 
 on 'em black, blue, and white fails, I'll go on with my 
 EXPERIMENT. I'm the government, and I'll remain 
 firm, and use strong measures tell my experiment is 
 complete. I tell you major, that Martin is a cute crit- 
 ter: he has plann'd the banks in New York, so that 
 they cant never break-Why major, there's a safety 
 fund, and that fund is carried all over, and if any on 
 'em banks was goin tu be squeez'd, it is oney for em 
 tu shake the safety fund at 'em, and all's rite agin, 
 slick as a whissle. I'm gwine tu have these safe- 
 ty fund banks all over the nation, major, and then 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 241 
 
 they'll be directed by my under-cabinet, and then I'll 
 make 'em are opposition folks be glad tu come tu my 
 terms. It's the best system ever contriv'd. The gov- 
 ernment aint never safe while this are Bank is alive, 
 'cause every thing must work one way. Every opposi- 
 tion must be put down, and then I can do what I 
 please, for the people are all for me, and will do what 
 I bid 'em. If the Bank don't act aginst me, it inay, 
 but the safety-fund system is so contriv'd that there's 
 no danger it'll ever oppose me; it'll be alwase on my 
 side, and then we can make short work of these inde- 
 pendent Philadelphians, and Nick Biddle among 'em. 
 Gineral, says I, let me have a word or tu upon this 
 are deposite subject, and its effects. I'm afear'd you 
 are gammon'd by your hangers on, and that they im- 
 pose on you. Gineral, you at one time rail aginst the 
 Bank 'cause foreigners hold stock in it — you next 
 select a Bank for your deposites the hull stock of 
 which is owned by a foreigner. You said you'd make 
 money plenty in Pennsylvany, and you then tell'd 
 Blare tu make the Pennsylvanyans go tu Ingland or 
 Holland and borrow. You said the Bank corrupts the 
 morals of the people; and you are resolv'd that when 
 the paper system is destroy'd the people will get quit 
 of their corruption and their cash together. You git 
 rathy when the people come tu you with their 
 grievances; thereby denyin the rite tu petition, or 
 that you have eny rite tu hear 'em. You call yourself 
 *'the government," but by your own account, as 
 stated tu me, you are oney one third of it — the Sinnet 
 and Supreme Coort, tu which for a spell you've show'd 
 strong opposition, are your partners in the grate work 
 W 
 
S4£ MAJOR JACK DOWNINg's LIFE 
 
 You say the people are on your side — I amost think 
 the grate struggle now is atween the office holders and 
 the people, as your office holders are urgin you on tu 
 obstinate resistance, which they tell you is Roman 
 firmness, but which others say is obstinacy, and not firm- 
 ness at all, as they can show. The folks say that your 
 present position is a contest, not atween the president 
 but Andrew Jackson, and the people, 'cause your 
 rewards and punishments hinge upon offences or 
 favours done tu Andrew Jackson, as the people never 
 oppose the president. You wont let the people be the 
 judge of what makes their own interests, by mockin 
 their appeals, and refusin dispassionately tu hear their 
 reasonings and grievances. They say you aren't a 
 dimocrat, 'cause you vetoe the laws made by the people 
 for their convenience^ which denies 'em the benefits 
 of the action of their own representatives, puttin 
 your will for theirn, and biddin 'em defiance. 
 
 But gineral, they also say your independence, so 
 much boasted of, is an obstinate self-will, preferrin 
 yours tu theirn. They begin tu doubt even your pat- 
 riotism, by sayin, that all your professions and pro- 
 mises, in your augural speech, was a mock show ', 
 that none of 'em have bin realized; that you make 
 war upon the Sinnet and upon the Supreme Coort, 
 threatenin the destruction of both, and that by medita- 
 tion their destruction in your direct opposition, you 
 ralev wished tu be above 'em in the administration of 
 government. They say that if a blunder is made in 
 your experiment, it will be as fatal tu the nation as those 
 of a quack wou'd be tu a dyin man. They look upon 
 your attack on the Bank as a personal grudge— your 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 543 
 
 Opposition, somethin like a Welsh ejectment. The 
 Irish whom you so much coax still remembei that 
 when tu convicts were under sentence you sav'd 
 Wilson; the worst, 'cause he was an American, 
 and hang'd Porter, a merciful and brave man tho' a 
 robber, 'cause he was an Irishman, and that none but 
 the parasitical Irish are on your side. They also say, 
 that the anonymous letters threatenin your life was like 
 the empty boats set afloat on the Missippi afore the 
 Battle of New Orleans; a gull tu catch flies; an 
 apology, when all other power is in your hand or when 
 you are about takin it intu your holy keepin, tu have a 
 body guard, for your person. They say, that you 
 bamboozle the people while you bring misery upon 'em; 
 and that you have cacklers all over reportin what is doin 
 in opposition tu your measures, so that you may be 
 ready tu stash their hopes. 
 
