Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) [Illustration: Yours till deth Majer Jack Downing] LETTERS OF MAJOR JACK DOWNING, OF THE DOWNINGVILLE MILITIA. "The Constitution is a Dimmycratic machine, and it's got to be run as a Dimmycratic machine, or it _won't run at all_!" --MAJER JACK DOWNING TO LINCOLN. THIRD EDITION. NEW YORK: VAN EVRIE, HORTON & CO., No. 162 NASSAU STREET, PRINTING HOUSE SQUARE. 1866. Entered according to Act of Congress, by BROMLEY & CO., in the year 1864, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York LOVEJOY & SON, ELECTROTYPERS & STEREOTYPERS, 15 Vandewater st., N.Y. CONTENTS. PAGE. LETTER I. The Major Announces that he "Still Lives"--The Reason why he has not Spoken before--Writes to "President Linkin," who at once Sends for him--How Lincoln Shakes Hands--His Troubles--The Major's Advice-- Lincoln to get an "Appintment on Gineral McClellan's Staff"--A Story About Old Rye, from Mr. Lincoln. 15 LETTER II. Deacon Jenkins, of Downingville, Sent for to Cut and Make the President's Uniform--A Provoking Accident--Mr. Lincoln Tells a Story--The Major as a "Commentater" on the Constitution--Mrs. Lincoln's Party--"Insine Stebbins, of the Downingville Insensibles, Writes a Paradox for the Occasion"--The Major gets Angry--Lincoln Tells a Story About Virginia Mud. 23 LETTER III. The Major has an Attack of the Ague and Fever--Begins to get the Hang of Matters at Washington--Mr. Lincoln's Improvement in "Military Nollege"--Studying "Stratygims" for Gen. McClellan--The Major Suggests a Difficulty--Mr. Stanton Called on--The Negroes at Port Royal--"The Nigger-Teachin Fever"--Deacon Jenkins' Daughter goes to Port Royal to Teach the Negroes. 32 LETTER IV. A Delegation Calls upon the President--The Major Indignant--Mr. Lincoln Tells a Story--Curious Composition of the Republican Party--Difficulty of Keeping it Together--The President Hopes to do it by "Sloshin About"--Deacon Jenkins Again--He is a Temperance Man, but Takes a Glass of Old Rye. 40 LETTER V.