Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-07-27

ces may appear most likely TO meet your own wishes
have now only to add, that in making the statements
OF these conversations have relied not merely the
ndelible impressions made my memory but on me-
moranda put on paper at the time 1 have not the
slightest recollection or any note OF your having adj
ve:ted TO any fact circumstance alleged by General
Jackson YOURSELF evidence of unkind feeling for
much less hostility to- n conspiracy against Mai Ea.
ton ON le part of Mr. Branch, Mr. Berrien, or myself
orof any want of harmony in the Cabinet other than the
simple and isolated fact, that families did not visit
Mrs. Eaton and invite her to their parties Nor have
any note recollection of any proposition made by
you TO individually. or Jointly with the other gen
uemen, means of removing the alleged difficulties
other than that families should visit Mrs Eaton and
invite her to their large parties but persuade
myself that my statement will call to mind matters
winch may nave escaped your recollection, and satisfy
your Judgment that, whatever may have been the
re Of yonr instructions, could not have understood
them differently from what have.
have the honor to be, very respectfully your obi
serv't.
s. d. INGHAM
Hon. RIcmARD Nj. JOHNSON.
Mr. lNcHAMs Statement, copy Of iclich enclosed
i his lciter To- Col Johnson.
On Wednesday, the 9th of January, 1881 Colonel
Johnson of Kentucky, waited on me in the Treasury
Department, and after preliminary conversation
IN winch he expressed his great regret that my family
and that of Mr. Branch and Mr. Berrien did not visit
Mrs Eaton, he said that il had been subject of great
excitement with the President, who had come TO the
determination of having harmony in his Cabinet by
some accommodation of this matter. He, Col John
nj lie
request of the President, to see whether any thing
could be done who toug that when our Ladies gave
parties they ought to invite Mrs. Eaton and as they
had never returned her CALL if they would leave the
flrst card, and open formal intercourse in that way
the President would be satisfied but unless something
was done of this nature, he had doubt indeed he
knew, that the President resolved to have harmo
NY, and would probably remove Mr.. Branch, Mr. Ber-
ren, and myself | replied TO Col. Johnson that in all
matters of official business having any connection
Herewith, considered myself bound to maintain an
open frank, and harmonious intercourse with the
uemen was associated with. That the President had
right TO expect the exerton of my best faculties and
the employment of my time in the public service. AS
TO the family of MIR. Eaton felt an obligation on me
not TO say any thing to aggravate the difficulties which
he aboured under but TO observe total silence and
tality IN relation to the reports about his WIFE and
incucate the same course to my family and if any
other representations had been made to the President
they false. Having prescribed myself this rule
and always acted upon il, had done all that the Pres
dent had right to expect That the society of Wash
ington was literally organized there but cir
Gle, INTO which every person of respectable character
disposed to be social readily admitted, without re-
ference to the circumstances of BIRTH Fortunes station
which operated in many other places That we had
no right to exert official power to regulate its social in
tercourse. That Mrs Eaton had never been received
by the society here, and it did not become force
her upon it that my family had therefore associated
with her, and they had done with my appropriations
and that the President ought not for the sake of his
own character, to interfere in such matters But if he
chose to exert his power to force my family visit any
body they did not choose to visit, he interfering
with that which belonged to me, and no human power
should regulate the social intercourse of my family, by
means of official or any other power which could re-
sist II could submit to such controul | should be
unworthy of my station, and would despise myself
That it emnently due the character of the Pre-
sdent to have it known that he did not interfere in
such matters, and that the had pursued was
preservatiVe of his honor and political standing had
hken my ground on mature reflection, to what was
due to my family to my friends, and to the Adminstra-
ton without any prejudice against Major Eaton, his
wife, and had fully determined not to change it, what
ever might be the consequence
Col. j said that he had been requested by the Pres
dent to have conversation with the Secretary of the
Navy and the Attorney General also but, from what
had said, be supposed it would be of no avail The
President had expressed hope that families would
have been willing to invite Mrs. Eaton their arge
parties to give the appearance of ostensibe inter-
courses adding that he much excited that he was
like roarlg lion. He had heard that the lady of
foreign minister had Joined in the conspiracy against
Mrs Eaton, and he had that he would send her
and her husband home if he could not put an end to
such dongs replied, that it could hardly be possible
that the President contemplated such step Col j.
replied that he certainly did and again remarked that
it seemed TO be useless for him to see Mr. Branch and
MIR. Berrien. told him that each of had taken our
course, upon our own views of proprety, without
cert; and that he ought not to consider
ing for any but myself He then proposed that should
meet him at Mr. Branchs and invite Mr. Berrien that
evening at o'clock which agreed to. Col. j.
came TO my house about 6, and went up to Mr. Ber-
Tiens, having first sent for Mr. Branch. On our wav
TO Mr. Berrens, Col. j. remarked that the President
had informed him that he would invite Mr.. Branch Mr.
Berrien and myself. to meet him on the next Friday
when he would inform us, in the presence of DIR. Ety.
of his determination and if did not agree TO com
ply with his wishes, he would expect to send in our
designations Upon arrival at Mr.. Berriens Col. J.
renewed the subject in presence of him and Governor
Branch, and repeated substantially though thought,
rather more qualifedly, what he had said to me- He
did not 90 much into detail, do recollect whe-
Their he mentioned the President remarks to the lady
above mentioned and DR.. Ely-those gentlemen will
better recolect Mr.. Branch and Mr.. Berrien replied,
unequivocaly had done, that they would never
h,so