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

the employneat of NY time. in the pub'ic ser
vice. As to the family of Mr.. Eaton, felt an
obligation on me not 10 say any thing to aggravate
the difficulties which he labored under. but to OBJ
serve total silence and neutrality in relation to the
reports about his wife, and to inculcate the same
course as to my family, and # any other repre-
sensations had been made to the President they
were filse. Having prescribed to. myself THIS
rnle. and always acted uponit, had done all
that the President had right to expect. That
the society of Washington was Literally orsaniz-
ed; there was but one circle, iato "hich every
person of respectable character disposed TO be So
cia was readily admitted without reference to the
circumstance of birth. fortune, or station when
operatcl in many other places. That we had
no right to exert official power to regulate us So
cial intercourse. That Mrs. Eaton had never
been received By the society here, and 1t did not
become US to force her upon 1t; that my Id
niy had therefore not associated with her u tiey
had done so with my appreciation, that The fresi-
dent ought not for the sake of his own characterize
interfere in such matters. Bat II he chose To
exert his power to force my family to visit any
BODY they did not choose to visit, he was in
terfering with that which belonged to me, and no
human power should regulate the social inter-
course of my family, by means of official or any
other power which could resist. IL could
submit TO such control should be unworthy OF
my station, and would desplse myself. That 1t
was eminently due to the char Of the Presi-
dent to have it known that he did tinterfere in
such matters, and that the course we had pursued
was preservative Of his honor and political stand
ing. had taken my ground on mature refec-
ton, as to what was due to my family, to my
friends, and to the Administration. without any
prejudice against Major Eaton or his wife, and
had fully determined not to change it, whatever
might be the consequence.
Col. J. said that he had been requested by the
President to have a conversation with the Secre-
tary OF the Navy and the Attorney General also;
bat, from what had said, he supposed it would
be Of no avail. The President had expressed
a hone that our families would have been willing
to invite Mrs. Eaton to their large parties, to
give the appearance Of all osteDsible intercourse,
adding that he was so much excited that ne was like
a roaring lion.
He had heard that lady Of foreign minister
had joined in the conspiracy against Mrs Eaton.
and he had sworn that he would send her and
her husband home if he could not put an end to
, such dones | replied, that it could hardly be
possible that the President contemplated such a
, step. Col. j. replied, that he certainly did; and
again remarked that it seemed to be useless for
him to see Mr.. Branch and Mr.. Berren. told
him that each Of US had taken our course, upon
our own views Of proprety, without concert; and
that he ought not to consider me as answering FOR
any but myself He then proposed that should
meet him at Mr.. Branch's, and invite Mr.. Ber-
rien, that evening at o'clock; which was ssreed
TO- Col. ]. came to my house about 9, and we
went up to Mr.. Berrien's having first sent for MIR.
Branch. On our way to Mr.. Berren's, col. j.
remarked, that the President had informed hm
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 DR..
Ely, of his determination; and il We did not agree
70 comply with his Wishes he would expect Us
to send in our designations Upon our arrival at
Mr. Berrien's, Col. J. renewed the subj ett N
presence of him and Gov. Branch, and repeated
substantially, though, thought rather more qua
lifedly, what he had said to me. He did not
i 90 so much into detail. nor do recolect whether
he mentioned the Presidents remarks as to the
lady above mentioned and Or. Ely--those gen.
J temen will better recoIlect. Mr.. Branch and
Mr.. Berren replied, as unequivocay as had
done, that they would never consentto have the
social relations of their families controlled by any
power whatever but their own. MIR. Branch,
Mr. Berrien. and myself, went the same even
ing to a party at Col. Towson's, where report
was current that we were to be removed forth.
IN, L
next morning. Col. J. came to my house, and said
that he ought perhaps to have been more frank
last evening, and told us positively that the Pre-
sdent had finally determined on our removal
from Office, unless we agreed at once that our ia
miles should visit Mrs. Eaton, and invite her to
their large parties; and that he had made up his
mind to designate Mr. Dickins 10 take charge ut
the Treasury Department. and Mr. Kendall to
take charge of the Navy Department, and would
find an Attorney General somewhere. observ
ed that my course was fixed. and could not be
changed for all the Offices in the Presidents gift
and It made no more difference to me than to any
other person whom the President designated to
take my place. In the evening Of the same day,
Col. J. called again. and informed me that he had
Just been it'll the President, who had drawn up
a paper explanatory of what he had intended and
expected of US; that some Of his Tennessee friends
had been with him for several hours; that his
passion had subsidized, and he had entirely chang
ed his ground: He would not insist on our fam-
lies visiting Mrs. Eaton; he only wished us to as