Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-08-04

associate Win MRS. Eaton, / dId not
think she intended to insult her; she
might have supposed that there was some
design, not altogether respectful to her
self, in the offer of the attendance to sup
per Of the Secretary of War, whose wife
she did not visit, instead of that of the
Secretary Of State, which, according to
the usual practice, she probably consd-
cred herself entitled to. Twas present,
and saw most Of what had happened.
She evidently thought herself aggrieved
at something, but acted with much digni-
ty on the occasion. | saw no appear
ance of insult offered 70 Mrs. Eaton.
lie replied, that he had been fully inform
ed, and knew all about it and but for
certain reasons which he mentioned, he
would have sent the foreign Minister be-
fore referred to, and his wife, home i'm
mediately. After some further conver-
sation on this aud other matters, in
which considered the President as hav-
ing entirely waived the demand made
through Col. Johnson, that my family
must visit Mrs. Eaton, as the condition
for my remaining i'm office, and in which
he expressed himself inierms of personal
kindness towards me, | took my leave.
He did not show me, or read, any paper
on the subject"
The public will now, ! think, be at no
loss to determine upon the true state Of
the facts of this case. Mr.. Ingham's
very full statement is taken from notes
made at the time, and which were shown
to me shortly after they were made. In
repeated conversations with Mr.. Branch,
our recollections were found to concur.
The transaction was of a nature calcu-
lated to awaken all my attention, and to
impress itself indeliby upon my memo
ry. | claim no benefit, therefore, from
any supposed imperfection ofthis faculty,
and expect to be believed, because |
speak the truth.
In relation to the statement that the
paper drawn up in the hand writing of
the President was shown to me, the de-
NAL of which most explicitly repeat, if
charity is to perform her holy office in
reconcIling these conflicting asser-
tlons,lt Is much more easy to believe that
the memory of the President may have
failed on this occasion. lie saw and
cOnversed with various persons on this
subject, and has to rely upon his memory
for the fact Of having shown this paper
to different individuals. Each of those
ind'ciduals as required only to speak for
hlmSeT. The nature Of the transaction
was such that i. could not have escaped
the recollection of either of them.
1t was impossible If such paper had
been shewn, not to have demanded, and
to have persevcred in the demand, to have
the names of the persons, on whose in
formation the requisition was made. No
one would have consented to have the
conditions on which he should continue
in Office pres cribed to him, on the ground
of combination, the evidence of which
rested on mere rumor. An enquiry must
have been the consequence, and the
transaction could not only not have been
forgotten by the parties, but would thus
have become known to others. / would
not myself have retained my Office a
moment after such paper was exhibit
ed to me. | will not question the inten-
ton of the President to have shewn this
paper to me, nor his belief that he did
so; but that he did not do so, is certain.
Those who know me will not doubt the
sincerity of this declaration, and an i'm
partial community will, l trust, perceive
no sufficient motive to be deduced, either
from my character, or the circumstances
of this transaction, for the beliefof inten-
tional misrepresentation on my part.
At any rate, have discharged my
duty, by bearing this testimony to the
truth. know to what it subjects me !;
'bu, | rely upon the disccrnment and the
integrity of my cOuntrymcn, and will
abide the result.
JOHN MACPHERSON BERRIEN.
Washington, Juty, %, 1881.