Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-29
Ex,'ac, Of a letter dated.
RGEETECAE.
From the Political arena.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINI

No ,.
We hare seen, fellow-ciLizcns, that Gen. Jack
sons administration has magnilicd the Importance
OF the diroct West India Trade first for the p,lr
pose OF injurng its predecessors with tho people
for losing that trade, and, subsequently, /. way OF
cXnting their own merits III rcranirri IT, and that
| they sought this paitry advantage TO themsciyc.
at the expense of the national dignity. But what
does Il signify to the present most selfish admins
tratiOn that tho feather which adorns its cap was
| Pluckcd from the wing of the American Earlo?-
The minister who negotiated the treaty, it seems
has just arrived at New YorIl, and the public hon
ors, which he is probably receiving, even while
write, no will principally owe to his having con-
suited the interests OF his party rather than of his
country, ana to his fulsone hatLery TO British
pride.
We have seen too, that in the want both of ability
and harmony in Che cabinet; il tho novel charac.
ter OF it's dssontions, and in the Presidents making
himself party 10 these diSscntons, there has been
| as great loss ofdignity at home as abroad Eut
| the part which Gen. Jackson has taken in these
feuds Of the cabinet is objectionable not merely
because It lowers tho responsibility of the milton
IN the eyes of all, hut because it exhibits SPIRIT
Of dictNtion and un abuse of power, hich of ell
things, people least disposed TO tolerate:
and which, when VIC rsider tho growing infiu-
encc and patronage OF the federal executive, can
rot be too soon or too firmly resisted. This con-
stitutcs The objection to Gen. Jackson's rc-cec-
! ton, which We Will next consider.
9TH, He has attempted 10 connect matters of n
Pr5catc Rqtrc, md in 1hich the public hare no in
terest, 7cita he concerns 9f tie GDUerneai and to
make MS feelings as iHdtUduGJ the guide of his
public ccHdUct-
Il appears that tie families or three members Of
the cabinet, MessTs. EnghnIn, Branch and Bcrrien
refused to interchange visits with the wife Of Ma
JoT ERton, another Tlcmbor; thas they justified
themselves the ground that they found that lady
excluded from the social circle in WGshinrton TO
which they belonged, and whether this exclusion
vas proper or not, they did not think themselves
bound to oppose it. 1T also appears from the esti
mony Of Mr.. Bcrrion, confirmed by that of lTessrs
tngham md Branch that in Ianunrv 1880 tho
President thought proper 10 interfere in this matter
end through the agency Of Col. II. NJ. Johnson of
Kentucky insisted that Mrs. Eatou's visits sho,ll
DO rcturucdtby the two ladies' to ho1n sire had rnada
vis) aad that she should be invited TO tile partas
gwen By Mcssrs. Iugham, Branch and Berrien
respectively at least 60 their 'aorge parties.v IT,
further intmatod to them that IL fl,o- roG,ed
to comply with the Presidents wishes. he should
expect them TO send in their rcsignaiions ue
considered there was a combination among certain
ladies' in Washington, whose names no mentioned
TO drive Mrs. Eaton from society, and coucciving
tho wife of ono Of the foreign ministers 20 haze
joined in il, he declared that no should have sent
him out Of tho country, but for certain reasons
which no stated.
This interference in what mon commonly ror,rl
as one Of the most sacred and exclusive riThts
they possess, being promptly and dccisivcly resist
cd by all the gentlemen; and men of cooler ,tIr
nent pointing out TO tho President the niischicfs
OF tic course he was P1rsuing, he was induced 10
oCsst rom ms iiTSt purpose, Whc his secretaries
adhered 70 theirs. a show of reconciliation took
place and tbo members Of the cabinet resumed
their wonted functions, but divided into two par
ties as before; and no doubt much further aana-
ted by scnso Of MUTUAL injury, that they were
kept together only by love Of Office and tho out
ward pressure Of common enemy, whose trinmphs
they had not yet brought themselves to endure
They thus continued to act, each ono in his sepa-
rate sphere rather than Together "A little more than
a year, during ai Which the harmony Of tho cabi-
of 10 off hoo &C.. Tf-
when, 70 the establishment of the nation, the whole
cabinet resigned, Mcssrs. Van Buron and Eaton,
y2IeetcFtiyi and Messrs. Iugham, Branch arf Ber-
Va, ai tiIe request Of the President.