Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-08-13


 of copies of statement the which you have referred to- well that between and me- that be- tendng as soon they could be completed one to him and another yourself Upon the receipt of your immediately note, expressing intention wait for the further comparison of our reeoectons be- fore made any determination as to the disposition of my statement But articles in the Globe of the 1th inst which you have doubt reached before letter was maeG ana arrested its progress articles @ as far of having been authorized by General Jackson and yourself and leave choice the publication ofmy statement
 The article which supposed been authorized by you shows that have also taken different of this
 ter since your letter referred to was written could not otherwise reconcile your remonsrance against publication of what then deemed a confidential conyer- your dena of the alluded to at least without previous interchange of tcoections between all the parties concerned do not however, with you in the opn- ion that there any obligation of secrecy imposed on me, those associated with me- be implied from the friendly character of the conversation referd The communication made to me you that my continuance in office would depend upon the consent of my family
 Mrs Eaton and invite her to ther large paries considered at the me though not so intended by you in its offensive It could not therefore, with it the conf friendship. regarded the proposition as woundng my feelings and had determined to resign my oee even after you informed that Gen Jackson had changed his ground from which only dissuaded by the remon, of the friends consulted, who urged, among considerations that although my personal respect for the President might be mpaired my services in the Department could not be unfaithul to the Administr proposi- ton thus disposed of could be regarded any thing rather find additional for publication gowingout of your eer its apparent disagreement from my statement and
 
 whole matter shall out which inevitable in the present of the public mind expose the mputa ton of having shrunk from doing what duty my character if the country seemed demand, cannot therefore accord in your desire that publication shall be secrtsy which you have suggested would prefer, howe accompany the pubcationwith that of your letter of euS Ss SV o ha Dat a deberon to determine what most to be done in this particu- ar can you that this determination will be excu- svely governed by desire to do what, under all eircum stances, may appear likely meet your own wishes
 
 convesa ions have relied merely indelibe i'm pressons made my memory, but memoranda put Vn paper the time nave the slightest recollection any of your having diverted any fact agedby General Jackson yourself evidence of unind feeling for much less hostility to, conspiracy against Major Eaton inc of MT Branch, MT Berrie, my the simple and isolated fact that families did visit Mrs Eaton and invite her to their parties Nor have any individually orjoiny with the other gentlemen, as means of Ee@Cyng the alleged difficulties other than that our fla parties cannot but persuade myself that my Will cal to mnd matters which may have escaped your re- collection, and satisfy your judgment that whatever may have been the nature of your instructions could have understood them differently from what have.
 have the honor to be, respectfully your obt serv s. D. INGHAM.
 Hon. Richard M Johnson.
 Mir INGHAM's Statement, copy ef aohich enciOs-
 ed in.hiS letter to Col. JOHNSON.
 "On "Wednesday, the 27th of January, 1880, Col. Johnson of Kentucky, waited on me in the Treasu- " Department and after some; preliminary conver- saon, in which he expressed his great regret that my family, and that of Mir Branch and Mir Berrien, did not visit Mrs Eaton, he said that it had been subject of great excitement with the President, who had come to the determination of having harmony in his Cabinet by some accommodation of this mat ter He, Col. Johnson, the friend of us a and had come at the request of the President to see whether any thing could be done: who thought that when Ladies gave parties they ought to n vite Mrs Eaton and as they had never returned her call if they would leave the first card, and open a | fnr int in at Inc be satisfied but unless something was done of this nature he had no doubt indeed he knew, that the President was resolved to have harmony, and would probably remove MT Branch, Mir Berrien and my self Irepied to Col Johnson, that in all matters of official business, or having any connexion herewith, considered myself bound to maintain an open, frank, and harmonious intercourse with the gentle men was associated with. That the President had
 right to expect the exerton of my best faculties, and the employment of my time, in the public | vice. AS to Ie family of Mir Eaton, felt an obli- gation on not to say any thing to aggravate the difficulties which he abored under, but to observe total silence and neutrality in relation to the reports about his wife, and to nculcate the same as to my family, and if any other representations had been made to the President they false. Hav- ing prescribed to myself this rule. and always acted upon it, Ehad done all that the President had right to expect. That the society of Washington was li- berally organized; there was but circle, into which every person of respectable character dispos- ed to be social readily admitted, without refer ence to the circumstance of birth, fortune, station which operated in many other places. That we had right to exert official power to regulate it's social intercourse. That Mrs Eaton had never been received by the society here and it did not become us to force herupon it. that my family had therefore not associated with her, and they had done with my appreciation, and that the President ought not, for the sake of his character to interfere in such matters Bluff he chose to exert his power to force my family to visit any body they did not choose to visit, he was interfering with that which belonged to me, and no human power should regulate the so cal intercourse of my family, by means of official or any other power which I could resist. If I could submit to such control should be unworthy of my station, and would despise myself That it was emnently due to the character of the President to- have it known that he did not interfere in such mat ters and that the course we had pursued was pre- servatve of his honor and political standing. Ihad taken my ground on mature reflection, as to what was due my family, to my friends, and to the Ad- mlnistration, without any prejudice against Major Eaton or his wife, and had fully determined not to chunge it, whatever might be the consequence.
 Col. J. said that he had been requested by the President to have conversation with the Secretary of the Navy and the Attorney General also; but, from what had said he supposed it would be Of no avail. The President had expressed hope that our families would have been willing to invite Mrs Ea- ton to their drge parties, to give the appearance o an 0stenslble intercourse, adding that ne was so much excited that he was like roaring lion. He had heard that the lady of foreign minister had joined in the conspiracy against Mrs Eaton, and he had sworn that he would send her and her husband home if he could not put end to such deings. replied that it could hardly be possible that the Pre- sident contemplated such step. Col. J. replied, that he certainly did and again remarked that 1t seemed to be useless for him to see MT Branch and Mir Berrien. told him that each of us had taken our course upon our own views of propriety, with out concert and that he ought not to consider me as answering for any but myself He then proposed