Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-10-14

dividing the Cabinet, distracting the party,
and which pointed TO u change in the Gem
ellis of the President as necessary and inuis-
.pensable.
The secret feelings and designs with which
my colleagues entered the Cabinet, & which
while there they continued to cherish; their
notes" of private conversations, treasured
up for future and concerted use-the advice
of certain cabal, and an acquiescence in the
counsel given, TO enter into the Cabine, and
continue there for special purposes, notwith-
standing "the insuperable bar" which con-
science suggested, and the "indignity and
outrage" which had been offered and borne
for fifteen months, were all unknown TO me.
Those were secrets worth preserving, and
they we're keptclosely. Yet, entire conf
denCe was reposed, that on being informed
that MIR. Van Buren, and myself had retired,
the others would appreciate the motives
which had occasoned it, and place their oih-
ces again at the disposition of the President,
that he might organize a new Cabinet of ho-
mogeneous materials, which would not be
obnoxious TO the attacks OF any ofhis profess
ing friends, and would suffer the affairs Of
the countryQuietly to be transacted. But
these gentlemen, AUTOBIOGRAPHY now pretend
that they had been grievousiy "insulted,"
and were constantly liable to Il repetition of
the "outrage," could see no cause why they
should resign, either as it regarded their own
honor, the quiet of the President, or the har-
,nony OF his administration. Having gone
into the Cabinet TO produce discord, they
could see no reason why they should retire
from il, to restore harmony. What they had
90 long and so ardently desired, being attain
cd, (the exclusion Of Mr. Van Buren, and
myself, they were more than ever disposed
A. al.
how the Government could we'll move on
without them, and they were solicitous TO
procure some justification, which they could
plead to the people, for the injury which was
abcvt 20 result to the country, at being de-
prived OF their important services Their
honor, and the harmony ofthe Administra-
ton was quite sufficient. They must needs
place their designations solely on the will and
tho request of the President, that on his
shoulders might rest the undivided response
bility of the awful deprivation whichth the Go
vernment and the country were 10 suffer
from their retirement. Their wishes were
gratified, and desire communicated that
they should resign. Thus was the Cabinet
dissolved and thus far the country, evident
~, has sustained no injury, save in the dis
turbances and Interruptions 10 the public
which the complaints and murmurs OF this
dismissed and disbanded corps have occasion
ed. If, as has been stated, the President of
tered to two of them, Mr.. Ingham and MIR.
Branch, after their removal, places of trust
and honor, let ii be set down 10 his kindness.
not to their merits. He did notthen know
these men. He did know how ince pable they
were OF properly approaching e1ts of kind
ness. lie was ignorant they had entered his
Cabinet, all smiles and fair professions, with
daggers concealed in their bosoms. He lit
Gle knew that these persons, who were adj
United TO his familiar intercourse, had been
taking notes Of his private conversations and
Tree expressions, which had been conned o.
yer between them, and prepared and care
fully laid away for future use. He did not
in fact know they had been spies upon him
from the beginning of his Administration
hdthat, finding themselves deprived of the
means oflonger stealing into his bosom, TO
hunt out, and note down his thoughts they
were now ready for open, implacable and OK
terminating war. These things he did not
then know. Recent events have disclosed
them.
Nor didI comprehend the depth of the de-
signs OF these three gentlemen. Having re-
signed my seat in the Cabinet, and being a
bout TO retire to my residence in Tennessee,
did not calculate that should be detained /
here from my home and business, to defend |
my ci against tnelr unproVOKed attacks. In !
this was mistaken. My pursuers were re- |
solved that should not escape the sweet re-
venge, which their deep modification at the !
loss OF Office had aroused could not bear /
1t longer. Messrs. Ingham and Berrien
who were here, were in habits of daily inter |
course with the editor of the Telegraph, and !
their names being used in connection with
the abuse which was propagated by that print |
against me, conceived had "A right TO en- |
4dire, whether their names had been used,
and references to them made with their sane
Tion.
readily admit, that no imperative obi |
CATION rests upon a man 10 engage in private !
combat, merely because hc is invited 10 do
so. Public opinion sanctions such appeals, |
only when the injured party has right and
justice on his side, without other remedy. -
But man who asserts a claim to the char !
acter OF gentleman, is bound 10 act like one |
MIR. lngham did not thus act, " hen 10 plain !
and proper question, he returned an insulting !
reply, and sought "to strut the hero, and 10 !
ape tho warrior" without the capacity TO 90
through that which so improvidenily and /
rashly he had begun. never asked him to !
admit or deny, that my family and his did
or did not associate. He never so understood |
mo. IL was for the publication only and his .
supposed participation in it, that held him /
responsible. My correspondence with Mr.. !
1ngham, his degrading apprehensions, false .
charges, and ignoble retreat, have already, !
through himself, been made known 10 the |
Dublic He iS eufferinO n,erifad n,,r;si,r,o-t ]