Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-09-19
MR.. EATON'S REPLY,
10 .Mssrs. InghGm, Branch, and Bsrrisn,
DISSOLUTION OF THE LATE CABINET.
CRY or WAsuINGroN, !
September, 1881. I
TO THE PUBLIC:

III THE PUBLIC:
1t is with eNtrone reluctance that a p
pear before the public upon subject purely of per
sonal charastcr. To me, nothing could be mora
painful than the necessity of bringing into Discus
sion, in the newspapers, any thing which concerns
my priYa'c and domestic relations. In civilized
society, mans house in his castle, and the crc lie
of his family sanctuary never to be violated He
who drags before the public It's helpless inmates,
and subjects them to rude assaults, deserves TO be
considered worse than Il barbarian Against those
who commit such sacrllege, and shun an honora-
bio accountability, the public will justify appeal
which, under other circumstances, might not be
considered admissible l expect not by this effort
20 silence those who have been assaIling ali that is
dear to me. 1t may open afrcsh the fountains of
their abuse 1t is probable, that the very remorse
and shame which an accurately drawn picture NAV
produce, vii! excite my prosecutors to raise clounds
OF fresh saluinnicS to break upon with rcdoubcd
fury Let 1t all como! my head IS uncovered, and
my bosom bare.
There is another consideration which would
seem to impose srncc. These are times of angry
political contest, unsuted 10 dispassonate inquiry.
Already have the enemies of the President made
use OF my private relations to iniure and hurrass
him. In attempting to represent him as dcvoting
his thoughts and his power to further my views
and wishes, they seek to blind the people to he
principles and acts OF his administration. They
Will doubtless seize upon my humble efforts at self
VindIcaton as means OF promoting that design, Sc
rIousiy calculating by their Vaccinations, that the
people of the Emitted States NAV be wroupht into
compost of passion" and :hus induced to forget
the signal success of his foreign negotiations and
the unparalleled prosperity and happiness, which
under his administration, our country enjoys.
But 10 all these consequences L submit myse
with entire resignation. \ portion of the com,nu-
nifty will at least do Justice. They will perceive
that the President is i'll need of any develop
ments from me to give proofs Of his integrity and
that II is not for his sake that present myself Ee
fore the public. 1t is paramount duty which
owe to myself and to my family, and which shall
be performed Others may conceive, but cannot
describe the pain those attacks have inflicted 1t
was indeed enough that assaulted in private
circles, while was Office; but retiring from its
labors, with view TIC sit down at my home in
Tennessee, it was but reasonable expectation To
indulge, that might escape a repetition OF these
assaults, and be permitted to enjoy my trcsidc and
friends in peace. But instead of putting AZ, end
TO this unfecling VIA, my resignation served to
make my enemies bold. WHAT before was
whispered III dark corners, now gIared in the CO.
lumnS OF the newspaper. Men who had been INV
triends-who had received favors at my hands
who had Partaken of the inequalities of nv house,
and given pledges of friendship at my own board
became my deadlicst enemies, while still cunfided
III them. 1 sought that redress which WronpS
public opinion, under such circumstances has
always justified. 1t refused in wav
winch added insult to injury; and | then acclI-
scd, by one of the malignant calumniators as hav-
ing sought revenge at the head OF band of assas-
SINS. Not satisfied with privately injurinr me in
my own, and the honor of my household, and
Shrinking from an honorable and just accountable
ty, these persons have, one after another, come
DeioFe the public to give countcnancc and sanction
10 the calumnics of reckless press. Mr.. Inphun
Mr. Branch, and Mr.. BurriCn, with evident concert,
and deliberate design by filling the Country with
erroneous and discoored statements and substitu-
ting taschood for truth, have sought to consum-
mate the ruin which their conduct III Office SO in
sidously began.
What can do? What course adopt? There
are persons committed to my charge who dear
tp ms / am tIptr liz,
them worse than murdered, by men who claim the
polish and the culture of civilized lie and not lift
my hand and my voice for their rcscuc2 These
gentlemen express desire to preserve their CHAR
actcrs as precious inheritance for their children.
Is the good name of mother, Of less value to her
orphan daughtcrs7 Did they forget that she whom
so rccntlessly they pursue, and who in nothing
ever wronged them, has two innocent little chill
Gren, whose father lies buried on a foreign sEore7
Had these little ever injured them? Were
they and their mother much i'll the way Of these
gentlemen that III their malignty they should cor
sent to sap The foundation Of their future prospcct
III lIic' Had they no remorsc, i'll conspIrinr and
seeking to rob them Of all that vIllainv and fraud
had Lett thcn-thc Inheritance of a mothers rc oJ
nn!nci And it they could be stimulated in their
dauFcsacs to the public, by the desire Of transmit
ting 10 their children uspotcss honor and smiled
name, what might not be expected OF me, in de
fence Of the slandcrcd wife of my bosom and her
helpless, unprotected cndrcn7 Attacks OH rlvs,if
disregard mans character is in his own hands:
" 4' oOSNi'A iic hiONS now TO protect NJ. IT Is by
his own acts ouly, that he can he degraded Not
so with Il female. The innocent and the ,r1iltv
alike, the Cuvcnomcd tongue Of slundcr may reach
and destroy IL IS whitening blast, which can
blight the sweetest rose, as well as the most MOI
some weed.
Although expect nothing ut the hands Of those
who en- violate the laws Of social life and all the
ProcePts OF "hOy charity" yet render their future
mdllgnity Powcricss This induces INC to make
TINS appeal TO my cOuutrymcn, and to their award
TO trust IT. There IS in tho public mind intuitiyc
honor--1 native sense ot justice, which ycvolts at
Wanton attacks on female character, and IN, the
end viii visit the unicoling ASSISTANTS with terrible
rciribuiion. To these appeal and on these rclv:
not ~ the hope to silence the malignant and t6,
yndictlvo, but to make their attacks TO rccoi upo
themselves
\ place IN Gen. Jaccson's cabinet bv me. was
never desired. My ambition was satisfied with y
scat III the Senate, which thrice had been kindly
bestowed upon IHc, Ivy my fellow citizens Of Ten
ncssce. DIstrust in my competency 20 DISCHARGE
tac duties OF one Of the Departments, and a rcluc
lance TO encounter IFS abors, induced me to prefer
my situation IN the Senate. About TO enter up,u
tH1 arena OF untricd scenes, with limited knCv,f
edge OF the characters and feelings Of those bv
whom he was TO be surrounded, tue President felt
inXious to 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 myself, should accept one Of the Depart
nents. urged il upon Judge White, because