Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-09-29
Tho charge tha. was a, asy tame tho par,issu

!. 1hc charge that was at any tame tho par,issu
sof Mr. Calhoun, utterly destitute of foundation
MIR. Eaton cannot impute to mo any act express
sion which will give the slightest countcnancc to
this assertion. In the contest of 1926 my wishes
were openly avowod, and acted upon, in favor of
MIR. Crawford The earliest measures of the adj
ninistraton, which then came into power and
more especially relation to the interests of Gcor-
gia,splaccd me iii the opposition to that admins
,ra,ion, and remained there during the contest
which succeeded. entered the Cabinet in 1899
as the political friend of Gen. Jackson, with every
disposition to fulfil tho duties, which that relation
prescribed, but with claims upon him as an
individual, ard without believing that l had in
Cured any obligations, such, from the fact of
having been called there. These duties, however
IN the view winch took of thcm independently
% all other considerations, sufficient TO pre-
cludc me from being the partisan of any man. On
the contrary, L endeavored uniformly to inculcatc
tho propricty of abstainng from all agitation of
the question, vino should be the successor of Gen.
Jackson. This exposition of my particular views
would be entirely uninportant to the public and
would not have been presented to their notice
IL Il contrary course had not been untruly imputed
to me, Tor the purpose of concealng from them tho
real causes of the dissolution Of the late Cabinet
1t is next imputed to me, an act of ngra itude
10 "iriend and bencfactor," that 1 omitted to
communicate to Gen. jackson my objections TO
the selection OF his Cabinet. The indignant feel
ing which such charge would he otherwise calcu-
lated TO excite, rcprcssed by its absurdity 1t is
due to Gen. Jackson also to state my entire convic
ton that it has received no countenancc from
hln-that IN this instance at least, Mr.. Eaton has
drawn at short sight, and upon his own resources
L have already said and il is now sufficiently man
iest to the public, that these objections so far as
Mr.. Eaton was concerned, not merely com
municated but strongly, and yet yainly, urged
upon the President, by his personal friends I
had no claim to that relation, and such Il commu
ncation on my part would therefore have been
merely nugatory. / could have no hope of chang.
ing the cast OF the Cabinet, when those who were
N no al Il
sidcnt had made the effort and failed. The only
question tor me TO decide was, whether constituted
as 1t was, 1t was my duty TO accept the Office which
was rendered to mo, and have stated, in my for
ner address, upon what advice, and under the
influence of what motives, L had determined to
do so.
Tho suggestion which considering de
mands, however, different consideration. Gen
Jackson is represented by Mr.. Eaton, as my "frisnd
and bone factor' and my conduct is denounced for
an alleged violation of the duties which he had 4
right to claim from mo in that character Now as
mad no acquaintance with General Jackson, 9th.
or than that which occurred during few DAYS ser
vice with him in the Senate in 1926 and had never
hcid any intercourse with him, except during that
PERIOD MS claim to the title of my friend and bene-
factor must have been derived solely from the fact
of his having called to the office of Attorney
General of the United States and this is no doubt
the idea which Mr.. Eaton intended to convey I
confess took different view of this matter and
l hope Gen. Jackson did / am not disposed TO
Dreten-
sion, as that which is put forth by Mr.. Eaton nor
to consider him in fact liable the serious impu-
tation which it implies. In the selection OF his ca
blnet, he was bound to consult the public interest.
III he did so, however much might be fiattered by
his good opinion, could not consider myself as
mourning debt of gratitude do doubt that
there were others who were entitled to his prefer
ence, but If he believed this, and believing it, con-
TERED the Office upon III the spirit of favortsm
he tailed to discharge his duty to the public and
Mr. Eaton is his accuser. / entered upon the du-
ties of that Office with feelings of respectful good
VIII to Gen. Jackson for the favorable opinion
winch he had indicated by the selection and with
deep sense of my obligation the Jealous and faith
ful discharge of my duty, which have endeayored
honestly to fulfil but certainly without any idea
that had been distinguished as fivoritc, or that
had incurred debt of gratitude.
The wishes of Gen. Jackson, in relation to the
Olhce oil Attorney General communicated TO
me, almost simultaneously, by Mr.. Branch, and
Mr. Eaton in each case, without any apnunciation
OF the names of my intended associates or of the
proposed policy of the Administrations The fact
winch will not be denied, that 1 asked an inter-
view with Gen. Jackson, which was accorded TO
me- for the purpose of ascertaininp these particu-
lars preliminary my decision, furnishes dis
tinct negative of Mr. Eatons assertion that an
nounced to him, on the day succeeding that which
he delivered his message my readiness accept the
ONCE which was rendered TO / did not in fact
accept IT until some time after my interview with
Gen Jackson, and recollecting that interview, he
am sure VIII not verify this assertion of Mr. Eaton.
must oe permitted also 10 deny the authorship of Ger
tanning paragraphs, extracted from the Telegraph VIII
MIR Eaton inPu'es tome Even while wriie a similar
ana equally unfoundcd impuation by the Editor Of the
ilohe, has furnished a pretence for the rbady Of
which am the object, and admonshed hat MIR
Eaton, although he has retired from tie CITY, since
gan 10 write these remarks, holds himself in readiness to
return Ihey have been sketched hastily, and
walls of exemption from various other claims upon my
time, but trust il will be found that have under
the influence of this santary caulsn In regard to the
principal charge desire saw, that what have writ
en bears my s'gnaure-and II is true also, that have
written, whatever is thus verified
rejoice TO believe that may he permitted TO
bring this address 10 close lts publication will
not be followed by reieration of the calumnles with
which have been heretofore assled; my reliance
mat these will be rendered harmless by the intelligence
OF my countTymen.
in. MACPHERSON BERRIEN
Washington, 23d Sept 1881.