 Gineral, I've seed some calculations about the times 
 which I want tu tell you. The people says, the United 
 States Bank never did 'em no harm. Afore it was 
 made, the government lost millions and the people tens 
 of millions. There was grate distress, but soon as 
 Nick Biddle mounted that are big Pennsylvany team, 
 and crack'd his whip, every thing went on tu a miracle, 
 and the people didn't never lose a dollar since. But 
 as soon's your experiments begin'd, the groans and 
 cries of the people begin'd with it. You think the 
 folks haint no rite tu complain. Gineral, I'll tell 
 ye, when readin in Aunt Nabby's Bible I seed that 
 fifty thousand Bethshemites were slain 'cause some on 
 'em jist look\l intu the ark of the covenant. Now 
 Nick Biddle's Bank aint the ark the Jews look'd intu; 
 
£44 
 
 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'^S LIFE 
 
 but its the ark of a covenant made with the people of 
 these United States, thro' their represintatives. This 
 covenant was solemnly ratified accordin tu the Consti- 
 tution you took 'em are oaths tu. In agreement with 
 this covenant the Bank indd a million and a half dol- 
 lars! For this mity sum, the government pledged its 
 sacred character and honer tu place in it for safe 
 keepin, and give 'em their use tell the government 
 wanted 'em, all the revenue in deposit. The Bank went 
 along tu a charm, paid all its drafts, took care of the 
 public revenue, made bad notes good ones, and sent 
 the hull grist of note shavers tu grass. Well, gene- 
 ral, when you com'd tu direct the government you jist 
 look'd intu the Bank as the Bethshemites did iiltu the 
 ark, and moie than fifty thousand of the folks were 
 commercially ded in a nite! The angel of deth 
 martch'd rite over the land, carryin terror and despair 
 along with him. You becom'd a covenant breaker jist 
 'cause the Bank warnt on the safety-fund system — 
 that is, a political kimbaw with secret wire workers^ 
 a golden c«^ which all who depend on bank discounts 
 wou'd bow tu, if they'd-hope for help, and which, by 
 this glorious plan, worthy of honest Martin, cou'd 
 command more votes and more homage than any other^ 
 while the wire workers with the safety-fund wou'd 
 snigger at the success of the trick, and bid defiance tu 
 ail opposition. ' • 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 1 put in my picter, and with the gineraVs permission 
 continue tu tell him what folks say of him, I git 
 my slate and sifer up the public losses occasioned by 
 the Bank vetoe. I tell the gineral very important 
 matters worth knowin 
 
 Gineral, I'm alwase afear'd somethin is rong when 
 a public officer or his friends won't hear what their in- 
 emies saj, nor allow their doins tu be examined pub- 
 liclj. Now, gineral, jour popularity can stand Qny 
 things and your inemies say, that 'cause it can stand 
 so much, you want tu try how much it can stand, jist 
 as rope makers try the power of cables. It is very 
 common for strong men tu presume. Sampson threw 
 down a temple by catchin hold and shakin one of 
 its main pillars, but he died with his inemies,. and 
 he did it tu revenge his eyes. But gineral, your 
 opponents say you have bin deprived of your eyes 
 and cant see without Martin's specks. I hope, if this 
 is so, you won't throw down our constitutional temple 
 and bury us all in its ruins. They say the hull coun- 
 try is in distress, and that you have caus'd it by lookin 
 intu the people's covenant Bank when you oughtn't tu 
 have done it, and, like Neb-nezzar when he pfundered 
 the temple, have carried off its treasures so that the 
 people don't know where you have laid 'em. Now, 
 Gineral, let us git a slate and sifer this business 4 l^etU 
 
