Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-09-27
MIR. BERRIEN's REPLY TO Mr.. EATON.

WasH1NGToN, 29th July, 1881.
SIR: The difficulty Of meeting with any person
here who is unconnected with The Government,
and whom can ask to be the bearer OF the enclo-
sed letter, induces me 10 commit it to Mr.. Echois,
one of my, family. Considerations OF domestic
nature have prevented NE from cOmu unicatlng
TO him ITS contents. l assure myself. however,
of its proper delivery, by placing it under cover,
TO your address, aud lnstructing Mr.. Echos to
deliver the package only to YOURSELF
lam respectfully, SIR,
Your Obdt. servant.
in. MACPHERSON BERRIEN.
= To General ALEXANDER HUNTER.
Mr.. Bsrriens .4aswer 10 Mr. Eaton's Challenge.
WAsHINGroN, 25th July, 1881.
SIR: Your note of yesterday date was dellv-
cred to me by Gen. Hunter.
will waive at this time any observations on
the language and stvle Of that note, or upon any
statement not necessarily connected with your
present. demand, which it contains. make two
exceptions to this waiver, and remark first, that
in your account Of the interview between US, on
the occasion of rendering to me the office OF Attor-
new Genera, YOU have omitted to state, that your
communication was confined to that single point;
that neither the names of the members nj the "a.
binet nor the prnCi pies on which Gen. jackson
intended to administer tie Government were
mentiound Ia me. but that for these and all other
matters which might influence my decision upon
the invitation which had been given to me, was
referred to the President himself take the oc-
casion to add also, with reference To YOUR pre-
sent demand, however, that do not acquesce in
YOUR Interpretation of that sentence in my ad-
dress 10 the public, which it is stated that the
annunciation OF the names of the Cabinet seemed
70 me - to present an insupcrabe bar to my &C
ceptapce of the office, which had been rendered
80 me-
And now, Sir. | will reply to the residue of your
mute. You rest the demand which you have made,
as understand it, upon the allegation, that have
riveu couuteoance and sanction to what you de-
nominate the base ISLANDERS, which have been pro-
pogated against yun in your domestic relations,
and YOU say that this has been done in my address
10 the public, By speaking of these rumors, as
evils which presented an insuperabe bar to my
entering the Cabinet. and stating that my assent
was finally given under tie persuasion that the
President would speedily see and correct the evil
The wrong teen Of which you complain, consists
in NV having stated to the public, you suppose,
that your introduction into the Cabinet was an
evil, in consequence Of the reports which were IN
circulation in relation to your family. and that tor
this cause had hesitated to take place III 1t,
and had finally acqoiesced, under a belief that
this evil would be speedily removed. state the
ground which YOU have taken, thus distinctly, not
for the purpose Of discussing it with you, but that
- the American People, to whom You refer as
arbiters of the propriety Of your conduct, may be
enabled at once to see the principle on which you
rest your claim to demand satisfaction from me,
and having done this, will proceed to explain to
YOU why will not now reply tot.
You took an early occasion after my return to
this place to make the demand which gave rise to
our former correspondence. That was demand
for the avowal or disavowal of statement, that
nv family had refused to associate with yours.
met this by the avowal ohich you called for;
stated the occasion on which had given this re-
tusal, and the determination which had express
sed to leave the Cabinet, rather than to yieldit.
held myself ready at that time to answer any just
demand which you should make upon me. founded
upon this refusal, or the avOwat oft You made
none. On the contrary, after having my answer
four DAYS in your Professionalism having. as you
tell me-. given to it "a full and calm considera-
tion," YOU replied to it in the spirit Of peace. and
terminated the correspondence by anote written
m the same spirit Up to that'period yourclaims
upon ME were, then, at an end. Since that time,
the letter of Colonel Johnson, the misrepresenta-
tons of paper published under the eve OF the
President. and finally statement in relation to
myself personally. have compelled me 10 appear
to the public. That appeal is now pending. 1t
places me in positions and imposes upon me new
duties Under the alleged authority of the Pre-
sident of the United States, issue has been ten
dered to me, the decision of which is vitality i'm
portant to my own character and to the public in-
terest. 1t is at such moment, and under such
circumstances, that your demand is presented to
me. The American people. to whom you appeal,
will not fail to perceive and to note, both the
time and circumstances under which it is made.
My answer is, that have higher duties to per-
form both to myself and to the country, than any
which your demand, even concediug to be right
full, ION which subject express no Opinion.) can
impose. / will not be diverted from the fulfil
ment of these duties. When that purpose shall
have been accomplished. will attend to your
demand. with disposition promptly to repair
any wrong which l may have inflicted.
am, Sir, your obdt. servant.
IN. MACPHERSON BERRIEN.
To JOHN H. EATON, Esq.