Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-08-01
J. n. EATON.

WAsninoruR 18th June, 1881,
5T--l received 10 day your uotr oi lBn
night, IN which you call my slien,ion 10 an
article ia ,hs u. 8. Telegraph of the I7th in,t.
relating 10 "oar w,fe---and desiring TO know
whether Will sanction or dtsav0w that state.
ment you add, - the relation we have aus
tanned towards each other, authorizes me ~
demand an immediate answer"
10 this inquiry preferred M matter of
r'ghi, and presented 10 The form Of u demand
my answer nuSt he brief II consists IN The
simple denial ol the CLAIM which you assert.
cannot recognize your right 20 ineTroghie
me, concerning III. statements ofthe Trlegtarh,
or oil Any oiner public journal, which are made
without my Hg0nSy. You might with equal
proprie,y select nj article fran any newspaper
IN The Union, fot tbs purpose al putting me IN
.es 1ae: ss aaa1a. ne ,shg be " ;;ssrau All
the instance Of nay person apgrieved 10 give
my confession Of iaiip. IL relation 10 the voii<
oos statements TO be found 10 a0y ofihe ipuf.
malls, IN which my mama may chance 10 lbs
mentioned. Such demand, therefore, can
MOI he ada ted for moment, Bat although
I Cannot recoga ize your right, either ss deus-
cd from the relation which VIZ have sustained
towards each other, or from any other source,
TO make the demand presented by your note,
I am not quite snre, booking 10 the position
ia which we stand before the public, that csn
ucquit myself 10 the community OF TO myself
for declining 10 answer your inquiry.
In the progress Of those eyehis which have
NJ leuglh resulted IN tbs dissolution Of The
Cahinet, my discrimination has been not TO do
any ncl whica wins calculated to provoke CON
troyersy, nor to dev,atc under whatever ur-
penoy from ibs, lne Of conduct. which my
own sense Of proprioiy prescribed. Aetiog
upon this determination, ! have necessarily
nu,sued a course, which refusal 10 answer
your inquiry, might seem 10 indicate AN un-
" Willingness TO ayO~. Such an inference would
be unlusi az IL regards myself, aud usInsiVo III
relation 10 Tho po6tic. Although therefore
ba,e tbe most unaffected reluctance 10 enter
upon such subject. aud certainly do not ae-
quiesct 10 your right TO demand II, It seems -
me that you have by making ihe inquiry, int-
posed upon me tho obligation to do so, roma
ina con alteration ofwhn I owe to myself and
to the public. have then TO state 10 lou, that
an 10 The time OF your marriage. ! had not
heard tue ru:aors, which have sincs m various
forms, been presented to the public, aud was
iRnorant OF Mrs. Eaton's relation To tue soe-
ely OF this place. | accepted your invitation
10 he ptsssnt ut your wedding, Therefore, WI"
no distru., Of the pToprlety VI my dong So
other than that viii ch resulted from my own
situation at that period. fob are yoursef no
doub, aware now much that event, aod your
these rn,nors the subject OF conversation l
could not longer continue IN ignorance OF tbat
which was publicly aud generally spoken ois
and il consequently became nec.s'ss., the off.
ciaI relation 10 w ich we stood 10 each other,
10 determine upon my future conduct. in do.
ing this, il did not seem TO me 10 be necessary,
| Ia Il . eide npou the truth or talsehood Ol the
statements which were made. IL was snft-
Gent to sscertaio the general sense OF the cou'-
munity Of which | had recently become
IN member and having done 80, 10 conform to
il. la the winter Of 1880, as ! presume ~
known 10 you, | was called upon by gentle
man, who represented himself as hcli"s, anu
who | doubt not did act under tho aoihof-
ny Of tie President. to express with precise
sference to TINS subject he regret which he
leIt al the want OF harmony, or Oi social later
course among he members oi his Cabinet, a0o
TO announce ms determination al aay rate 10
have IL. M.ssIs. Ingbam aud Branch were
presen, at this interview. Ihe TACT was DIS
tinctly stated that they aud ny sell had soceess
siveIy gwen very large part'essts whieh VFs.
Eaton had uoi been invited. We were ihso
| told that on such occasions at least the Presi-
dent would expect ia future u social lntrrconfse
between our respective fahilies. 4hefe "eic
various other suggestions made ouf'Cg his
conversation, but the recspaulalio1 OF them
| 10 not rendered necessary ny 5odr Inqniry. /
answered to this communication ior ny self,
that would not permit the President. nor any
other individual TO regulate ths social inter-
course OF myself or iamlly--and thar II SUCH q
Teqnisition WAS persevered 10, would retro
from the official situation which held. la tie
interview 10 which wns invited by the Pies.
dent some days afterwards, frankly expressed
10 him 10y sls.sea1els sa9.sst. taa ne j.