 W li 
 
JACK DOWNING, 
 
 Sijerin icp the people's loss thro' the Bank Vetoe^ 
 
 i 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 247 
 
 spell, and see how much the people have lost, atween 
 you and the Bank, 
 
 There are 13 millions of folks in these States. Pll 
 suppose 'em all full grown, and will allow a bushel of 
 wheat for each every tu weeks tu each, and say nothin 
 about hoss and pig feed, or surplus for exportin. This'Ii 
 make 26 bushels a jear, or 338 millions bushels in all. 
 They say the average fall of price in grain is S7i cents 
 a bushel. This wou'd be ^126,800,000 loss tu the 
 flirmers! There is 800 houses less contracted for in 
 Philadelfy this year than the last. At the same rate 
 I'll suppose in all the cities and town a fallin oft* of 
 3500, at an average, when built and furnished, of $14 
 millions loss tu builders! The price of real estate is say 
 3000 millions of dollars. This has fallen, 1-6 or $500 
 millions loss tu the property holders! The manufac- 
 tures have a capital invested in works which has bin 
 stopt, of #25,000, 000 from which 20 millions was paid 
 tu workman! There is 75 millions aflote in Bank bills 
 which pays an average discount on the internal exchange 
 of 10 per cent, or 7,500,000! There is 100 millions, 
 notes of hand afloat, which must now pay an average 
 of 10 per cent discount tu the Pontius Pilates, makin 
 10,000,000. The shippin laid up, the sacrifices on stocks 
 at puulic sales, the sums necessary tu keep an increased 
 number of paupers, and other matters may be estima- 
 ted at 10,000,000, besides about 20,000,000 in pros- 
 pective losses. All these added makes 708 millions 
 500 thousand!! Now, gineral, this is a perdigious 
 loss! It is the effects of a cause,* you, or the bank, is 
 that cause, and you mutually throw it on each other. 
 Let me examin it a leetle, gineral, and see where 
 
 / 
 
S48 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 
 
 lies the source of this evil. I didn't hear a breath of 
 complaint aginst the United States Bank, till it came 
 from your first message when you got tu be president. 
 You then denounced it. You call'd it up in the na- 
 tion's councils. The Bank met the call, and ax'd for 
 a new charter. You then said the Bank was tu early 
 makin that call, and throw'd blame on the Bank, tho' 
 yourself brou't it forrard. You commenc'd an attack 
 on the Bank which injured the price of its stocks; and 
 'cause the Directors endeavor'd, as honest men, tu 
 preserve its reputation and keep up the price of its 
 stocks by publishin the condition of its finances, and 
 by refutin erroneous statements, you made its defence, 
 and its havin paid the expences of its defence, one of 
 its sins — a charge why it shou'd be destroy'd. But the 
 people by their represintatives said you rong'd the 
 Bank, but you vetoed it tu prove you was rite. The" 
 folks say that you are array'd aginst it, 'cause Martin' 
 wants it tu go tu Wall street, and become a safety fund 
 Bank. They say that your opposition is personal and 
 political., 'cause it wont come intu, and be under., the 
 direction of your under) or as some call it drippin- 
 pan Cabinet! Now, I'm of the opinion, gineral that 
 if you had've let the Bank alone all wou'd've bin pros- 
 perous. The Bank, in eighteen years, have brou't our 
 country from a ruinous currency tu a sound one. The 
 notes of the Bank were preferred even tu specie. The 
 country was posperous, trade was brisk, manufacters i 
 flourish'd,the poor was comfortable, and the rich cou'dn't 
 speck'late upon 'em. Now, gineral, the tables are 
 turn'd. The poor is a prey to the rich 5 the Brokers 
 are reapin their harvest, the poor are sacrificin their 
 
Of GENERAL JACKSON. 249 
 
 hard earned gatherins tu pay their creditors, which in 
 fair times they cou'dve done without sacrificing those, 
 who have money at command are fattenin upon^the 
 public distress; the manufacteries are stopt, and tens of 
 thousands of hands left in want; the price of agricul- 
 ture is down, and farmers can't pay their taxes, their 
 store debts, or their hands; carpenters and bricklay- 
 ers, and masons, and lumbermen, and the millions who 
 draw their subsistance in this way, are out of employ, 
 and lackin bread. It wont do tu say they must go tu 
 the Bank, as you did tu the mechanics' associations of 
 New York and Philadelty when they waited on you. 
 
