Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-09-03

| put pontlcal harmony did not exist. General Jackson was known to be partial to his bosom friend Eaton and to MT Van Buren, in both of whom he placed unbounded confidence, while Messrs Ingham, Branch and Berrien, were known to be opposed to Mir Van Buren, and supportersof MT Calhoun. Could har- mony prevail in such cabinet Besides, the moment the correspondence of Mir Calhoun appeared, the members of the Cabinet took a more open and decided part, and each party began to strive to make their respective off, ces, their influence, and their patronage, sub servient to their views, and to the views of their principals Under such circumstances what'was General Jackson to do Could he proceed with the Executive Department of the Government in manner beneficial to the country :? No. Could he restore harmony among the members of his cabinet , This he attempted, and failed; and why did he fail? Because of the hoAticai and not of the faDliLv dlscord, which existed among the members of his cabinet.
 TIV.
 The correspondence discloses the fact, that an attempt was made by General Jackson to reconcile the members of his cabinet And for this attempt he is accused of gross vio- latlon ot the laws of social intercourse The accusation is brought forward by Messrs Ing ham, Branch and Berrien, and dsclaime ed by General Jackson and Col. Johnson. We ne- yer had any confidence in the asseverations of MT lngham, nor of Mir Branch. Ever since the connection of the first named individual with the A. B. plot, and his support of Nirian Edwards, we have held him as unw orthy the confidence of the American people: we la mented, therefore, his appointment by Gene ral Jackson to the Treasury Department MT Berrien is the only one of the three enti- tied to credit and consideration. But as he is found in bad company, he Can blame but him self, if his name is coupled with those of his colleagues, in this disgraceful transaction. - We believe General Jackson and Col. John son deserving of equal credit and considera- ton, and both these gentlemen unequivocallv declare, that no intention existed on the part ot the President, to compel Messrs Ingham, Branch and Berrien to associate with the fami- ly of MT Eaton. The language of Col. John son is still more emphatic, he says, that, if he had ever communicated such an idea to either MT lngham, MT Branch, or Mir Berrien, he should have done the most palpable, ioss, and wanton injustice to the President; for the President disclaimed on all occasions, any right, or desire. or intention, to regulate the private or social intercourse of his cabinet.- There is no man more honorable than Col. Johnson There is none certainly more hon orable than Gen. Jackson: both are well known tothe people of the United States; and well known to have neverbeen before concern ed, as MT lngham and his friends were once, in any dishonorable transaction: both there fore are to be believed in their assertions.
 TV.
 But could not General Jackson, as private individual, make the attempt to reconcile the members of his cabinet, especially if the points of difference wereof a private nature? and by that means introduce social harmony, mutual regard, and mutual good will, among men he believed to be his friends? He did make the attempt; and failed, because the most inn portant points at issue in the cabinet were of a political and not of private nature. Let us bear in mind then that the members of the Cabinet were politically divided, and that Messrs Eaton and Van Buren formed one par ty, and Messrs Ingham, Branch, and Berrien, the other party, and both endeavoring to make the patronage of their respective offi- ces, as well as their influence, subservient to their own views, or to the views of those for whom they acted and from whom they ex- pected to be rewarded, should they succeed in their schemes. Messrs Ingham, Branch, and Berrien, easily ascertained that MT Ea- ton was bosom and devoted friend of the President, and as such must exercise much influence with him. MT Eaton was the friend of Mir Van Buren, and MT Van Buren was becoming a formidable obstacle to MT Cal houn's aspiration to the Presidency, after the retirement of Gen. Jackson. What was to be done in such circumstance? The pack ing away of MT Eaton to Tennessee, was the surest and quickest mode of clearing the stage for MT Calhoun to act his part without much opposition: for without the assistance of MT Eaton, MT Van Buren could not exer else that influence with the President, which MT Calhoun believes has been the cause of the dissolution of the friendly ties which ex isted between him and General Jackson.- The President clearly intimates, as it will be seen in the correspondence, that he had been induced to believe, that a part ot his cabinet had entered into deep laid scheme to drive Major Eaton from his cabinet, and this scheme he resented as personal insult, because 1t was aimed at man known to be his personal and devoted friend. Whether the scheme was, or was not actually entered into, we are not informed. But where is the man in the United States, placed as General Jackson was, who would not have resented the insult intended: Where is the man who would not have felt for his friend, for friend of twenty years standing, whose friendship has been tested, and proved always true? General Jackson felt the indignity offered to him, in the person of his friend; it was censuring the choice he had made of that friend for mem Der of his cabinet, after approving 1t, by sit ting with him at the council table; 1t was dlc- tating to the President what he had to do, in regard to the misunderstanding which had ari- sen between the members of the cabinet; and it was giving to the chief magistrate no other alternative, but to dismiss that friend, or'to accept the resignations of the three dissats fled members of the Cabinet But Messrs Ingham. Branch and Berrien. aware of the