Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-09-30

| thrice had been kindly bestowed upon me by
my fellow citizens of Tennessee. DiStrust
| in my competency 10 discharge the duties of
one oithe Departments, and reluctance To
encounter IFS labors, induced me 10 prefer
my situation in the Senate. About 10 enter
Upon Unried scenes, with limited know
ledge OF the characters and feelings Of those
by whom he was TO he surrounded, the Pre-
sident felt anxious 10 have near him some of
his long tried personal friends, in whom he
had entire confidence. lie desired that Judge
White, my colleague in the Senate, or my
self, should accept one ofthe Departments I
urged ii upon Judge w bite, because I con
sldered him better qualified, & better adapt
ell to the station, than myself lie declined
IT. then felt it TO be duty TO accept the of
fer Of the President. lie had Just lost the
partner of his bosom, and was solitary and
dlSconsolatc. As in bis kindness he seemed
10 thinl; could bc scrviceable 10 him, il did
not seem consistent with the friendly rela-
lions which had long subss;ed between us,
! TO leave him ut such moment.
Mr.. Van Buren, was appointed, because
the President had confidence in his talents
and integrity, and because he appeared to he
The eNpectati M OF the country. Mr.. Ing
ham was selected, for the reason that the Pre-
sidont was induced to believe that the demo-
cracy OF Pennsylvania desired it.-Mr. Bar
ry, from confidence reposcd in him bv the
President, derived from his personal know
ledge oil his worth and merits Between the
! lrst and last named gentlemen and myself,
The most cordial friendship has always sub
sisted nothing has ever arisen to interrupt
| IN the least our friendly relations.
Mr.. Branch and myself were born and
reared in the same county of North Carroll
ma. educated at the same college, and had
| been associates and friends, in carly and in
more advanced life. | solicited his appoint-
ment as member Of the Cabinet, and at The
| Presidents request informed him Of the Sc
lection. ne made no objccton-not the least,
save on the score ofa modest distrust OF his
competency, and expressed nj the time much
gratitude towards the President, and exhibit
ted much good feeling towards myself
with Mr.. Bcrrien | had been on terms of
intimacy, and Supposing him to he aman Of
Talents and honor, was pleased that he was
selected. The President requested me TO
confer with him in relation TO his ACCEPT
ance AT that time VIC were in habits ofthe
klndeSt intercourse. He seemed highly flat
tered 10y this manifestation the Presidents
| confidence, and offered no objection 10 an ac-
| ceptance, except intimating Il possible in
~ 'i'iR iai9 IN ~ dtt BUSINESS. lie
next day he informed me that he would ac-
cepi, which reply communicated 10 the
President
met all The members of the Cabinet as
friends, personal and political, TO whom was
assigned the high destiny, by harmony of
feeling among themselves, of giving univ Of
design and vigor OF action TO the administra-
tIon ct General jackson. In the same Iirht
| am sure, did he consider us. In the SIN
@icneSs OF his heart and the ardor Of his pat-
rioilSm, he suspected not that there was a.
non@st us, any other object, than, by our
cordial support, to enable him in the Cabi
net, as he had done in the field, 'fo ill the
measure ofhis country's glory" Far 9th
crwisc were the feelings and purposes Of
Mcssrs Ingham, Branch and Bcrrien, as in
the course of this exposition, will, | believe,
satisfactorily appear.
MIR. Berrien in late address 10 the pub
lie, says:
"'Ihe annunciation of the names ofthe in
blended Cabinet seemed TO me, however, 10
present an insupcrablc bar to my accept
"ance Of the Office which was rendered 10
"me. thought | ioresaw clearly the evils
(which have too obviously resulted from this
"Selection. A gentleman high in the conf
'dence of the President he consult
led, expressed his decided conviction,
"loundcd on long and intimate KNOWLEDGE
"oi the Presidents character, that he would
himself speedily see, and correct the evil
GO! yielded TO those suggestions, and took NV
"scat in the Cabinet -
A writer in the TELEGRAPH, Of tho l1th Ju-
ly last, believed TO he Mr.. Berrien, sneak
ing in behalf of Mr.. Ingham, makes The fol-
lowing remarks:
pending the organization of the Cabinet,
"ihe President was informed 10y several per-
"sonS OF high Standing, and those his stronr
party supporters, that there were objections
"tO Major Eaton, which would lead 10 diff
"cultlcs not likely 10 lie removed II was
"not necessary for Mr. Ingham 10 take any
part in the affair Every one knew that
"pujllc sentiment would, in due time, CON
centratc ON what was amisS, and correct ito
In the Telegraph ofthc 2Sth July, proba-
bly, by the same writer, it is asked
SPY whose advice was it, that Judge NJ
Clean was arranged TO the War DEPART
"mcnt, before the Cabinet was announced
Gin order TO remove the 'maIign influence
(which even then threatened tie dissolution
"of the party. twas by the personal, poll
"tCal and long tried friends of the presi-
"dent, that this advice was given; and if
"was by the same advice that these gentle
"mcn retained their seats in the Cabinet, i'm
"thc confident hope that the President would
"sooner or later see his error and correct if"
These extracts carry on their face evil
dence OF common origin. If not ponned by
the same hand, they must have sprung from
the same cOunCils-were all written with the
same views, and same object, and disclose
with sufficient clcarncss TO whom | am in
debted for the long covert, and at last open
al fa 4 lie Il 4