Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-09-19
oo1Asrsa h.n better Qu,sssfl. ard bc,ses p-iaptc1

President lie had just lost the partner of his bo-
SON. and was solitary and disconsolate As IN his
kindnoas he seemed TO think could be sorvlceabc
To- him. il did not consistent with the triend-
" relations which had long subsisted between us,
to leave him at such Il moment
Mr.. Van Buren, appointed, because the Pres
idcnt had confidence in his to!cnts and integrity,
and because he appeared to bc the expectation OF
tine country Mr. In CHAM selected for the rea
son that the President induced to believe that
the democracy of Pennsylvania desired it-Mr.
Barry, from confidence repOscd III him by the
President derived from his personal knowledge OF
his worth and merits Between the first and last
named gentlemen and myself, the most cordial
friendship has always sUbsstcd: nothing has ever
arisen TO interrupt i'll the least our friendly rela-
tons.
MIR. Branch and myself were born and reared III
the same county OF North Carolina, educated at
the same College, and had been associates una
friends, in early and in moro advanced lite. soil
cited his appointment member of the Cabinet,
and at the Presidents request informc him OF the
selection. He made no objection-not the least,
save the of modest distrust OF his com
potency, and expressed at the time much gratitude
towards the President, and exhibited much good
feeling towards myself.
With Mr. Bcrrien [ had been on terms of init
macy, and supposing him to be man of talents
and honor, pleased that he selected. The
President requested me to confer with HIM III re-
aton 10 his acceptance. At that time we were
in habits of the kindest intercourse. He seemed
highly tattcrcd by this manifestation of the Prcsi-
dents confidence, and offered nokobiection to an
acceptance except ntima,ing possible interference
with his private business The next day he inior-
med me that he would accept, which reply COM
nunicacd to the President.
met al the members OF the Cabinet friends
personal and political, to whom was assigned the
high destiny, by harmony OF feeling among them
selves of giving unity of design and vgor of &C
ton To the administration of General Jackson.
In the same light am sure did he consider In
the singleness of his heart and the ardor of his
PATRIOTISM, he suspected not that there amongst
us, any other object, than, by cordial support
to enable him III the Cabinet, he had done in the
field, ''to fill the of his country's glory
Far otherwise the feelings and purposes of
Mcssrs. Ingham, Branch, and Bcrrien, as III the
course of this exposition, will, believe, satisfac
toriiy and fully appear.
Mr. Bcrricn, in u late address to the public says:
- tended Cabinet seemed to me, however, to pre-
g sent insupcrable bar to my acceptance oil
g the office which was rendered to me. though;
g toresaw clearly the evils which have too OBJ
. vious! Y resulted from the selection. A gentle
@ man high in the confidence of the President
9 whom he consulted, Expressed his decided con-
&C viction founded long and intimate know.
- ledge of the Presidents character, that he
g woud himself speedily see, and correct the
% evil. l yielded to those suggestions, and took
g my seat in the Cabinet"
A writer in til; Telegraph, OF the 18th July
last, believed to be MIR. Berrcn, speaking in be
half OF Mr.. Ingham makes the following remarks
bending the organization of the Cabinet, the
:. President informed by several persons o.
g high standing, and those his strong party sup
- porters, that there objections TO Major Ea
20 ton, which would lead TO difficulties likely tc
90 be removed" alt not necessary for Mr.
- lngham TO take any part iii the affair. Every
90 one knew that public sentiment would, In due
g time, concentrate what was amiss, and cor
90 rect it,"
In the Telegraph Of the 23th July, probably 10y
the same writer II is asked:
''By whose advice was it, that Judge McIear
- arranged TO the War Department, before tn,
g Cabinet was announced, in order to remove the
'malgn influence, which even then threatened the
- dissolution OF the party. 1T was by the personal
. POLITICAL and long tried friends Of the President
- that this advice given; and it WAC by the
g same advice that these gentlemen retained THEN
- seats IN the Cabinet in the confident hope that
the President would sooner or later see his GRO,
g and correct it,
I These extracts carry on their face evidence of ;
common origin If not pcnned by the same hand
. they must have sprung from the same councils
were all written with tho same views and same oh
lcct, and disclose with sufficient clearness to whom
indebted for the long covert, and at last oper
attacks upon and my household as well a:
their purpose. Certain gentlemen, who STYLED
themselves the personal, POLITICAL and long tricc
friends OF the President" undertook, it seems
without his knowledge consent to arrange anc
friend and associate for twenty years; whc
had adhered to him ''through good report
! and through evil report" during two bite
contests for the Presidency, and who, against IN,
/ wishes, was selected member of his cabinet
was TO be set aside unworthy, in the estima
ton OF these gentlemen TO associate with him. O
to participate IN his councils. This secret cabal o
! exclusive friends advised Mr.. Bcrrcn to accent
seat i'll the cabinet, under the secret expectation
that l would be driven from it. BY The same
| persons, Judge MLean arranged to the Wa
/ Department, their object being expressly to ,re
rid of me. They advised AIossrs. Inglam, Brancl
and Berrien, to clcavc fast to their hold which
! they did, even under aliedged s'ndignity and In
sult' too, III the confident hope that the PresI
| dent would speedily sec and correct the evil.
! W lthout the Presidents knowledge, and wiIhou
mine, this cabal of personal, POLITICAL and Ions
/ tried friends" thus emdeavorinr to contro
/ all the cabinet arrangements, and secretly t,
! place around the President men of their selec
| tion and stamp II was not for him TO sclec
his own counsoors, decide who were his s.por
sona political, and long tried friends:"-Men who
/ had supported him only when they had lost al
/ hope.of Mr.. Calhouu-who had Joined his stan
dard only when their favorito candidate ba,
/ disappeared from the contest, and who had sup
! ported him as a secondary choicc-your Inghams
| Bcrrcns, and others, were arrogatinp to be
come lis exclusive Counscllors and to thrust from
| his presence unworthy of his trust and conf
| dcnce, those who had supported him for his OWL
/ Sake-whoSc attachment ccmentcd by vaar
of confidential INSTRUMENTATION faith andsaner
gics were pledged to his support, and whose hope.
were all concentrated in the success and prosperi
! ty of his administration.
/ Mr. Branch was made the instrument of able
! heads, and attempted 10 become manager in tbi,
business. In his recent letter bc mentions Il cal
/ which be made on the President previous 10 nv