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


Eaton and unceasing efforts TO bring her into notice.
especially with the families Of foreign ministers"
Mr. Branch also says:-"From the moment Of Major
Eaton's appointment, General jackson began to
use his utmost efforts to bring Mrs. Eaton into
public favor and distinction He frequently spoke
of the neglect Mrs. Eaton received when
she attempted to appear at public places.
He did not fail to intimate that it would
be most acceptable service rendered him if the
members of his cabinet would aid in promoting this
object. ! felt greatly embarrassed by such appeals
to myself. 1t was impossible for me to comply with
his wishes on this point. In any other matter in
which could, with proper respect for myself and
the feelings of my family, have complied with an in
tmation Of this desire no one would have done 80
more cheerfully than myself. By way Of diverting
his mind, several times spoke Of the difficulty he
would experience in attempting to regulate the inter-
Of the ladies' that they in matters Of that
kind, uncomfortable and omnpotent; that he would
find less difficulty in fighting over again the battle
of New Orleans. Finally, when the President found
that his efforts TO introduce Mrs. Eaton into society
proved abortive he became every day less commu-
NEGATIVE, and formal in his Inequalities, until
there could be no doubt that, to myself, an un-
friendly influence had obtained an ascendancy in
his private councils"
The difficulties in the cabinet continued for about
two years. when on the 10th of April 1881, the pub
Lie was astonished by the information, promulgated
through the official journal at Washington that the
members of the cabinet had resigned, and the most
lively curiosity manifested to learn the of
this unexpected movement The letters of the seve
raj members Of the cabinet were published but they
served rather to infame than to crafty the public
feeling. The Secretary of War, Mr.. Eaton first re
signed, without assigning any reason, on the 9TH
April and he followed by the Secretary of State,
Mr. Van Buren,, on the 18th Of April, who assigned
as reason, that circumstances beyond his control
had presented him before the public as q candidate
for the succession to the Presidency, and that the in
furious effects necessarily resulting from cabinet
minister's holding that relation to the country had
left him only the alternative Of retiring from the ad
minstration, or Of submitting to sefdisfranchise-
ment hardly reconcileable with proprety or self
respect. This was considered curious reason, as
Mr.. Van s'Esn had not been formally nominated as
candiAaa sad mems thoughts had scarcely wan
dered beyond the election Of 1892 to that of 1885,
Messrs. Ingham and Branch, having each received
limitations of wish on the part Of the President
that they should resign heads Of the Treasury and
Navy Departments, their designations were forthwith
made, and accepted by the President in formal
letters, expressive Of his satisfaction with their official
conduct and stating his motive for requiring their
resignation. This was, to use his own words, that
having concluded to accept the designations Of the
Secretaries of State and of War; he had come to the
conviction that he must entirely renew his cabinet
Its members had been invited by me- he remark
ed, "to the stations they occupied. It had come
together in great harmony, and as unit Under
the circumstances in which found myself, | could
not but perceive the proprety Of selecting cabinet
composed OF entirely new materials, as being cacu-
lated in this respect at least to command public con-
fdence, and satisfy public opinion"
The intimation of his Intention to reorganize his
cabinet was also considered to extend to the Ator-
ney General, Mr. Berrien, who was then on visit to
Georgia. His resignation was accordingly rendered
and accepted upon his return to the seat of govern
ment, on the 18th of June. The cabinet had been
partially reorganized, about month previous by the
appointment Of the Secretaries of State and Of the
Navy. The arrangements, however, were not finally
completed until after the resignation Of the Attorney
General, it being arranged that the Postmaster
General, Mr. Barry, who had not apparently been
connected with the difficulties in the cabinet, should
remain in Office He accordingly continued mem
Der of the cabinet until 1885, when he resigned and
was succeeded by Amos Kendall. Mr. Barry was at
the same time appointed Minister to Spain, and died
in England, in August 1885.
nthe meantime, misunderstanding had occurred
between the President and Vice-Prcsident, which
continued to increase until it ended in an open rup
ture. The quarrel originated in the view taken by
Mr.. Calhoun, in 1919, when Secretary Of War, of
the conduct of General Jackson during the Semi
mole campaipO Tn discussions vbi III tool, rlaoa
in Mr.. Monroes cabinet, Mr. Calhoun proposed that
a court Of inquiry should be held on General Jack
sons conduct, nasmuch as he had transcribed his
orders. Mr. Crawford, then Secretary of the Trea-
sury, also advocated course which would have
been censure on General Jackson. The Secretary
of State, Mr. Adams, indicated the course of the
General, who was also sustained by President
Monroe, and all proceedings against him were re.
lnquished, government determining to Justify his
conduct in the military operations referred to.
In May, 1880, a letter from Mr.. Crawford to Mr.
Forsyth was placed in the hands of General Jack
son by the agency of particular friend Of Mr.. Van
Buren,, then at Washington, accusing Mr. Calhoun
of having proposed censure upon him for his con-
duct in the Seminole campaign above mentioned.
This letter transmitted to Vice-President Cal
houn by the President, with an intimation that
- was SO contrary 10 his Impressions o. the
course he had supposed Mr. Calhoun to have pursued
as to require some explanation. Mr.. Calhoun re-
piled, and showed, by referring to the correspon
dence between General Jackson and the government,
in 1918, that he had right to conclude that the
General knew Mr. Calhouns opinion to be that he
had transcended his orders, and that his vindica
ton had then been placed on other and distinct
grounds Mr.. Calhoun then proceeded to inquire
into the motives which had led at this late period
to renewal Of this discussion and avowed his be-
lief that it had originated in desire to detract from
his influence with the President and thus to destroy
lis political standing with the friends Of the admin
inistration. A long and protracted correspondence
ensued, in which Mr.. Crawford, and several of his
confidential friends, took part and, although Mr.
Van Buren, disclaimed all knowledge Of the prelimi
nary movements which had led to this disclosure and