Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-07-26

binet, and uc Nishod Us 10 JOIN in putting down
the ISLANDERS against Mrs. Eaton. observed +.
the President, that had never considered it in.
cumbcnt on me to investigate the character re
Mrs. Eaton; such service did not, in nv iudr
ment. come within the scope Of my duties TO IN
it belonged to society alone to do
termlne such matters. The power Of the ADM.
nlstration co1ld not change the opinion of ho
community. even if it could be properly used "a
coatruI the relations of domestic life in any case
The society Of Washington must bc the hes,
judges Of whom it ought TO receive. ! regretted
The difficulties which Major Eaton laborcd under
and bad felt it to be my duty not TO agsrays,c
them. had intended at an early day to have
had a conversation with him on the subject. with
view to have our social relation defined, but M
opportunity had offered. without yolunteerino
one, and il had not been done in that way The
course had taken was, however, adopted with
great care. To save his feelings as much as poss.
Die. consistently with what was due to my FAM.
". aud the community with which we were asso
caed considered the charge of nv family "a
be sacred trust, belonging exclusively to nv.
self as member Of society The adminis.,a
ton had nothing to ia with it, more than vii,
that of any other individual. and political powc;
could not be pr"pcTiy exerted over their sOcnl
intercourse, and it was important to his reputs.
ton to have it understood that he did dot interfere
in such matters. That was not aware of any
want of harmony in the Cab;net; had no, seeg
the slightest symptom Ut such feeling in lis d.
Iiberations. and was perfectly certain that mo-
official conduct had never been influenced IN Il.
slightest degree by feeling Of that nature.
saw no ground, therefore, for the least change
on my part in this respect. To which the Pre-
sident replied. in changed tone, that he had
the most entire confidence in my integrity and
capacity in executing the duties Of the Depart,
ment, and expressed bis perfect satisfaction. in
that respect. with my whole conduct; he had ne.
yer supposed for moment, that my Official act:
had been influenced ~ the least degree BY any
unkind feelings towards Major Eaton; and he
did not mean to insist on our families visiting
Mrs. Eaton: He had been much excited, for some
time past. by the combination against her, and
he wished US to aid him in putting down their
ISLANDERS. adding, that she was excluded from
most Of the invitations TO parties, and, when in.
vited, she was insulted, that the lady of for
eign m.niser. before referred to. had insulted
her at Baron Krudener's party. remarked, that
some injustice might be done to that lady on that
occasions; although size might not choose to assoc
ate with Mrs. Eaton, did not think she intended
to insult her; she might have supposed that there
was some design, not altogether respectful to
herself, IN the oifrr ct the attendance to suppero
the Secretary of War, whose wife she did not VI
sit instead Of that Of the Secretary of State, which
according to the usual practice she probably con.
sidered herself entitled to. was present, and saw
most OF what had happened. She evidently thought
herself asgrieved at something. but acted with
much dignity ~. The OCCASION. saw no appearance
Of insult offered to Mrs. Eaton. He replied tbath
had been fully informed, and knew all about it,
and but iur certain reasons which he mentioned
he would have sent the foreign Minister before re-
fcrrea to- and his wife. home Immediately. Ate
some further conversation on this and other mat
tcrs, in Which | considered the President as hH
ing entirely waived the demand made through CO..
Johnson. that nv family mast visit Mrs. EatoD,a
the-condi!ion for my remaining in Office, and ID
which he expressed himself in terms Of person.
kindness towards me, took my leave. lie d.
not show me, OF read, any paper on the subjed
The public will now, think, be at no loss t. 4
determine upon the true state of the facts OF this
case. Mr.. Ingbam's very full statement is taksi
from notes made at the time, and which were
shown to me shortly after they were made. ID
repeated conversations with Mr.. Branch, oarre'
collections were found to concur. The transac I
ton was of nature calculated TO awaken all or +
attention, and to impress itself indeIibly upoup'
memory. / claim no benefit, therefore, from a1'
supposed impeifection OF this faculty, and esPsc
to be believed, because speak the truth.
In relation to the statement that the paper draw
up in the hand writing Of the President vi
shown to me, the denial Of which most explicit :
y repeat, If charity is to perform her holy oha
in reconcling these conflicting assertions. it,
much more easy to believe that the memory oil "
President NAV have failed on this occasion h
saw and conversed with various persons on tb'
subject, and has TO rely upon his memory Tor "
fact ofhasing shown this paper to different nf' b
duas. Each Of those individuals is require" +
~ 10 speak for himself. The nature Of the fF'i'
action was such that it could not have e;c'f'
the recollection Of either Of them.
II was impossible if such a paper had X s.
shewn. not to have demanded, and to have Tss
Il.