 You threaten the Bank with ruin, and blame it for 
 usin means tu save its existence. The Bank wards oft' 
 your blows, and shows the public that it does fourfold 
 more for 'em than your pets, tu which you sent the 
 prog. You have bin sworn tu sustain the laws, and 
 yet, without showin a good. reason, even the picture of 
 an argument, you break /to law, and rob the stock- 
 holder and, the United States .of millions in the depre- 
 ciation of stock, and then make a mock accusation 
 against it for.spendin •<! few hundreds in an effort tu 
 prevent the greater evil of millions loss! Gineral, I 
 fear posterity will put the bl^me on you. The power 
 is on your side ; but all else is aginst you. Let the 
 deposites be restor'd. Let the people have confidence 
 that the currency of the country will not be disturbed, 
 and the financiers, who have s^udiec^he subject, will 
 soon make all right. Gineral, no man is so positive as 
 he who is misled or mistaken. You do not suspect 
 yourself. In the midst of your confidence the people 
 suffer, and you are unwillin tu hear the people when 
 
250 MAJOR JACK DOWNING'S LIFE 
 
 they implore you. It matters not, if even, as you as- 
 sert, the Bank be first in fault ; as it was n't charged 
 by the people with any fault tell you begin 'd upon it, 
 the sin will at last fall with tremendis weight upon 
 you, and the people, who almost worshiped you, if you 
 do not place things as they were and show 'em that if 
 the blame be really the bank's it must all lie at its door, 
 and that you will bear none of it, will arou?e trom the 
 scourge you inflict, a reaction will follow, and instead 
 of tiieir blessins, you will close your eyes in deth 
 amid the howlins and hisses of an enraged and abus'd 
 people! Remimber, your friend Jack Downing warns 
 you. 
 
 Now, gineral, there is n't no good come of havin tu 
 much learnin. Since they made you a Doctor of Laws, 
 your so nation cute at seein intu things that it don't re- 
 require eny study at all. The ambition of some men, and 
 the wants of others, are the sources of amostall civil dis- 
 cord. The worst conducted governments alwase cost 
 most, 'cause they are constantly out of repair. The peo- 
 ple, tu honer you and save the national character, begin 
 tu think that a divorse is as necessary from the imder,3.nd 
 it has bin from the upper cabinet. The preferment of 
 knaves is not so much an honer tu 'em, as dishoner tu 
 him that raises 'em. You are charged with having in 
 your confidence underserved favourites, who bein un- 
 known tu the constitution, the laws, or the people, mis- 
 lead and prompt you. Whatsomever may be th0 cause, 
 the people now mourn. The ruler may mean well, 
 but the effects are bad— the people are deceived— they 
 suffer, and though they may awhile lay the blame as 
 you bid 'em, yet when they cease tu take things at 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. ^5l 
 
 secondhand, and /eeZ a little more, they will discover 
 the cause and there'll be a grate takin tu task, I tell je. 
 The people are like a drowsy lion in his lair. Hunger 
 will rouse 'em ; and when they are fairly up, it'll be 
 hard tu make 'em belive the Bank in fault, in spite of 
 all your office holders tell 'em, when they can't sec 
 where they have lost a dollar by it tho' they can 
 see where they have gain'd thousands. 
 
 The declaration that *' people who deal on credit ought 
 tu break,^* has open'd ihe eyes of some, and alarm'd 
 all. What must be the effects of sich a course if per- 
 sever'd in. The poor can't never find comfort or sub- 
 sistence without credit. This is the dependence of the 
 poor in this country. In other countries, where there 
 isn't no credit, the poor become the slaves for life of 
 the rich. There is n't no help for 'em, if no one*ll trust, 
 and men have n't no capital, they must sell 'emselves 
 and families tu the rich, and be servants forever. What 
 I'm afear'd of, gineral, is this, that the poor who de- 
 pind or credit, will find out that you think 'em a set of 
 spoonies who'll gulp down all the hummers your slang- 
 whangers tell 'em, and get rathy at your office holders 
 and you ; for as soon's they examin intu this are 
 bisness, they'll see at a glance, that by your system 
 the poor oney suffer, and that the advantage is on the 
 side of the rich. You'd better be cautious that they 
 don't see it. 
 
■^■ 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 Conversation atween me and the gineral about the 
 Bank, The effects of havin many^ and especially 
 political Banks. Some reynarks about Duane, and 
 Glory, and the Filadelfy Quaker, and office holders. 
 
