Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-07-27


called again, and informed that he had Just been
with the President, who had drawn up paper explana
tory OF what he had intended and expected of that
some of his Tennessee friends had been with him for
several hours that his passion had subsidized and he
had entirely changed his ground: lie would not insist
on our families visiting Mrs Eaton he only wished us
to assist in putting down the ISLANDERS against her that
he believed her innocent, and he thought families
ought to do what they could TO sustain her. if they
could not visit her. and that he wished see me the
next day Col j. added, that the President had been
exceedingly excited for several days. but was now per-
tectly calm and mild The next day waited on the
President and opened the subject by stating that Col
Johnson had informed me that he wished to me to
whch ne assented, and went into long argument to
show how innocent woman Mrs Eaton was and how
much she had been prosecuted, and mentioned the
names of number of ladies who had been active in this
persecution, and that tho lady of foreign minister
also one OF the conspiratos adding that he would send
her and her husband home and teach him and his mas
ter mat the wife OF member of his cabinet not to
be thus treated; that Mrs f. pure and chase az
Mrs Donelsons infant daughter, but there was COM
Dlnation here among number of ladies' not those of
the Heads OF Departments to drive her of society,"
and to drive her husband out of Office but he would
be cut into inch pieces the rack before he would
suffer him his wife TO be injured by their vile ca
lunnies; that he was resolved TO have harmony in his
CABINET, and he wished to Join in putting down the
ISLANDERS against Mrs Eaton observed 10 the Presi-
dent, that had never considered it incumbent on me
TO investigate the character of Mrs Eaton; such
vice did not, in my Judgment within the scope
OF my duties TO the governments it belonged society
alone TO determine such matters The power of the
Administration could not change the opinion of the
community If IL could be properly used to con-
troll the relations of domestic life in any case The
society OF Washington must be the best Judges of
whom II ought 10 receive regretted the difficulties
which Major Eaton laboured under and had felt to
be my duty not to aggravate them. had intended at
an early day TO have had conversation with him on
the subject with view 20 have social relation de-
fined, but opportunity had offered without yolun-
teerng one and II had not been done in that way The
course had taken was, however, adopted with great
care TO save ms feelings as much as possible, consis
tently with what due TO my family and the COM
munity with which we associated. | considered
the charge OF my family to be sacred trust belonging
exclusively to myself as member of socisty. The adj
mnistraton had nothing to do with it. more than with
that OF any other individual, and political power could
not be properly eIerted over their social intercourse
and 1t was important 10 his reputation have under
stood that he did not interfere in such matters. That
was not aware of any want of harmony in the Cabinet
had not seen the slightest symptom of such a feeling
IN ITS deliberations and perfectly certain that ma
oihcal conduct had never been influenced in the slight
est degree by feeling of that nature. no ground
therefore, for the least change my part this respect
10 which the President replied in changed tone that
he mad the most entire confidence in my integrity and
capacity in executing the duties of the Department and
expressed his perfect satisfaction, in that respect with
my whole conduct; he had never supposed for a mo-
ment that my official acts had been influenced in the
least degree by any unlind feelings towards Mai Ea-
ton and he did not to insist families visit
ing Mrs. Eaton He had been much excited for some
time past by the combination against her. and he wish
ed us to AID hlm In putting down their SANDERS adding
that she excluded from of the invitations to
parties and, when invited she insulted that the
lady OF foreign minister before referred to had in
suited her at Baron krudeners party remarked that
injustice might be done TO that lady on that ocoa-
slon although she might associate with Mrs
Eaton, did not think she intended to insult her .she
might have supposed that there some design, not
altogether respectful to herself in the offer of the at
tendance to supper of the Secretary of War whose wife
she did not visit instead that of the Secretary of State
which, according to the usual practice she probably
considered herself entitled to- was present and saw
most Of what had happened She evidently thought
herself aggneved at something, but acted with much
dignity the occasion. | saw no apDearance of in
suit offered to Mrs. Eaton He replied that he had
been fully informed and knew all about il and but for
certain reasons which he mentioned, he would have
sent the foreign Minister before referred to- and his
wife, home Immediately. After further CONVEX
saton on this and other matters, in which considered
the President as having entirely waived the demand
made through Col Johnson that nv family must visit
Mrs Eaton, the condition for my remaining in Office
and IN which he expressed himself in terms of personal
kindness towards me- / took my leave He did not
show me, or read, any paper the subject"
The public will now, think be at no loss to deter
mine upon the true state of the facts of this case Mr.
1nghams very full statement is taken from notes made
at the tune, and which were shown to shortly after
they were made. In repeated conversations with Mr.
Branch, our recollectons found to concur. The
transaction was OF nature calculated to awaken all my
attention, and to impress itself ndeiby upon my me
mory. claim no benefit therefore, from any supposed
mperfection of this faculty. and expect to be believed
because speak the truth.
In relation TO the statement that the paper drawn up
~ 'no vi the Iesiuent was SHOWN 10 me,
the DENIAL OF which most explicitly repeat, if charity
is to perform her holy Office in reconciIng these con-
ictng assertions, it is much easy to believe that
the memory of the President may have failed on this
occasion lie saw and conversed with various persons
this subject, and has TO rely upon his memory for
the fact of having shown this paper TO different ind
viduals Each Of those indirduas is required only to
speak for himself The nature of the transaction was
such that it could not have escaped the recollection of
either of them.
II was impossible if such paper had been shewn,
not to have demanded and to have persevered in the