Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-10-28

the occasion on which had given this re-
fusal, and the determination which had eX-
pressed 10 leave the Cabinet, rather than Il
yield TO it. | held myself ready at that time
to answer any just demand which you should
make upon me, founded upon this refusal or
the avowal Off You made none. On the
! contrary, after having my answer four days
in your possesson-after having, as You tell
me, given to it ga full and calm considera-
ton you replied to it in the spirit OF peace,
AMI terminated the correspondence by a
note, written in the same spirit: Up TO that
period your claims upon me were, then, at an
end Since that time, the letter of Colonel
johnson, the misrepresentation of paper
published under the eye of the President and
| finally arelation TO myself personally, have
compelled me 10 appeal TO the public. That
appeal is now pending. 1t places me in a
new position, and imposes upon me new du-
| ties. Under the alleged authority of the
President of the U. States, an issue has been
! rendered to me, the decision Of which is vi
tally important tony own character, and TO
the public interest.-It is at such moment,
| and under such circumstances, that your de-
! mand is presented 10 me. The American
people, to whom you appeal, will not fail to
! perceive and to note, both the time and the
circumstances under which il is made NV
answer is, that have higher duties to per-
form both to myself and TO the country, than
any which your demand, even conccding it
to be rightful, Con which subject | express
| nooplnlon) Can impose. | will not be di-
verted from the iulilment of these duties
When that purpose shall have been accom-
pllshed, | will attend TO your demand, with
a disposition promptly to repair any wrong
which may have inflicted
| am, sir, your ob't serv't,
in. MACPHERSON BERRIEN.
To John III. Eaton, ESQ.
! This letter which was delivered 10 friend
of Mr.. Eaton, (who, in consequence Of Gen.
Hunters ndisposition, had heen selected to
represent him) that friend refused to receive,
and returned 10 thasearcr of it, who, as the
| public will have seen, was ignorant of its
| contents. | considered this as decisive evil
| dence OF Mr.. Eaton's disposition 10 evade tho
contest which he protested to seek. Ifhe had
been sincere in making this demand, an op-
| Portunity was thus offered 10 him OF Crafty
! ing his resentment A short time would SUI
| flee to release me from my existing engage
/ mcnts TO the public, and then lie would have
been authorised 10 renew his claim. BY the
refusal TO receive my letter, he necessarily
closed all communication between us, unless
| the object OF such communication had been
as preliminary, TO fprther- pJQceading9. '9ro-
| w ithout this, any subsequent donand, 10y
| Mr.. EaIon, was merely idle When il was
made, having previously obtained the friend
| ly offices of Gen. Jones in this matter, in
structed him TO say for me, that could hold
| no further communication with Mr. Eaton,
| who must thereafter pursue his own course.
He had refused to accept satisfaction on the
only terms on which could offer il, and |
| lett him to seek it in any manner which
might be more agreeable 10 him. He has
selected his mode, by his appeal TO the pub
lie, and must now abide the result. think
then, 1t is obvious, that this idle bravado,
twice displayed, without even a plausible
pretence, has in each case eventuated in the
disgrace offs authors, and the papable dis
comhture ofits more acknowledgement. From
me, Mr.. Eaton received no wrong AItho'
cannot admit the existence of thu. intims-
cy, which it acCords with his present purpo-
ses to assert, still can fearlessly appeal 10
! those more Immediately conversant with nv
course here, TO say whether feelings of hos
tility have at any time characterized nv con
duct towards him. This declaration is not
1 made with any view to diminish his resent
I ment that he will continue 10 indulge az he
thinks FIT, without any effort on my part 10
propitiate it. no: Mr. Eaton, and his re-
sentiments, and the manner in which he NAV
think proper 10 indulge them, are utterly
unimporiant. That which demands our con
sideratlon is, that the law OF force is openIv
proclaimed at the seat Of the National Gov
ernment--that he who ventures 10 repeI tho
groundlcss calumnies Of the official press
must speak at the peril of his life, in the vim
dicati5n of his honSr-and if even in self-de-
fence, he shall dare to say aught which NAV
draw into question the public conduct of tha,
high iuhctionary, whose views it processes to
represent, and by whose alleged authority il
speaks, he must instantly prepare for the
combat
Such is the condition 10 which we are re-
duced IL is utterly u0ayailing to deny the
fact; for the evidence is before our eye,-
Two separate calls have been made upon me
by Mr Eaton within little more thana month,
and the fact that he has, at each time, falter-
ed in his purpose, only serves to render more
obvious the spirit which dictated them
There is no dispassonate man, caro- not o
what Pnrty he may be, who will venture Il
affirm that he had right, in either case. I,
make these demands Why, then, were thev
made? The official press has, in the mean
time, been INCREASINGLY employed in vain &,
lmpotent, but ruthless efforts to assaiI me
and for what? for the nero act OF yindicatino
myself, by a simple narrative offacts. exclu-
Ding all superfluous commentary These
thlngS nave been notorious. Ever since june
last this community has been repeatedly agi-
tated by rumors Of intended conflicts n,
man has been able TO close his ears against
{ them The public newspapers from ali ns,t.
the Union have brought them back TO ne
and there is no one who is either so elevater
mr. 20 tr, hia hrff fbaN fbovs l..