 Says, the gineral, major, says he, that are Nick 
 Biddle I'm determin'd tu make feel my hottest wrath. 
 What do you think, he says most of the State Banks 
 exist by the forbearance of his Bank. Now, I'll show 
 him what it is . tu spare the State Banks, as I did in 
 my vetoe message. I'm rathy at that feller, for there 
 isn't no way (»f gettin at him except by makin what 
 he publishes tu the world as the good qualities of his 
 Bank bad ones. He says, he does what he can tu 
 spare the State Banks. Now the power tu spare the 
 State Banks shou'dn't be giv'd tu him. None shou'd 
 have power but me, 'cause the people approves of all I 
 do. 
 
 Gineral, says I, this puts me in mind of the man 
 ■who whipt his wife when she hadn't committed no 
 fault. She ax'd him what her fault was. ^ ^othin, says 
 he, but for fear you shou'd! Now, gineral, says I, this 
 is a hard case. You know I help'd you tu storm that 
 are Bank, and as my pay don't come from it, but 
 from you, I don't care about it a fig; but as we are 
 talkin about it, and as the Bank is absent, I'll ax leave 
 tu defend it, a bit. You know what I read tu yourn 
 cabinet in my proclamation. I there tell'd you that 
 
MAJOR JACK DOWNING's LIFE S,54 
 
 the people wou*d have a big Bank — one strong enuff tu 
 do the work well— tu clear out all the trash — tu col- 
 lect the rale money in the country — tu send out bills 
 that the people wou'd be sure was safe and that'd pass 
 all over the States without shavin. In my Proclama- 
 tion, a picture of which I give tu let you see how I 
 stood, and how the council sot, I tell'd how the people 
 and the Bank agreed, the one tu put the depositcs in 
 the Bank, and the other tu give a million and a half 
 of money for our use as pay for it. 
 
 I also tell'd how Squire Biddle with his Bank, like 
 a grate Conestoga Waggon, was started tu reg'late the 
 leetle Banks, and make 'em go rite. Now, gineral, 
 the man who is tu reg'late the small Banks, must have 
 some controllin influence somehow, or they wou'dn't 
 behave rite. If the small Banks exist oney by his for- 
 bearance, as you said in your vetoe, and that forbear- 
 ance is exerted tu help the weak, tu incourage the 
 doubtful, and tu put down those that won't pay the 
 people their bills when they ax specie for 'em, how, 
 gineral, are we tu get a Bank that'll do better? This 
 big Bank drove fifty million of notes out of circulation 
 when it got up, that warn't worth jist nothin, and 
 were n't known oney a few miles round the place where 
 they were issued. But it did more. It put down a 
 grate many Banks that hadn't no specie tu pay at all, 
 and sav'd the people the necessity of takin notes 
 of Banks that were nothin better than swindlin shops. 
 Gineral, the more Banks, the more chances there is of 
 the folks bein cheated, 'cause there'll alwase be some 
 among 'em rogues and knaves. Rogues alwase try tu get 
 intu places were money is, and though they don't al- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. ^55 
 
 wase succeed, jet tu the grate loss of the public, thej 
 sometimes do. Now, the more Banks the more chance 
 there is, as I said, of bein cheated; but what is quite 
 as bad, the more political knaves have a chance tu 
 corrupt the people when they git in. Now, gineral, 
 Bank directors are like other men. These leetle wag- 
 gons, tho* they have some good, and liberal, and honest 
 men among 'em, have some who aren't so a bit. 
 
 They intrigue for favour. The poor askin for a dis- 
 count, must be of the rite kidney,or he can't get the need- 
 ful. The parties in politics intrigue tu have a seat in 
 the Boards. The parties in religion prefer their own 
 tu others; at these Boards prejudice, and bigotry, and 
 party, and interest all are strugglin; and one bad man 
 can ruin or oppress many honest men 'cause he can 
 work sly: the honest arn't the most managin tu git a 
 seat at sich Boards; they don't intrigue, they suppose 
 the purity of their character a sufficient recommenda- 
 tion, and rest on it. But, gineral, they are tu often 
 mistaken. The intriguing, white-livered knave is more 
 active, cunning, and successful than he is, and one 
 or tu sich men in a Board does grate mischief. 
 
