Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-10-13
WHOLE NO. 80.

CIV iIl VI Sl'i'' 'IttIpIiS, iilC 'IIDItC VI
ambassadors, the selection of candidates
for congress, and the vice presidency
/ he homely appearance ofthis great copy
of the iIustrious Gil Bias, impressed
many with an idea OF his honeay--but
under this rough bark runs the smooth
sap of low cunning, and Mr.. Lewis be-
comes as dangerous from his duplicity,
his hypocrisy, and his love of romance,
as he is formidable ii man of consc-
qucnce, from the multiplicity of his func-
tions. A first appearance impressed me
with an idea of his modcsty--but a near
view of his character dispelled this ilu-
sion, and convinced me, that the low
voice, the down look, and the timid step,
bespoke qualities far removed from ditii-
dence, virtue or truth.
BY the intcrpositlon Of this piece Of
palace furniture, the object of my seek
inc direct interview with the president
elect, was of course circumvented;- for
during the evening at tea, | had no OPP
portunIty of private conversation. Doc
tor Ely engrossed most of his attention.
MIR. Branch, that image of inanity, with
a large rolling eye, beaming nothing,
and expressing vacancy, was present,
hmking with the ladies. Mr.. Hayne Of
South Carolina, appeared on the ground
in bold relief. Major Eaton came i'll
dissembled his surprise at seeing me bet
ter than could have imagined--but i'm
mediately took the general into another
room, and held private conference
/ The effect of this interview in the alter
ed manner OF the general, was evident;
but still he dissembled all emotions un-
der his wonted courtesy, so az to avoid
any marked expressions of rudeness, or
rcscntmcnt--that he was chaled, how
ever, by what Lewis and Eaton must
have communicated, as To the object Of
my vista compliance with first princi-
pies, was manifest in his contracted brow,
and blldled energy of tone and empha.
sis left him, confirmed in all my pre-
vious impressions Of ruin to the cause and
dissolution to the party. Sick at behold
ing the dire effects of court intrigue,
wrought by men scarcely Gle, ated intrln-
Sically above contempt, and III no respect
calculated to eXtort esteem, or command
admiration, had for the first time seen
and Convcrscd with Andrew Jackson; u
the impression fell so far short of expec-
tation, that sudden revulsion of feeling
inspired the deepest regret and mortifica-
ton. ! did not call on him the succeed
ing day, whether restrained by aversion,
disgust, or dospondency,it lit would be diff
cult to tell and to assign an agency to
all these feelings, would be nearer the
truth.
TO friend who had accompanied me
to Washington, | impaired the convic-
tons, which observation thus far had
produced, as to the cause and tendency
of events, then in their inception and pro-
'gress. The theory was this: that Major
Eaton had an unbounded and controll-
ing influence over General Jackson, and
that determined to exercise it to his own
exclusive advantage, he had formed the
scheme, not only of securing power to
himself and friends for eight years, in
violation of the original compact--but
also of selecting his successor to the pres
idcncy in the person of Mr.. Van Buren,.
To effect this scheme, he had chosen
cabinet for the president, every member
of which should come in under the sense
of personal obligation to Mr. Eaton, and
that in order not to eclipse himself, he
had, with the exception of Mr.. Berrien,
selected men of the greatest mediocrity
of talent, as was then believed. That
the movement of the Pennsylvania dele
cation in favor of Mr. Inc ham, was made
at the instance of Eaton and the presi-.
ident, IN order to furnish a prctext for
getting rid OF Mr.. Baldwin, to whom the
treasury had been pledged. That he,
Eaton, was now to appear or the stage Of
external greatness, competing for honors,
and ambitious of preierment: that in con-
sidcraton of having chosen Mr.. Van
Buren, heir to the empire, MIR. Van Bu-
ren would return the compliment, ifin his
power. That this theory was nearly cor
rect, has been shown by every event that
has subsequently tanspired. But the
direction Of a machinery so delicate, as
well as so immense, was not TO be made
by man of such humble talents as MIR.
Eaton, especially when the success Of
the whole plan was to turn upon the sue
cess of the preliminary scheme, to coercc
Mrs. Ea into the limits of exemplary
society. Here was detected the motive
for bringing in every member oithe cab
met, under the sense of personal obliga-
ton to MIR. Eaton: a tic of gratitude,
which is now urged by the official paper
at Washington, as constituting the very
essence of culpabiIi,y and dishonor in tho
dismissed secretaries. II was calcula-
ted at the time, that this tie of gratitude
would quench all feeling of virtue, aud