Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-07-05

was much anxiety 10 possess Information ON the
subject, he requested him 10 reIle to his triends as
sembed, such facts as would enable them TO dissent
nate correct information this interesting subject
MIR. Ingham observed, that he could not r. fuse 10
comply with the request, but he would much rather
for the character OF the government and the nation
that he bad the power TO bury the whole Transaction
in oblivion. This was not now practicable aud he
would state the material facts as ninu,ely and briefly
"a he could.
90 Friday evening the seventeen b about ian ~ ork
| received no,s rom Mr.. EAlon by the hands of Mr.
Randolph, then chief clsrk in the war department. de
manding an avowai or dsavowal OF a publication 10
newspaper, without any other onnexion with the pa.
per being suggested, than tina; il was supposed 10 be
friendly me, and was published in the ei,y where
resided. could not doubt that such demand w 10
preiuds TO wlntou and premedtated farrell and Al.
though did no, unders and whe'her IA was The fact
stated in the paper, viz: that my family had refused
c associate with bis, or The hoIiy publish which
was called upon TO disayow, eho'o TO avoid pro-
longed corr spondence, and gave him my answer in
each alIernAtveY9u have probably seen the coreeg-
pondr and need not bn more pa-,icular On the
same day that my note delivere chal-
iengs viz: abou three o'clock, by tina hand, Of Mr.
Randolph the chief clerk, Acting Sscr etary of
war. Hsving company 10 dinner and until late In the
evening, sent answer that nigh; the ne a morn
ing, Sunday, the same NJ Randolph intruded himself
into my room, and threatened personal violenes If
did not answer the noie inform him that should
take my IN time % do il, and ehowed him the door,
% the following morning replied TO Mr. Eatons note
and went on; 20 take leave OF OF nv friend, in the
city, which occupied ill after one o'eock On nv re-
W iouRinSsJ L learned that Mr. u. had been
inc treasury Department In the mcTnnS, curing
when would be at the office and that he ais euquir
ed for the Tfeasuret's and went into IT, and that
ne had spent part OF his tme since about 10 O'clock
In the lower rooms OF tho Treasury Dtpa imeni, occu
pied by he Register and Ire and tina. he hal
seen In company with those officers, and had been for
the greater par o. the time stationed 10 grocery
about hall square from my lodgings, during which he
was occasionally visited by Mr.. Randolph, and by a
Mr.. Vankeek, another clerk in The War Department.
who appeared TO act The part OF viettes From the
a his nyan ~
and Mr.. Randolph, expected the ASSAULT 10 bs made
by HEM and prepared myself for that purpose.-C5lo
mel n. Iowson had been invited 10 my lodgings, and
went win rue unSrmed az witness, ana to prevent a
s"rPIise.-lbTee other young were in company !;
but directed 10 follow sons distance behind TO mr.
vest or resist an attack by Superior numbers NV SON
being the only person whose life bad any right 10 ex
pore In such conflict was by my eide both OF us we'll
prepared fer defence. eSpected the attack ia The Das
sage OF me lreaeury Department., aa Mr. Eaton had
NOT long before entered that building and after having
taken 20 much pains 10 obtain meeii.r il was scarce
~ 10 be expected that he would then avoid T.. and a,
my approach could easily have been observed. We
passed IN, however, unmoesed. Iw.nt into the Sc
coma sory 10 Tho room occupied, anl fli,ted wha,
little business had 90 close before finally len The Of
nee which had been previously fixed for that dsy.-
learned while in my room, that Mr.. Eaton and Major
Lewis, whose Offices were in another building, more
tn aquaer Of mile ant, want out Of I'M Treasu
ry dePar,m'n mt ia direction towards the Presidents
House whore Major L~wi, lived | was also Informed
iha they cano out of one of The Registers toorns-No.
hing further occurred worthy of Doce ill eveninv
GOOn dllST Gdrk L was informed, bV several
calling IN to see me, that Mr. Eaton, Mr. Randolph and
Mr.. Overon, the latter clerk in Major Lewis office
and near relative of Judge Overton of Tennessee who
was ere on visit to the President, seen appa.
