Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-08-31
MR.. BRANCH's EXPOSITION.
FROM rHr ROANOKE ADVOCATE.

solution Of the late Cabinet, have never enter
tanned doubt. | will briefly state the reasons
I have for nv opinion, and leave you to judge of
them as welio i'll founded. Before the Presi-
dent had nominated Maj Eaton for the War De-
partment. and while the subject might DC suppos-
ed to be under consideration, | took the liberty
of stating to Gen. Jackson candidly my reasons
for believing the selection would be unpopular and
unfortunate. | reminded the President that he
knew was the friend OF Major Eaton, and per-
sonaii, preferred him to either Of the others pro-
posed for his cabinet, and, Of course, nothing
should saw ON the subject ought TO be construed
into an intention to iuiure him. Mai. Eaton.l
hut on the contrary, to save him from infinite vexa
ton aud ANNOYANCE, which, 1t was too plain, were
in store for him, if he took seat m the cabinet
under the circumstances III which he was placed.
The President admitted that charges had been
made against the character Of Mrs. Eaton, but
insisted on il they were ISLANDERS, and that he
ought not to notice them. did not perceive at
the time that he was hurt by the frankness or ma
tuge Of nv communication. though Afterwards
learned that he had become offended with, ana
discarded from his acquaintance several OF his OLD
and best friends who had used the like freedom
of speech ON this subject My circumstances,
il is known. were without effect, and Maj. Eaton
WAS soon after fcrmaiis appointed Secretary OF
War. Before this was done, however, made
an appeai 10 Mai. Eaton himself, and without re-
serve disclosed NY apprehensions to him, adding
thatI did not pretend TO intimate that there was
the least truth in these reports, 0ut, u utterly
false, they would still have ap effect on the Pre-
s;dent's peace and quiet. as he must know what
use the opposition would made os lt:-that be-
iieved il was impossibeh he could DC wiling to SUD-
iect Gen. Jackson to such state oil thlnss:-that
he could not have forgotten how much Gen Jack
sou had been distressed by the calumnies and Ill
reports which ha, been formerly circulated against
Mrs. Jackson:-that, since the death OF that lady,
those repo, Is had subsidized, aud would soon be
heard Of no more: that Gen. Jackson knew the
same kind of report and imputations had prevail
eJ with ,espect 10 Mrs. Eaton:-that II he MAJ.
Eaton) entered into the cabinet, the enemies oil
the President would not fail to make handle OF
il, and thus revive. in the Generals bosom, re-
collections which could not but be painful and dis
tressinr. and which could not fail to disturb the
Tranquility and usefulness of his administrator.
Nv remarks we're received apparently win the
same Kindness aud courtesy which characterised
nv manner: but they no doubt laid the founda-
ZION Of that hostility which afterwards became dc
tire and ,mertiagMshabie. From the moment
Of Mai Eaton's appointment Gen. Jackson be-
can to use his utmost efforts to bring MIS- Eaton
into public favor and distinction. lie frequent
~ smoke of the neglect Mrs. Eaton received when
she attempted to appear at public places lie "id
not fIi, Ia intimate that 1t would be most accept
able service rendered him, l! the members oil MS
Cabinet would aid in promoting this object.
f.It yyrat,v embarrassed by such appeals to my
self. 1t was impossible for me to comply with
his wishes OH this point, but it was nevertheless
n,inCul for me to say so. In ANY other matter
i;n7 which could, with proper respect for my.
self and the feelings of my family, have complied
with an intimation Of his desire, no one would
have done 50 more cheerfully than myself. by
way of diverting his mind. several times spoke
Of the difficulty he would experience IN attempt
,op 70 regulate the intercourse OF the ladies', tna'
,hsv we're. in matters of that kind, uncontroila-
bic and omnipotent, that he would hnd less a,h-
rulty in fighting over again the Dattle OF New
Orleans. Soon after 1t was ascertalned that Mrs.
Eaton could not be received into the society OF
,ha families of the members OF the Cabinet, Mag.
E,,on,s conduct to me discovered an evident
change in his friendly feeling, and became cold
formal, and repulsive. repeatedly threw my
self into his company, and endeavored TO assure
hun that still had the most sincere desire 10 DE
on friendly terms with him, and wished Tor oppor-
t.n;t,es To convince him OF the sincerity ot my
professions. =,
In this course there was no S"ue.hV Wv "
that which my words fairly imported mos. sun
cerelyregretted the state OF Puoc 'ee .U"at 10
Mrs. Eaton. but 1t was not within nv power 10
con,rol or soften it. II was sentiment resting in
the brast of the female communityof Washington
C,ty and the nation, which was not to be suppress
.ed or ubliterated. After this, Major Eaton's en-
mity 10 myself became every day more and more
annarent. could hear frequently of declarations
10 This effect, and Of his determination to be re-
venged. 1t is true these reports came to IN. me
eircaitously and indirectly, but could not, from
circumstances, doubt their truth.
At length came the MISSION oy Coi; Johnson,
ths nublic by Messrs. lngham, and Berrien.
will only add to their statements that distlact-
,.,n,ds; stood Col. Johnson to saw that he came
~ rs from the President Of the United States
suthorized bv him to hold the interview; and I'M
less our difficulties in reference to Mrs Eaton