 Others agin become Directors tu enable 'em tu pos- 
 sess facilities and means of speculatin upon the poor. 
 A poor man has his note thrown out. Some one finds it 
 out, and recommends himtu oneof the Pontius Pilatcs, 
 who has a friend in Bank, cut and dry, tu furnish the 
 money. This note is shaved at 24 per cent, and the 
 poor, honest man, is a sufferer by the sharks who stand 
 ready tu devour him, aided by some of the Banks you 
 are so anxious tu cherish. 
 
 Gineral, this picter of Bank Directors isn't general. 
 
2.76 MAJOR JACK DOWMNG*S LIFE OF 
 
 Some on 'em are gootl, honest, and liberal? ready iu 
 !iel{3 tlie poor and industrious, but gineral thej are n't 
 all so, and the more Banks the more of these you mul- 
 tiply, an<l the more the poor are the suft'erers. Be- 
 lieve me, gineral, no Bank United States can injure ihe 
 government or the people in any way so readily as when 
 it takes sides with and suppoits all the measures of the 
 government. The government is alwase ready tu op- 
 ]ose and expose it, if it is hostile, and its limited char- 
 ter will ever be a check tu any overt act of hostility^ 
 but if it take sides with and become the servile instru- 
 ment of the government, it is impossible tu save owr 
 liberties, if there be a cunnin Kitchen Cabinet tu stand 
 behind the screen, and work things as it may with 
 sich glorious means as the Bank'il put intu its power. 
 Beware of a government Bank, or a Bank that sap- 
 ports the intrigues of government — they are equally 
 dangerous tu liberty! 
 
 Gineral, I'm peskil y afear'd that are Duanebisness will 
 make Pennsylvania open its eyes, and see w hat we're 
 at. Your anxiety tu take more ri'spoiisibility upon you 
 than the laws or the usages of your ^'illustrious prede- 
 cessors" have required of you, the folks say show a 
 de.«ire on your part tu invade the ancient land- marks. 
 Sartin, it'll require considerable explainin tu make it 
 stjate. That Duane is a nation cute critter? for he 
 comes out letter arter letter, and the last aUvase hits 
 hardest. I recommend you tu preserve a brown study, 
 fur if you speak you're dishni up. and in this aft'air 
 the better part of valour is siler.ce. 
 
 Astu the Bank, when you made your attack on it 
 the hull nation was all on one side. Nobody didn't 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 257 
 
 say nothin aginst it. Every body was praisin it. But all 
 at onct,when you found out that it was doin or might do 
 harm, you started the fox, the hull nation of office hold- 
 ers cried tally-ho! and the office seekers,who al wase try 
 tu hed the political faxions and make speeches cri'd, 
 4' down with the Bank ! Break up public credit! Let 
 nothin but specie, except the notes of State Banks, be 
 the currency!"— Now, gineral, the people all stand 
 round with their eyes and their fly-trap open tu catch 
 your motion. If you say black's white, I swou, they 
 swear its so! They oney want tu know what's your 
 desire, and it'll be done. They are all Dimocrats, gin- 
 eral, and proud of their independence. Them are 
 fideralists tu, are first in praisin you. They're the 
 chief incense-swingers, and take more pains tu butter 
 you up than those the dye tub had transmogrified. That 
 areFiladelfy Quaker tu,who rites for the Globe,makes as 
 much noise in our cause as if he hadn't bin a wool- 
 dy'd fideralist; and now he tries tu make his peace with 
 our party by an excess of zeal. Why, gineral, he'll 
 cling tu you like a pizin vine, and in the same way, 
 for he aims tu hide you in his tendrils, or give you 
 a cornish hug that'll up-set you. But /ace;— gineral, 
 when a Quaker comes on our side, snitch him: its 
 either becase he's tweagueish, or in bad oder among his 
 own folks, or has some sinister design. He isn't nev- 
 ernaturally on our side, and when he comes he's like a 
 bird of bad omen. 
 
