Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-09-26
MR.. BERRlEN's REPLY TO MR.. EATON
From The National h,felhssncer.
no THE PUBLIC.

.on,,;nedin the recent publication made BY Mr..
Eaton. claim from me reply lmake 1t win
unaffected reluctance, well aware that the as
charge of this duty to MYSELF and to the Public,
will expose me to repetition Of the wanton abuse
If a nress. which processes tospeak in this mat
for nv the authority Of the Chief Magistrate
No man would voluntarily enter into such con-
troyersy. II do not shrink from IL Is oe'
cause feel that am called to this act OF neces-
sary self defence. by considerations WHICH "'"s
not be permitted to disregard
From the pressure OF circumstances wh,cn !
did not contribute to produce, anu haa not inc
power to control. was sometime since hhuer
the necessity OF addressing you. Let me ,ot
moment call your attention to the state o. .''nsS
at that time, mat you may more a'sohcu! WI.
derstanj my present position: mad no asene!
in brinyine about the dissolution OF the late "a
b;net and was DESTROYS of avoiding the conlro-
versies which it was but too probable would tot
Inv in the train of that event | was not weak
enough to suppose that the pubic would attach
INV payauount Importance to the retirement
from Office of my colleagues and myself; but
was eoualIy assured. and the result has confirm
cd nv conviction, that their Just indignation
would be excited by knowiedge Of the cquse'
which led In that event. Whatever sycophancy
MIGHT assert in relation to the right OF the PreSl-
dent 70 exercise his own absolute and uncontrOi-
led will. in the selection and dismissal CT his Va
binet, the American people would practicaiiy
recognize the principle, that the power TO cenier
office, or to reclaim it, is but tr,,st delegated 0y
themselves. to be used Tor the cokmon benefit
not under the impulse OF personal. AID sui Tess
of unworthy motives. 1t was highly lmirO5ao'e
moreover, that the true nature Ut this TRANSACTION
could be concealed from the scrutiny OF an intel.
lisent people. The immediate community OF
Washinyton--the members OF both houses Ot Con-
gress. and private citizens from various parts OF
the Union, who had mingled in Society here,
from the time Of the organization OF that Cabinet
down to the period of its dissolution. had seen
enough to awaken a spirit of enquiry, which
would naturally extend to the people at large
While, however. held myself Bound to answer
any proper call for explanation, | was most anx.
ious to avoid intrusion upon the public, and
equally determined to shun, as Tar As just sell
respect would permit, any OF the controversies
Which might grow out OF 1t.
When shrinking from the justly apprehendcd
indignation of the American People, 1t was re-
, solved to put the defence OF this measure upon
the bold and reckless denial of facts, which were
notorious in this community, and beyond it
when the official paper of the Government, pro-
Tossing to act by the authority of tue President,
had aVouched my name to give sanction to state
ment which knew to be untrue, felt myself
called upon by considerations, which no honora-
bic man could disregard, to bear my humble tes'
t,mony to the truth. In the performance of this
unwecome duty, limited myself to narrative
of the facts, which had been drawn into contro.
versy, and to brief vindication OF my own
conduct in those particulars, in which it had
been arraigncd. | knew to what subjected
myself, by this act of necessary self defence
Absolved by the limited range of my official du-
ties. from participation in most OF the exciting
occurrences of the day-standing aIoof from the
Dtrgues which were represented to exist, and
having no motive to misrepresent the truth. 1t
was foreseen, and such has been the result, that
this statement would receive the confidence OF
just and intelligent community. The conse-
auences were obvious to those who relied most
implicitly on the personal popularity OF the Pre-
sident. What then was To be done! In Its essen
tIal facts, the statement vas beyond the reach of
controversy. 1t was only the more confirmed by
every effort to contradict it. An mpotent az
tempt made to represent the transactions
which il detailed, as unimportant, insignificant,
unworthy the attention OF the american feOple.
Such an effort to pervcrt the moral sense of such
people. could not succeed. The sacredness ct
social intercourse the sanctity Of the domestic
tireside. had been rudely assaed, and they could
not deem lightly Of a despotism like this.
The alternative was to silence the Citness. or
to destroy the effect Of his testimony by assaiing
his reputation. To accomplish this. series of
measures having the same end IN view, have been
steadily pursued towards me. / have been the
object OF system of bull Ihs and viuperatlon,
alike impotent in relation to myself, and dis
graceful TO the hnmmediate actors, and to those,
who having the power, have not interposed to re-
press it.
Retiring from responsible station in the Go.
vernment under the assurance Of the continued
confidence of the President, and with an express
sion OF his regret for the necessity, which demand
ed our separa,ion-acquitted by him all imputa-
ton of lmpropriety, either official, individual
here at the seat of the National Government
after having been dragged before the public TO
maintain an issue. involving my private honor
one which had been forced upon me, under the