Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-10-15
MAJOR EATON'S REPLY, To Messrs lnghan, Branch, and Befrien, on Me dis solution of the idte Cabinet
CITY OF WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER, 1881.


 the public, upon subject purely of personal cha racter. To me, nothing could be more painful than f the necessity of bringing into discussion in the newspapers, any thing which concerns my private and domestic relations. In civilized society man S house Is his castle, and the circle of his family a sanctuary never to be violated. He who drags be- fore the public its hel bless inmates, and subjects them to rude assaults, deserves to be considered worse than a barbarian. Against those who com init such sacrlege, and shun an honorable accounta bility the public will justify an appeal which, under other circumstances might not be considered admis sable. expect not by this effort to silence those who have been assang all that is dear to me- Ii may open alresl the fountains of their abuse It is probable, that the very rem0rse and shame which an accurately drawn picture may produce, will excite my prosecutors to raise clouds of fresh caumnies to break upon me with double fury. Let it all come, my head Is uncovered and my bosom bare. There IS another consideration winch would seem to impose silence. These are times of angry politi- cal contest, unsui'ed to dispassonate inquiry AL ready have the enemies of the President made use my private relations to injure and harrass him. In attempting to represent him devoting his thoughts and hs power to further my views and wsles they seel to blind the people to the princi 7les and acts of his administration. They will Vndcaon as 5i oromong Ihat desIsn ' ser- sri ousy calculating by thermachinaions that the peo- pie of the United States my be wror gI into d "tem- pest of passon,' and thus rduced to forget the sig nal success of his foreign negotiations, and the un- paralIeled prosperity and happiness which, under l his administration, our country enjoys.
 | But to all these consequences submit myself with entire resignation. A portpn of the comnuni- | ty will at least do me justice. They will perceive that the President is in no need If any develope- nents from me to give proofs of hs integrity, and that it is not for his sake that present myself before | the public. It is paramount duty which owe to tny nd to nvin mi nd binb, ,bun bo formed. Others may conceive, but I cannot de- scribe the pain those attacks have infliced Itwas indeed enough that was assailed in private circles while was in office; but retiring from s labors with Il view to sit down at my home. in Tennessee 1t was but reasonable expectation to indulge, that might escape a repetition of these assaults. and be permitted to enjoy my freside in peace. But in- stead of putting an end to this uneeling war; my re- l sgnation served to make my enemies more bold | What before was whispered in dark corners, now T glared in the columns of the newspapers Men who had been my friends-who had received favors at my hands-who had paraken of the hospitatcs of my house, and given pledges of friendship at my own board, became my deadiest enemies, whilst | still confded in them. l sought that redress which wrongs wanton and deadly provoked, and which public opinion, under such circumstances, has al- ways justified. It was refused in way which add ed insult to injury; and was then accused by one of the malignant calumnators, as having sought re- NehHe at nedu or Il Dhnu or dSSaSSnS. NOI SatlS- fled with privately lnjurlng me in my own, and the honor of my household and shrinking from an honora- ble and just accountability, these persons have, one after another, before the public to give coun tenance and sanction to the caumnies of q reckless press. Mir Ingham, Mir Branch, and MT Berrien with evident concert, and deliberate design, by fill
 ing the country with erroneous and discoored state ments, and substituting fasehood for truth, have fl sought to consnmmate the ruin which their conduct in office so insduousiy began.
 ,1 What can do? What course adoptl There arc persons committed to my charge who are dear to me l am their ony protector. Shall l them worse than murdered, by men who claim the polish and culture of civilized life, and no, lift my hand and my voice for their rescue7 These gentlemen express desire to preserve their characters as precious in herltance for their children. Is the good of mOther less valuable to her orphan daughters? Did fl they forget that sine whom so reIentessy they pursue and dwho in nothing everwrongcd them, has two inno- cent little children, whose father lies buried on fo- reign shorel Had these little ones ever injured them7 | Were they and their mother so much in the way of these gentlemen, that in their magnty they should consent to sap the foundation of their future pros- poets in lilel Had they remorse, in consprng to rob them of all that vlllany and fraud had Jeff Il them-the inheritance of q mothers good namel- And if they could be stimulated in their address to the public, by the desire of transmitting to their ch dren a spotless and unsued name, what might moi
 
 of my bosom, and her helpless, unprotected chdrenl Attacks on myself disregard A mans character is in his own hands; in his bosom he knows how to protect it. It is by his acts only, that he can be degraded. Not so with female. The innocent and the guilty alike, the envenomed breath of sian der may reach and destroy. It is whitening blast which can blig ght the sweetest rose as well as the most noisome weed
 | Although expect nothing at the hands of those who violate the laws of social life, and all the precepts of "holy charity" yet by exposure o their motives and designs l may be able to render their future maignity powerless. This induces me to make this appeal to my countrymen and to the award to trust it. There is in the public mind intui tive honor-a native of justice, which revolts at wanton attacks on female character, and in the end will visit the unfeeling assailants with terrible retribution. To these I appeal and on these rely not in the hope to silence the malignant and the win dicve, but to make their attacks to recoil upon them selves.
 Il Aplace in Gen Jackson's Cabinet, ,byme, was neve desired. My ambition was satisfied with seat il the Senate which thrice had been kindly bestowed upon me by my fellow citizens of Tennessee Distrust in my competency to discharge the duties of one of the Departments and reluctance to en counter its labors, induced me to prefer my situation in the Senate. About to enter upon untried scenes with limited knowledge of the characters ant feelings of those by whom he has to be surrounded the President felt anxious to have near him some O his long tried personal friends, in whom he had en tire confidence. He desired that Judge White, my colleague in the Senate, or myself should accept one of the Departments. urged it upon Judge White because considered him better qualified, and bet ter adapted to the station than myself He declined it. then felt it to be my duty to accept the offe of the President. He had just lost the partner o his bosom and was solitary and dsconsoate. As in his kindness he seemed to think could be servicea ble to him, it did not seem consistent with the friend ly relations which had long subsised between us, tc leave him at such moment
 MT Van Buren appointed because the Presi | Jon bod , h;s alo