 The tu parties, gineral, now in this country, I'm 
 
 thinkin, are the office holders, and the people. Arter 
 
 considerable thinkin on it I've concluded that the office 
 
 holders '11 beat Jist say eny thing you please this 
 
 W 2 
 
258 MAJOR JACK DOWNIX&*S LIFE 
 
 d.iy, and the otfice halders will call a meetin, and the 
 work's done. Say another thing next day, and they'll 
 contradict it. Why, gineral, there's wonderful magic 
 in your opinions; there's no resistin 'em; they are the 
 rale doctt ine for republicans. Your administration has 
 bin in a blaze of glory, ever since you ascended that 
 are chair, for if you haven't bin smabblin 'em Inglish 
 or Ingins, you have bin at war with every party, aind 
 person, and principle, and practice, and precept, in the 
 hull nation, except what was recommended by Amos. 
 You have never bin able tu form a cabinet that cou'd 
 cordially support you. Tu please your under cabinet, 
 or defend Mrs. E , or becase they wou'dn't do you bid- 
 din without regard tu their principles, consciences, 
 or sense of propriety, you blew 'em up ski-high; you 
 were in acontinewal blaze of glory, and the nation in a 
 constant state of excitement sicli as has bin afore un- 
 known tu it. Look, gineral, at the cause. Isn't it 
 'cause you are more knowin, and learned, and patriot- 
 ic than all your predecessors? Isn't it 'cause you 
 want tu leave illustrious precepts for your successors 
 tu follow.^ Isn't it 'cause you have around you so 
 much glory, that you alone are in the light and the peo- 
 ple in the darkness? The office holders don't want lite, 
 gineral, except what emanates from the brightness of 
 your countenance. They live in your lite; they reflect 
 your lite, they throw fuel on the blaze tu increase that 
 lite, and they cry hozanna, and spread their palms 
 afore you; while the people crowd around 'em, catch the 
 sound, and rend the skies with hooras which they 
 start for their own exclusive interests. 
 
CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 Conclusion, in which I tell the gineral some things 
 useful tu know, and giv'd him my advice. The 
 gineral thankful for my information. I conclude 
 with a warnin. 
 
 Gineral, as the prosperity of the country is bein af- 
 fected by the dispute atween you and the Bank, 1 
 beg one word more on this subject. The assertion 
 made in a paper- read to your Cabinet statin that 
 a political warfare existed atween you and the Bank, 
 was the first intimation either the Bank or the people 
 ever had that politics had ought tu do in the matter. 
 The people never dreamt of it. They thou't oney of 
 hoorain and hoistin hickory brooms on poles. By the 
 way, there's some danger in these are brooms. Ad- 
 miral Van Tromp, who had bin the terror of England, 
 when he entcr'd the battle that squenched his mili- 
 tary glory, had a broom at his mast hed, an emblem of 
 his power,as if tu say, " I'll sweep the seas of you;" but 
 the next day he was himself swept off'the ocean, and his 
 power destroy'd. You are charged with corruption 
 and bribery in bargainin with Governor Wolf tu give 
 him a loan of the people's money if he wcu'd join tu 
 decry a bank he had afore considered essential tu the 
 public good. But I'm fear*d the governor has fled tu 
 the rong protection, and like a thief hidden in a hemp 
 
260 
 
 MAJOR JACK DOWNING^S LIFE 
 
 plot, is conceal'd by that which will in the eend de- 
 stroy him, 
 
 Gineral, the hull country is on the move. They 
 wont tu sittle down till they find out where the evil is 
 that makes 'em feel so bad. They are inquirin. It'll 
 not do tu quote knaves and fools for information, which 
 when given makes you ridiculous. That are king of 
 Spain's trumpeter in Philadelfy, who announced tu you 
 sich a hummer, about Mr. Brown havin borrow'd a 
 million from Squire Biddle's Bank when he didn't 
 owe it a single dollar, is like a nation site of informa- 
 tion you get. You believe all your friends say; you 
 believe no one else; you cheapen your dignity, and give 
 yourself a trim-tram standin with sich fellers, that ar- 
 ter a while your believin every packet from every hobinol 
 that tries tu diddle you, will prove that the public 
 ruin is founded upon a mere tarradiddle that gammon'd 
 you, and upon which you shou'dn't've acted till inquiry 
 had foUer'd information. The acting hastily as the 
 dupe of a fool may be glory, gineral, but it'll be hard tu 
 find the rite kind of fuel tu keep this glory in a blaze. 
 