reny armed, passing TO and fro the street. moi far
from nay dwelling, and sometimes passing nv door On
one occasion, while thus passing, Mr. Eaton stoned NJ
the door and looked into the passage and while stand
ing there prudenty hesitating in his purposes gentle
mao In one oil the lower rooms, (Mr--) who
resided IN the house, stepped into the passage in me
10 see Mr. Eaton st'ndng at the door and retire from
i nj al
night one oil which accepted, aud the gentleman silent
III ,ne mousse sometime between ten and eleven a
highly respectable nhabitan of the city informed me-
mat he met Mr. Eaton and six other persons
walking near the Presidents gate, whence it was con-
cluded they mad retired for the night in company with
some others VINO mad been prvy 10 the scenes OF the
day. though perhaps not actors in hem-A part OF their
conversation was overheard, which many hereafter be
imParted-on the following day finished my visits,
IN order 10 leave the city on Wednesday morning as
had appointed, In answer 10 letter written by vour
committee week before. Some time on Tuesday even
ing the same men, viz; Eaton and Randolph (and it is
beheVed ovcrton was also with them) passed and re-
passed my door frequently, looking impertinently into
the windows, and exhibiting other signs of the q3scon
ade they had been practising l found a high decree
oil eAcuemen prevailing in the city, and Information
was communicated TO me that appearance of pre.
paraon had been discovered waylay me on the road
to Baltimore i, therefore, prepared for that event
but met with no moestation.
1t occurred TO me in the evening that couId NOT with
propriety leave the city without bringing the subiec,
distinctly before the notice of the President and ad
nAnts
were such That could not remain TO be present at
the investigation he might direct, nor was it NECESSARY
was not witness TO the acts stated to him. thouSh
believed them, and still believe them to be true m
here had Deen any difficulty in procuring testimony
TO the facts, would have furnished the names of wit
nesses to any fact slated This however, is not NOW ne
cessafy. The President has thought proper 10 call nm
the three officers Of the Treasury Department, whom
represented as having been in the company OF The prn
cipal5 on that day. apd these officers, though ihey der
the truth oil my statement in general terms have each
admitted ls truth in every material particular as far
/, affected themselves have stated lha, Eaton and
Randolph alternately occupied the Treasury building in
tue treasurer and RHglsief's rooms with a view To
personN assault upoa me, which have termed as,as.
sinaon; for, although had received notiee OF Eaton,
design, did not believe that either he OF Randolpb
would Attack me-, unisss they could get behind my
back, or 10 take fome other advantage. | therefor
considered the threat cover for ds,ardlv atlemn,
to assAsna,e have not said that The Treasurer ois.
ter and 2t Auditor pfivy the design of Ea,on:
nave only said that the rooms Of the two former were
occupied by him while lying in wait and that esch o
them was in his company Now il IL admitted bv MI
Eiton that he was seeking personal reneoner with
me that day-snl the eXeulpaory siaomenls OF b /,
officers named without even the aid Of cross examine
tom leave the mind irressibly 10 infer even mora thar
| | have stated.
T. l.. Smith, the Register, says he did not give aid
snecouF 10 E'ioni bui does not deny wing Eaons
object In soming 10 The Treasury Departmsnt-W. b.
Lews, the I'd auditor, Gays he knew Of no
cy."-He does say that ne kne W nothing of Eaten,
design Mr. Campbell, u. S. Treasurer, says he did
know that a conflict expsclad but did not bsleys
| II would take Plaes that dSy-Perhsps he thought
would moi to tho Treasury after such A psrads nj
meDaced reneonirr; or that II did come perhaps he
knsw that MIR. Eaton would con,rve 10 Keen ont rt
the way as actually happened. As TO Mr.. Randolph
he Goes not deny being IN the Treasury Department
the day, aud says he only saw MI 10 ,nn,fes
at a time, boiH een and g. With ouch eauvocalton.
and admissions, 10 prepared Statements what might moi
be expected from cross examination OF all these per-