The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-24

OpeHau0n9 tn0t mas ermlnate0 Dy involving OcucIA
Jackson and myself in the present correspondence
copy Of the letter which opened this operation has
been placed in my possession. 1t was written by Mr.
Crawford to Alfred Balch, Esq, Of Nashville, and
is dated l4th December, 1927. The movement thus
commenced did not terminate with this letter. II
was followed by other attacks from the same and
other quarters some Of which are indicated in the
correspondence. | remained ignorant and Hnsuspi-
cious of these secret movements against me- until the
spring of 1928, when vague rumors reached me; but
treated them with silent neglect, relying confidently
for protection on the friendly relations which had
no long existed between General Jackson and myself
and the uniform and decided course which had
taken in his favor, in the political struggle then
pending"
The publication Of this correspondence
few DAYS before the close Of the term OF
the Twenty-drst Congress, in March, 1881,
was one of the causes which FASTENED the dissolu-
ton Of the cabinet immediately afterwards, namely,
in April, 1881. From that time there was COM
pete rupture between the President and Vice Presi
dent and their respective friends, and Mr.. Calhoun
and his supporters acted afterwards in opposition TO
the administration of Gen. jackson.
In October, 1881, Mr.. Calhoun published reply
to some parts of Major Eatons address to the public.
Abiding to the course of Mrs. Calhoun in refusing
to visit Mrs. Eaton the Vice President remarks, that
he told his wife that che approved Of her decision,
though" no says, al foresaw the difficulties in which
it would probably involve me; but that viewed the
question involved param cunt to all political con-
siderations, and was prepared to meet the conse-
quences as to myself, be they what they might. The
road to favor and patronage lay directly before me,
could have been base enough to tread it. The in.
innate relation between General Jackson and Major
Eaton was well known, as well the interest that
the former took in Mrs. Eatons case but as degraded
asI would have felt myself had sought favorin that
direction, would not have considered the iLfamy
less had we adopted the course we did from any
other motive than high and a sacred regard to
duty. It not in fact, question Of the exclusion
Of one already admitted into society but the admis
sion of one already excluded. 1t is equally beyond
the scope of power or influence, to exclude the vir-
tuous and unsuspected female from society, as expe-
ence has found it to raise the suspected to that es
vation." General jackson never consulted me as
to the formation Of his cabinet. He was even then,
as it now appears, alienated from me, by means
which have been explained on former OCCASION
The movement on the part Of Mr.. Van Buren,, in
promoting and advising dissolution OF the cabinet,
proved judcious and fortunate for his own IN
terests, and for the future tranquility of Gen. Jack
son in administering the government. He was
appointed Minister to England by the President, but
recalled, account Of being rejected by the Senate
by the casting vote of Vice President Calhoun. This
circumstance aided his nomination and election to
the Vice Presidency from whence his transferencs
to the Presidency by the election Of 1885, was easily
effected.
As q further measure to insure the prostration of
Mr.. Calhoun, and ruin his prospects for the Presi
dency it was resolved by his opponents, after
the accession of Gen. Jackson to induce the latter
to consent to reelection. Accordingly as early as
December, 1929, the New York Courier and En-
quu'er-thena jackson paper-intimated that the re-
election Of Gen. Jackson desirable and ventured
to suggest that Mr.. Van Buren, nightbe candidate,
provided he declined. In March, 1880, the same
paper said: We repeat that Gen. Jackson, and he
only will be the candidate Of the republican party
for the next Presidency" The proprietor Of the
New YORK HERALD, Mr.. Bennett, then one of the
editors of the Courier and Enquirer, was among the
earliest political writer's at the time, who urged this
course. Gen. Jackson was nominated for reelection
by the democratic members Of the Pennsylvania
Legislature on the 3lst March, 1880, which course
was soon followed in New York, New Hampshire,
North Carolina, Alabama, and Inois--all of which
nominations took place before the dissolution Of the
cabinet and the previous publication OF Mr.. Cal
houn's correspondence with Gen. jackson.
The new cabinet which was not completely organ
ICED until late in the summer of 1881 was constituted
as follows:-Edward Livingston, of Louisiana, secre
tary of State; Louis McLane, of Delaware, Secre-
trary of the Treasury; Lewis Cass, of Michigan,
Secretary of War; Levi Woodbury., of New
Hampshire, Secretary Of the Navy; Roger b.
fancy, of Maryland, Acknowledgement This
cabinet the members Of which were all friendly
to MIR. Van Buren,, was not only superior to that
which preceded it, but might fairly compare with
most of those Of previous administrations; and liz
character furnished strong testimony Of the tribute
paid to public opinion in the selection of his advis
ers, BY President of great personal popularity.
During General Jackson's second term there were
several changes in the cabinet follows Mr.. Liy
ngston resigned as Secretary of State on being ap
pointed Minister to France, in 1888 and Louis Nc
Lane was transferred to the State Department from
that of the Treasury; he resigned in 1884 and John
Forsyth, of Georgia, was appointed in his place.
William j. Duane, of Pennsylvania, was appointed
Secretary of the Treasury in place of Mr.. McLane in
1885, but in consequence of refusing to remove the
public deposits from the United States Bank he
removed by General Jackson, and Roger B. fancy
attorney GencraD appointed to succeed him and
the Senate, not confirming Mr.. fancy, Levi
Woodbury. was transferred from the Navy
to the Treasury Department in 1884. Mahlon
Dickerson, Of New Jersey, succeeded Mr.. Wood
bury in the Navy Department, and Benjamin
F. Butler, of New York, was appointed Attorney
General in ce of Mr. fancy. Amos Kendall was
appointed Postmaster General, in place Of Mr..
Barry, appointed Minister to Spain, in 1885. In
these different changes in the cabinet, the utmost
harmony was kept uf between the President and
members, except in the case Of Mr. Duane. John
H. Eaton was appointed Minister to Spain, by Gen.
Jackson, in 1886,
On Mr.. Van Buren's accession to the Presidency,
he continued in the cabinet Messrs. Forsyth Wood.
bury, Dickerson, Kendall and Butler, and appointed
joel r. Poinsett Secretary Of War, in place of