Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-08-18
R'H. NJ. JOHNSON.

j Obeuieut servant.
R'H. NJ. JOHNSON.
BLUE SPRING, JULY 81. 1861.
/ Dea, SIR Yours at the 10th inst.
was this day received. accompanied bv
n statement. which. IL seems. Won have
prepared for the Public, purportiug to
contain separate conversations, with
the President and myself, relative to
an allegation made in the public jour
mails. that General JAG kson had author
'zed member Of Congress TO require
ct Nessrs. Berrien, Branch, and your.
sell, and your families, to associate
with '!r. Eaton, and his family. un-
der the penalty Of being dismissed
from Office. You refer To two ar.
ticles in tie Globe TO justify your ap.
peal to the public, previously TO re-
ceiving my answer, in which it appear
ed that had denied the above allega.
ton. If it had any allusion to me. AZ
ter the publication Of this accusation
/ against General Jackson, l received u
letter from frieE,l, ia,imating that I
was the member Of Congress to whom
ailusion was made, and requested tn
j know 1t had ever made such n COM
munication. In my answer, con-
fined myself tn the specific accusation
thus publicly made against the Presi.
dent, and which ia attributable to
Yourself, and most uncquivocaily de.
MED that General Jackson ever made
such requisition through me, aud as
positively denied having ever made
such statement to you. On the con-
trary, asserted and now repeat.
did inform you. in each and every in
terview, that the President disclaimed
any right or intention to interfere in
any manner whatever with the regula
ton Of your private or social inter.
course.
| Thus, in matter in which I was
engaged to serve you and other friends.
IN matter Of delicate and highly
confidential nature. and in which |
succeeded, unexpectedly found my
self presented in the public journals
as a witness, impeaching one Of those
friends, and ascribing TO him declara
tons which lie had never made and
placed in that attitude by You, self
respect and self-defence called upor
me To correct that erroneous statement
| cannot. therefore, agree with you,
that | did in any degree change my
+ view Of the subject in considering i,
improper in any Of the parties to come
before the public without the opportu
nifty of comparing our different recol
lections. But if you feel under an,
obligations Of a personal or political
character to come before the public
previously, you will find me as ready
as yourself TO meet any responsible,
or difficulty which such a course NAV
produce. Up to this date, have con
sIdcred my correspondence with YOU
and MIR. BerrIen OF a character not {,
be divuiged to any one, and have there
lore confined 1t TO nv own bosom. -
) The object Of my first letter to you
was To declare frankly and candidIv
in the spirit of perfect respect ard
friendship, that I was misunderstood,
provided was the member of Con.
gress To whom reference was made.
that you might have it in your powc.
to correct your misapprehcnsiou Of M
communications.
did not see how it could impeacf
your character or lessen your rcputa
ton TO consider and acknowledge il rs
a mistake. without your assumption oi
the ground that you understood me
better than did myself, and that you
could make the public believe so. NJ,
standard Of confidence and friendship
: arising from personal and politics
intimacy OF twenty years, would have
; dictated that course 20 me. Such 4
course could have been injurious I,
none, and less troublesome TO all. -
But, so Tar IA | am concerned, I fee
) perfectly willing to take the course
, d"pted by Yourself, Of placing our view,
, before the public. do not, however
think that II will he much benefited
by our labors ; and | am farther IN
duced to believe that the public vii
place less value upon the controver.
~ than you do. In denying the con
hdential character Of eur converse
Tons, you urge, az one consideration
that the intimaiion To invite Maiol
Eaton and his family 10 your large par
ties was offensive. although ydu or,
Kind enough 10 believe that did not s,
intend IL: IL the nature Of the sug
,, ges'ion changed IN your mind IL,
character of the conversation, aud th,
relation Of that perfect friendship vhicl
had so long existed, would il not hay,
been magnanimuus and generous IL
you To- have advised me Of IL! nov
come 10 the material point in contro
) versy--whether Gen. Jackson, througI
me. rsqoitcd Of you 10 invite Msjo
Eaton and his family TO your lafg,
! parties. This suggestion was mad,