The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-08-03

and of good feeling, (which is expressed IN your
lo,,or 7, ;s an cvidepce of my reluctance to
enqaue in controversy, that nave dus'"iieo
from goins. before the puolic, hotWHnStahui
the muitiplied misrepresentations WIN which
,ho ,an,sp,nars are teeming. still desire to
800 ~ necessitv-but as circumstances be- |
vond INV control may render 1t indispensable,
.c,I;esce with the less reluctance, in the inter-
cha,re of recollections which you propose.
7 am TO speak of what occurred at the inter-
Wow which took place between you, Messrs.
RANCH and Ingham, and myself, at my house.
You had, as | afterwards understood, held pre-
yious conversations on the same subject with
one or both of those gentlemen, but was per-
fectly unprepared for the interview, until the
moment when you announced its object at my
house. The impression made by your annun-
citation was such as not to be easily etfaced from
my memory You began by expressing the
friendly regard which you felt for those gentle
men and myself, and by stating that this was
p the motive for your interference You told us
that an impression had been made upon the
mind of the President that a combination exist
ed between Messrs Ingham and Branch, and
myself, to exclude Mrs. Eaton from the society
at Washington-that he was excited by this
representation, considering it as an attempt to
wound him through Major Eaton-that the
President had seen with pain the want OF har-
L nony among the members of his Cabinet
that he was determined 10 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 sou ght this intorUious
with the appreciation of the President, from mo-
tives OF regard for llparties. You mentioned,
as circumstances which had contributed to pro-
duce this impression M the mind Of the Presl.
dent, that Messrs. Branch and lpsham, and
myself, had successfully given hrge parties TO
which Mrs E had not been iaVlted-and while
you disclaimed any disposition on his part to
require an intimacy between our families and
that of Major Eaton. you added, that he would
in future expect that at least on such occasions
as that to which you had referred Chat is to
say, when large or general parties were given,)
that Mrs. E. should be invited. replied to
you that not having been previously advised of
the intention, to hold this having
had no conference with the other gentleman,
must be considered solely responsible for what
| was about to say. | then observed that |
would not permit the President or any other
man to regulate the social Intercourse of my
self or family--and that if such requisltion
was persevered in, | would retire from office
You expressed your regret at the terms of 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 dis
claim any intention on the part of the President
to require an intimate intercourse between the
families of Messrs. Branch, and Ingham, and
myself, and that of Major Eaton, but to express
with equal clearness his expectation that when
we gave large or general parties Mrs. E. should
be invited-and it was my purpose TO ceny al.
together his right to interfere in this matter.
The replies of the other gentlemen were, ac-
cording to my recollection, substantially the
same-but shall enclose copies of your letter
TO them, and leave them to speak for them
selves.
The impression which this conversation made
upon my mind is clear and distinct and it is
not probable that it could have been effaced
from my memory. Ny own disposition was
instantly to resign my Office. In consenting TO
retain it, | yielded to the opinions of those
in whose judgment had confidence, and to my
sanse of what was due to the interests of Geor.
gia, at that particular juncture
My remembrance Of this conversation is
moreover confirmed by a recollection of what
occurred on my subsequent interview with the
President, in which particular reference was
made TO it, When he spoke of combination
between Messrs. Ingham and Branch and my
self, to exclude Mrs. E. from society, claimed,
as matter OF right, to know the names of the
persons by whom such a representation had
been made. He said the impression had been
derived from the various rumors which had !
reached him; spoke Of the parties which had
been given by those gentlemen and myself to
which Mrs. E. had not been invited-and add |
ed that the reports against her were foul cal. |
umnles. | demonstrated against his having |
adopted an opinion dishonorable to any mem
Der Of his Cabinet on mere rumor, but express
Iy declined TO discuss the question Of the truth
or falsehoOd of the reports to which he had re-,
ferred-telling him. that, without undertaking |
to decide whether they were true or false, il
was my purpose merely to conform to the gen. |
eral sense of the community of which had
become member; and that | could not be liz |
duced to change that determination The de.
cision of the President not to pursue this mat
ter farther, understood at the time to have |
been produced by the representations of some
of his most intimate personal friends.
Such is my understanding of the controversy
referred to in your letter. look to it as the (
origin and 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 (
1t, without imputng to me the alleged want of
harmony in the Cabinet, my retirement is pac. |
ed on the ground of the Presidents mere will, I
so far as am concerned, ii is well. do net
dispute his right to exercise that as he thinks
Mt; but, for the sake of my children, I will not
submit to the continued Misrepresentation Of
The public journals. The best legacy have to
beqneath them is the untarnished reputation of
their father. can easily conceive, also that
a state of things may exist, in which sense of
duty to the public will compel me to speak
But hope such an emergency will not arise
ought perhaps to add, that / have already
stated to Major Eaton the substance of this, so
Ear as 1t was necessary to answer call which {
he made upon me to avow or disavow the {
statement in the Telegraph, that my FAM. /
ly had refused to associate with his 1t was g
not necessary, however, to mention your name
and 1t was consequently not mentioned. /
spoke OF the interview as having been had with
gentleman who represented himself as act.
ing, and who doubt not did act under the au
ed to your letter, will only add. that sbopld
our recolections differ, l shall regret it. But
that | have taken great care not 10 put down
any thing which is not distinctly impressed
upon mine.
1 am, dear sir, respectfully, yours,
JOHN MAcPHERsoN BERRlES.
Hon. r. NJ Johnson