Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-11-24
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TO THE PlIgIE,.


Atcr the notice ofmc and of Il letter written J.,
me- ana published in the United States r,Icorori
OF The l9lh of August last, taken Nv ti.,. late S.
t"ry Ut War, in his "CantH Appeal - tic AIn.ri
eau fcoP'c' deem il unnecessary 10 Offer a.. oIol
oy, for what shall say IN reply to so ,u;,, Of s,I
appeal as relates to myself
MAYOR Eaton charges me With voi,;niccria,. ,.-
s'ate'ntn' 30 vindicutc the course oc NJ
tow9''s' him. From the time To- '''houn
w pu, m m0ma,'on fer III Presidency was
on to - and political friend. Wncn went
~Hngrcs in 1897, became acquainted with
Mr.. calhoun, and found nm TO be a man. as be-
novod, OF the s;rictcst honor, honesty and pario-
iisa,, and wit,ai possessing the highest order of
,1ehtS-'iualitics well calculated 10 attach TO
hhn; put what above ali ut tint time more closely
attached me TO him, the cordial and liberal sup
port which he and his fricnds gave Gen. Jackson
during Mr.. Adams administration. When |
an attempt as believed, made by NIr. Eaton and
ms friends To sacrifice such man, did volunteer
to sustain, If possible, an honorable man from un-
Just a*pcrsions. Another reason, if an additional
one could be required hya high minded and en-
!igi'encd community for MY volunteering" was,
t'at believed MAJOR Eaton and his friends had at
tempted to dciudc and mis!cad tho American pco-
pie, as to the true of the dissolution of the
'ito CABINET. | have always been in favor of calling
tihgs by their proper names and atrihuting effects
to their tsnc causes Mai. Elton says il is '.strango
tnueed, that man should prepare letter intended
10Y The press, and to affect other persons and af-
tcrw ards admit it TO be Incorrect, and offer mat
ter OF excuse that no did read it attcr wri;ng
IT, 1t Is little more strange that the late Sc.
cretary OF War should he astonishcd, At my hav-
ing written IL letter for publication without revising
the same over, when it is rccollcctod tn this same
Secretary after he had made his first report tho
Congress of the United States and Il COPY of tho
same had been laid upon each members table =
luay withdrew 1t, perhaps upon the suggestion of
some friend, that it such Il document, as would
and ought to disgrace the head Of so distinguished
Il station as he then held, and ut that lato period
undertook with tho advice and assjstance of his
friends, to revise corrcc: and model the same.
ia Eaton states that the correct letter was writ
ten by me, after ofmv friends at WASH ,u-
Ton had informed 10 that he had il in his power 10
correct 1t by most iud;sputahl, testimony. This
Charge of tho Majors, is rosifircly false for na
yer received any letter in 'ormutiou from Wash
lHg'on upon the subject before l wrote the letter
correcting tho error, which had unintcntionaIv
made in my first, nor have [ yet received any lot
ter or information from Washin gtou upon that
subject, other than what | have received from,
the Majors candid appeal. | was at the post
office at Capt. tlaynic's, when the Tec-
graph containing my first letter came to
hand, and was handed me by Cant. Inv.
ME, (wL0sc certificate Is hereto appcndcd.) Before
mad got through reading the letter, pointed out
to Sapt Hiynic, that either the printer or myself
hii made :, mistake, that held the conversation
with hlal. Eaton in Washington CITY, and not in
Tennessee. Either that day, or the day following,
/ siw Roct. james \. Bac!i.noro informed him OF
the mistake, of either the printer or myself and
requested him TO hive it corrected III the i;nllatin
Jourhal, apaPer Published il I'll ,tin, which he
dd as appears from his certificate hereto amended
In day or two wrote to the Editor Of the Tel
egrlph the corrective letter. Thus it will be, seno
hat avacd n'ysclfo the first opportunity and be-
tore L could have received the information frpr,
Washington Of which the VI ,ior spoaks to corrcct
an unln,ontional error into which [ had falleu !.
Will also be seen thatthis Distinguished ex-Secro
tarY, takes upon himsclfto charge expressly that
had received information from Washhgton Sc
tnH without any, the slightest evidence to warrant
hI!n IN so doing, and directly contrary the truth
Major Eaton says "the Gcneralhas not got his sto-
ry right yet. He still adhercs to the point that
was IN Tennessee when hoard of the death of Mr.
/, and tia: Gen. Jackson advised me to marry,
Sc"
dc not know when or whore Mai. Eaton may
have heard Of Mr.. Undertakes death. He may
have heard of it in the spring or 1923, while
boarding at Mr.. O'Nsal's, his now fltI!er.in-law,
- he and Mr. MeckIin states, and it may III ya been
rro., Washington in November tina he informed
Ce, I,cr,,on ct his intentions 10 Mrs. Timber
lake and of yh,'h the General approved-but /
well rccolect TIE reason why held the conversa-
lion with Mai. Eaton to win" a!luslon Is made in
ny letter. aud what the Major sd to me on that
occasion. Some sort time after my ARRIVAL IN
" ash!ngton in 1923, Iuridc2 ooHd that IiaI'
attended marrying Mrs. T'mberIa,,": was thef
ma had been thc warm personal and polItE.i liiehd
u Major Eaton, and being exceedingly soIicito.S
"r the success of Gen. Jacksons administration,
ma LON the various reports which in circu-
alton about Mrs. Timbcrakc, believing that |
lnion between her and Major Eaton who init
natclv .neaied with Gen. Jackson, would neces- !
;ariiv present obstacles, and difficulties to the sue
:essfnf opn,a:ons Of his administration, sug-
rested to judge y,-hitd, the colleague of Major
Eaton in the Senate ana to tins representatives
rom Tennessee, the propricty OF some one or al!
If us, as the friends OF Miior Elton ana 6 'ocrai
ackson, talking with Elton and endcavoring TO :
issuadc him from the expected marriage. | ticn
uggestsd to Judge White, as he was the oldest
nan, the propriety of his talking with Eaton on
he subject. lie said he was unwilling to do so,
nd he thought if did, | should in all probability
acur Eaton's disPleasnrc long as lived. /
hen told him, that | felt it to be my duty as the
ricnd of Eaton and Jackson and one OF the repre-
cntatIvcs of Tennessee, and that | was resolved
do 1t, let the consequences bc what they might
accordingly went to ta Capitol and invited Mai
: ton out Of the Senate Chamber into back
Dom, where told him tia: re knew that was and
'ad been his warm personal and political friend
7Hich he admittcd tcn told him that what
ad to say to him, ] was induced to say from the
ndcst and best of motives. I told him had
understood he intended marrying Mrs. Jimbcrlake.
lie admitted he did. l then told Kim frankly and
andidiy all hId understood and heard in relation
o her (Which deem it unnecessary TO relate here
ut which the Major state The thinks properly
nd then suggested to him the difficulties which his
marriage with Mrs. Tm5crlal;c would, probably
brow i'll the way of Gen. Jackson's succcesGiII
of the government and that from |
he opinions entertained of her in and about Wash
ngton, Gen Jackson might be compelled 10 aban- |
Ion or give him Up. Eaton replied, that if any
'ody supposed jackson would abandon him on !
ccount Of his marrying Mrs. Timjerlakc they
we're very much mistaken, for that in Tennessee I
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