Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-10-31
Mr.. CALHOUN'S REPLY TO MAJOR EA-
Ton

Il part OF his associates in the late administration.
The station which he recently occupied, and the
relation in which be is we'll known 70 stand TO the
head of the Executive branch of the Government,
are calculated to give more weight 10 his repre-
sentations at least with many. than what belongs
10 the anon ymOus communications OF the day;yet
| would uo( have deemed bus statement worthy
of nv notice, had he confined himself to the vague
inslnua,ious, which constitute the great body of
his address, as far as II relates 10 me. To give
color to his general charges, he has ventured IN
few instances, to descend into detail, and to give
statements Of facts. but in manner wholly eiro-
ne0us; which, however, might be received BY the
public as true were to remain silent. They
have, I'm fact, been already SD received in some
respectable quarters. am thus compclled, i'll
self deence, to correct the errors OF his statements,
as far as they concern me- The occurrences
which are the subject of his address, are OF cha
racer To render me snlicitous. that the part took
in relation to them, should be presented in the
LIGHT which truth aud justice require. The me-
murY Of them viii probably outlive the present
day; and decent regard for the opinions OF
those who are 10 succeed Us, naturally makes me
DESTROYS that should not seem to have any 9TH
er connection with events, little calculated to do
credit to the history of the day, than what in
reality had.
Ii is impossible 10 doubt that the main drift Of
Major Eaton address is to hold me up as the
real author of all the discOrd which is alleged TO
have prevailed in the late cabinet, and TO which
"a, eudeavors 20 trace its dissolution, and which,
he would have the pablo believe, originated in
lIw and miserable sQuabble, on NV part, in rela-
ton to the Succession To the Presidential chair
With this view. and in order to give a political
as5ec, to the refusal of Mrs. Calhoun TO visit
Mis- Eaton, he states. that she and myself cal
led in the first instance on him and Mrs Eaton.
during their absence a. Philade pha; intending II
To be Inferred that in declining intercourse after
wards, we were actuated by political motives, and
rJi b,-consideratiras connected vita duty. I'm
fortunately for Maior Eaton, his statements not
correct Mrs. Calhoun never called on Mrs.
Eaton at the time he states. nor at any other
time before or since. nor did she ever leave her
card for her. nor authorize any one to do 50; aud
she is entirely ign0ra Mt through what channel, or
bv what agency her card could come into h's aud
Mrs EatUn's possessiuu; to winch add, that 1t
was not done through my agency. or with my con-
sent or knowledge. II Major Eaton had reflect
ed, he would have seen that there must have been,
To saw the least, an imposition somewhere. lie
states, that our visit took place while they were
in Philadelphia, and. of course. preceded their
call, which, as he represents, took place after
their return, and which, he must know. according
could not occur. lite Senators and their fami-
lies invariably make the first call on the Vice
President and his family; and IN conformity with
this rule Major Eaton had called on me, on my
arrival at Washington. before his marriage, which
afterwards returned: and, not finding him at
home, left my card. This vas, probably, while
he was absent at Philadsl phia. and was the only
intercourse had with him, as far as can recol-
lect. during the whole session, except what took
place in the Senate Chamber, or when we casu-
ally met at parties.
This is no, the first time, that Mrs Calhoun
has contradicted the statement that she had visit
ed Mrs. Eaton. Ii was reported at the time.
thai she had visited Mrs. Eaton, and that her card
had been left. She theu on all suitable occasions.
contradicted it. as directly and poiutedIy as she
now does and liz particular to two respectable la
dies from Tennessee, wives of members) who
then resided in an adjoining boarding house.
The erroneous statement OF Maj. K. compels
ne To give a correct version OF what actually &C.
CURED; but which never intended to iatrude on
the public, and state. with great reiuc Glance,
even in self defence. When lac and Mrs. Eaton
made their visit, was not AT home, as he states,
aud did not return Till after they had retired
When | returned, Mrs. Calhoun mentioneb they
had been there, and said she would moi have
known who Mrs. Eaton was. had she not had been
with Mr.. Eaton, as the servant had not annOunc-
ell their names. She OF course treated them with
civility. She could not with propriety. do 9TH
erwse. The relation which Mrs. Eaton bore to
the society of Washington, became the subject
Of some general remarks. The next morniDg she
informed me, that she had made up her mind not
to return her visit. She said that she consider
I'd herself in the light of stranger in the place;
that she knew nothing Of Mrs Eaton, or the truth.
or fasehood OF the imputation on her character;
aud that she conceived ii to be the duty OF Mrs.
Eaton. If innocent. to open her intercourse with
the ladies' who resided in the place. and who had
The best means of forming correct opinion of
her conduct. and not with these who like herself,
had no means Of forming correct Judgment.
I replied, that approved OF her decision, though
I foresaw the difficulties in which it would proba-
bly, involve me: out that viewed the question
involved as paramount to all political considera-