Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-07-26

You had, as understood, held previous converse
TONS on the same subject with or both of those
gentlemen, but was perfectly unprepared for
the interview, until the moment when you an
ITS object at nv house. The impression
made By your annunciation was such as not obe
easily eHaced from my memory. You began by
expressing the friendly regard which you telt for
those gentlemen and my self, and by stating that
this was the motive Tor, your interference. you
told us that an impression had been made upon
the mind Of the President that combination ex.
listed between Messrs. Ingbam. and Branch, and
myself, to exclude Mrs. Eaton from the society
Of Washinston-that he was excited by this re-
presentation, considering II as an attemptto wound
him through Major Eaton-that the President had
seen with pain the want OF harmony among the
members of his Cabinct-that he was determin-
ed to have harmony and that his determination
would be announced to US in the course OF the
week. You added that YOU had in the mean time
sought this interview with the appreciation OF the
President, from motives of regard for all parties
You mentioned, as circumstances which had con.
tributed to produce this impression on the mind
of the President, that Messrs. Branch, and Ing
ham. any myself, had successfully given large
parties to which Mrs. f. had not been invited
and while you disciaimed any disposition on his
part to require an intimacy between our families
aud that of Major Eaton, you added. that he
would in future expect that at least on such oc-
casons as that to which you had referred, THAT
is to say. when large or general parties were CIV.
en.) that Mrs. E. should be invited. replied
to you having been previously advised OF the IN
tention To held tins MISUNDERSTANDING had no con-
ference with the other gentlemen, must be con-
sidered solely responsible for what was about to
A. A., 4 Il rnfyxa tha
President or any other man to regulate the social
intercourse of myselfor family VS. thatif such re-
QUESTION was persevered in, wouldretire from Of
&C. You expressed your regard at the terms oil this
answer-and remarked that it was Indifferent
to me in what terms it was conveyed. provided
the substance was retained-but that from this
would not depart understood you to disclaim
any intention on the part Of the President TO re-
Quire an intimate intercourse between the fauI,-
lies of Messrs. Branch, and Ingbam, and myself.
and that of Major Eaton, but to express with equal
clearness his expectation that when we gave large
or general parties Mrs. f. should be invited
and it was my purpose to deny altogether his right
to interfere in this matter The replies of the
other gentlemen were, according to nv recOllec-
ton, substantially the same--but shall euci lose
copies of your letter - them, and leave them TO
speak for themselves.
The impression which this conversation made
upon my mind is clear and distinct; and it is
not probable that it could have been ef,aced from
nay memory. My own disposition was instantly
to resign my office. In consenting to retain 1t,
| Yielded to the opinions of those IN whose judg-
ment had confidence, and to my sense of what
was due to the interests Of Georgia, at tina: par
ticular juncture
Ny remembrance of this conversation is more
over confirmed by recollection of what occur
red on my subsequent interview with the Pres-
dent, in which particular reference was made
to it. v hen he spoke Of combination between
Messrs Ingham and Branch and myself, to ex-
clude Mrs. +. from Society, claimed as mat.
ter of right, to know the names of the persons by
whom such representation had been made. He
said the impression had been derived from the
various runors which had reached him; spoke
Of the parties which had been given by those
gentlemen and myself, to which Mrs. E. had not
been invlted-and added that the reports against
her were foul calumnes. | demonstrated against
his having adopted an opinion dishonorable to
any member OF his cabinet on mere rumor, but
expressly declined to discuss the question Of the
truth or falsehood of the reports to which he
had referred-telling him, that, without under
taking to decide whether they we're true or false,
II was my purpose merely 10 CONFORM 10 the gen.
eral sense of the community of which had be-
come member; and that could not be induced
to change that determination The decision Of
the President not TO pursue the matter further,
understood at the time to have 0een produced
by the representations of some Of his most init
mate personal friends.
Such is my understanding of the conversation
referred to IN your letter. look to it as the ORR
gin aud continuing cause of the distraction of
the party. which has thus lost the means Of doing
much good which it might have effected. But
am not DESTROYS to bruit it to the world II,
without impuIing to me the alleged want Of har-
mony in the Cabinet. my retirement is placed
on the ground of the Presidents mere will, so
far as am concerned, it is well. do not dis
pute his right to exercise that as be thinks ft;
but, for the sake of my children, will not sub
nit to the continued misrepresentation of the
public journals The best legacy have to be-
oueath them is the untarnished reputation of
their father. can easily conceive, also that a
state of things may exist, in which sense of du-
ty to the public will compel me to speak. But
hupe such an emergency will not arise.
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