 I've a word or tu more tu say, gineral, tu show you 
 that you've bin deeeiv'd, and that dependin on that de- 
 ception you in turn deceive. It is this : In addition tu your 
 mockery of the public suffeiin, you've bin hoardin up 
 your rath and vengeance tu pour it on Biddle's Bank, 
 while that Bank was keepin up the people whom 
 your pet Bank was breakin down. For instance, the 
 public Deposits in December, in the Gineral Bank was 
 $1,177,875,84, and in February, $1,345,230,82, bein 
 an increased amount of government deposites of $167,- 
 354,98, while the decrease of discounts upon this in- 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 
 
 261 
 
 crease of deposites was $425,799— that is, there is 
 $593,153,98 dollars lying in your Bank which might be 
 discounted for the people's accomodation, but which, had 
 it bin in Squire Biddle's Bank, wou'd've bin all in cir- 
 culation for the public good. 
 
 Says the gineral, major, says he, I've bin thinkin 
 over what you tell'd me. It has amost pos'd me; 1 
 thou't I was doin all for the good of my people; and if 
 what you tell'd me be true, I must have bin grately 
 misled by some one. I am rite glad, major, that you 
 have had the honesty tu tell me what the people say 
 about my doins; accept my thanks, and be assured that 
 I shall regard you as my friend much more than the 
 flatterers who conceal the facts, and prompt me tu 
 measures leadin tu their own interests instead of the 
 people's good. 
 
 Gineral, says I, I'll stick tu you thro' life and deth; 
 and as I don't flatter, you may look upon me as a true 
 friend. I'm now about tu close this book, and i beg 
 leave tu make a few partin reflections by way of advice. 
 Your public acts arn't alwase jist what'll be hereafter 
 regarded as models of republicanism. You generally 
 intend well; but virtue looses itself and becomes vice, 
 in every attempt tu make it do that which is 
 contrary tu law, justice, or usage — tho' no vice can be- 
 come a virtue. The spirit of party may be useful, but 
 it becomes a vice when the chief ruler becomes the 
 avowed and ostensible h^d of it. The moment he 
 arrays himself against any part of the ruled, the line 
 of separation is drawn — he must either prove his 
 general conduct and principles good, or he is in dan- 
 ger. The people may be misled for a while, but they 
 
262 MAJOR JACK DOWNINO'S LIFE 
 
 will not be long so. The ruler, if he acts inconsistent 
 with sound and honest principles, can never draw vir- 
 tuous and honest men tu his side 'cause he can't 
 corrupt 'em. Then corruption becomes a regular 
 system; and as good and honest men can't be brou't 
 over, all accessions tu the side of power is from the 
 base, while it looses the virtuous and good. Now, 
 this class may be oppress'd and persecuted, but it 
 will increase in a free country. In this country your 
 opposers, gineral, — for you have no inemies, — are fast 
 increasing from the ranks of the good and the great; 
 while wealth, and talent, and enterprise are coming out 
 strong aginst your measures . Do you think the present 
 congress will rise durin this hull congressional year? I 
 perdictthey won't. They distrust your abilities, gine- 
 ral, and this arises more from their utter distrust tu 
 your faxious and irresponsible advisers, than tu you. 
 You've laid your hand upon and seized the public 
 purse. This the people will never consent tu. You 
 have said, you were without sympathy for commercial 
 men dealin on credit, and that they should fail! You 
 have allow'd your official paper tu defame all who 
 don't think your measures the best. With its repro- 
 bate editor no man's reputation is safe. With him, slan- 
 der is a trade and railing a commodity, 'cause he gets his 
 livin by decryin every man opposed who has any re- 
 putation tu lose. He is a kind of scribler who at once 
 satisfies his itch for ritin, his petulance, his malice or 
 envy, and his necessity. 
 
 Be assured, gineral, the cause of truth will finally 
 prevail, Bad rulers do for ^emselves,\\\\2ii the Jews did 
 for Christ. They plat their own crown of thorns, and 
 
OF GENERAL JACKSON. 263 
 
 put it upon their own heds. You, gineral, I'm afear'd 
 have sinned. It isn't enufF that jou repent, you must 
 also forsake, or the people '11 forsake you. This is a 
 day of gloom and dismays the poor will find, that upon 
 their heds the heaviest part of the calamity must fall, and 
 that the blow comes from you. In this discovery the bit- 
 terness of their reproaches will overwhelm you, and if 
 you do not change your course, the anticipations of the 
 konjurer will be realised when he pointed out the dange- 
 rous influence of Sattern in your horryskope, and im- 
 plor'd heaven tu avert it. Think of the Horryskope, 
 gineral, and — be warx'd. 
 
 THE END. 
 
^^