Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-09-19
posed to mo- s.sss We should, # The rressdens ap


might choose TO which asscntent. The War,
Navy, and Post Office Departments were then
considered open to ro-assignmcnt, according to the
will ofthe President. The result was Mr.. MIean
was arranged to the War Departments Mr.. Branch |
to the Post Office, and myself to the Navy Depart-
ment. This did not meet the object. Mr.. Branch |
made unexpected difficulties, and n the desire OF
those who proposed the change, the original ar
rangement was restored.
suspected no other than fair and honest mo-
tive in all this; but are now informed, through,
the cXposons recently made in tho Telegraph, that
all Mr.. Branch's movements originated in the sad
wee" OF certain ''PcrSOadi, pOticdl and i0no tried
friends Of The PRESIDENT" given with view, as is
now expressly stated ''to ren.oce' me from the Ca
bnct.
AT length the Cabine. formed. Mr.. Bcrricn
expressly says, that he entered il, only because he
expected 'the President himself would speedily see
and correct the cvil' of my appointment, and that
he clearly ''foresaw the evils which have resulted
from the selection" His declaration is no doubt
true. No prophets forcsec future events, pre-
cScly and certainly, those, who having the
means III their own control determined to
bring them to pass. Foresceng the evils. he must
have torcseen the means through which their cor
roction to be brought about He must have
torcsecn that he his associate friends intended to
use the influence and consequence which Office gave,
to accomplish their expectations-the persecution
OF my family-the attempt to degrade me, and all
the arts which subsequently they have employed
to procure my removal.
How could so much he forcscen if it had not been
predetermined! No prophecy could have been so
confidently relied on, lift had not then been resol
rcd, by cabal of the Presidents pretended
rIends," with view to concentrate public opinion
that L and my family should be prescribed from in
tercourSc, with that portion of society over which
they ana their families had, could have influence
Not Il doubt is left my mind that before the
nomination OF the Cabinet to the Senate the means
of operating public opinion, and forcing the
PRESIDENT to exclude Ee, were devised, arranged,
and fixed upon, by and with the knowledge and
appreciation of Mcssrs. Ingham and Bcrrien, if
not of Mr. Branch; and the means to be employed
under their boosted sense of honor-an honor which
III their bosoms inspired earnest desire to trans
mt TO their children, San unsullied, good name,'
were, the abuse and Islander of Il mother, with two
innocent daughters, whose good name blended
with hers, and IN attacks upon my integrity and
honor. Did they reason themselves into the belief,
that the inheritance OF Il parents good name, was
OF no value, onlyas it regarded their children; and
| that whether others lived perished was not ma
tcrial, if they and theirs were safe.
| Did L merit such course of treatment from Mr..
Berrlcn! We had served together for several years
in the Senate of the United States. He was invi-
| ted to, and was present at my marriage, six or
J eight weeks before. We were in habits of daily
| friendly intercourse; my part free and unres-
trained, and, as supposed, equally on his. He
proiessed to be my FRIEND and such thought him.
was 1t honorable, then, and was it just, to hide
| from me all the ''eUiLS' which he '.forcSa,r' and
suffer me to run bndly upon inextricable difficult
ties! Should he not have warned me, that not
''the opposition'-not ''thc enemies of the Pres
dent" merely, us Mr.. Branch statcs but his friends
this PERSONAL political, and long tried friends
aye, even those whom he had selected as mem.
bers OF ms Cabinet, viewed my selection as an evil
and intended to il TO distract his councils en-
barrass his administration, and provide for a sue
cessor! Had Mr.. Berrien frankly informed me-
that he and his associates considered nv appoint.
mcnt San insuperable bar" to their acceptance an
Issue would at been rendered. [ should have
desired the President to excuse me, and given him
my reasons, and then, for the sake of harmony,
lie would have discharged either me or them. Blu,
| all was concealed from me, and only against the
probable course Of the opposition,-the enemies OF
! the President, was advised and warned. | was
! not taught TO expect, that i'll Ingham, Branch and
! BcrrIen, should find these very enemies. who
where smiling upon him, and me, with unqualified
professions of devotion and friendship, Against
their assaults, ii was hence impossible TO guard
Again, ask, was ii just honorable in MIR. Der
| rlen, entertaining the views which he has recently
ayowed, to conceal them from me, and thus led me
! bindly forward, upon mine which lie knew was
prepared for my destruction!
However he may excuse himself for his practiced
cohceaincnt towards me, yet was he bound in du
! ty to the President and to the country to comnu
nlcate his views frankly to him. He knew the i'm
portancc, nay absolute necessity, of entire harmo
NY III the Cabinet, and that the views of the Pres
dent, in relation to the reformation of the govern.
nent, and hoRe interests of the country could not
! be accomplished without it. Mr.. Borricn knew
that the PrCsd, mt had Il right to expect unity of
feeling and action amongst those whom he had Sc
self, and to the people who had elected him he
would not knowingly constitute Cabinet of discord
ant materials. Get ''cLedrLy fOreSeeiag all tie euH
Chfch haze reSutted" he concealed his feelings anc
his views, and suffered Cabinet to be formed be
tween whose friendly association, and cordal co
operation, there was 'insuperGblc bar" which h
clearly saw; but which the President did not. b,
this conccament, and want of candor, he suffered
his friend and beneactor to lie led into error in the
very lrst step of his administrations and which II
common with other enemies, he is attempt
ing to WELD to its destruction. On whom ought
the responsibility of organizing sucn a Cabine
to rest On the c0nfdiHg friend, who Judging
OF men by their professions selected those as it.
other, and devoted TO the success of his admins
tration, to those dcceitful Individuals who fore
seeing all the evils whc! have resulted, kept then
concealed from the President, and entered hi,
! Cabinet only because they expected such discord
and division TO arise, that ''pubc sentiment 1rouEn
concentrate" upon of their colleagues and force
his rcmovall
| The questions gravely raised and discussed
IN the public newspapers about distinguishing a
card, and invitations to Charge parties or small
ones III this city, cannot but appear matters of de
rlslon TO the American people. Who calls upon
his ncghbor, or invites him to eat and drink with
/ nm, and who does not, is Il matter of ne concern
to the people; and 10 them must appear ridiculous
that statesmen and Cabinet counscors have
thought it necessary to disturb them with matters
some importance, as developing the motives of men
and accounting for events Of higher importance
And III this view is il, that am about to Introduce
such a topic and beg to be pardoncd for doing so
Alter my marriage in January 1929, my wife and
! myself visited Philadelphia, and were absent from