The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-24
ting a possible interference with his private

10 my acceptance of the office which was rendered
to me. thought / foresaw clearly the evils which
have too obviously resulted from the selection. A
gentleman, high in the confdeneeof the President,
whom he consulted, expressed his decided conviction,
founded on long and intimate knowledge of the
Presidents character that he would himself speedily
see and correct the evil. yielded to those sugges
tons, and took my seat in the cabinet" Mr. Berren
was the only member of this cabinet who turned
wing after its rupture. He became an influential
leader of the opposition to Jackson and Van Buren,,
and was elected to the u S. Senate by the wing Le-
gislature Of Georgia, in ls40.
There is no evidence that Mr.. Van Buren, had any
hand in the formation Of the cabinet. He had been
elected Governor of New York in November, 1929
and after the LIST Of January, 1929, remained at Al
bany to fulfil the duties of Governor for brief pc
Rod, before he resigned that Office on the 10Th Of
March, 1t should be remarked, that the jackson
party Of 1928, which had elected Gen. Jackson Pres
dent and Mr.. Calhoun Vice President, was composed
Of heterogeneous Materials namely, of the original
supporters Of jackson in 1924, of the friends Of Cal
houn, of those who had supported Crawford and
few Of those who had gone for Clay, but now pre-
ferred jackson to Adams; also, of the dissatisfied
Adams and Clay men, who deserted the administra-
tion, for the support of Jackson, in 1928. 1t was
necessary, for the purpose of harmony and concila-
ton to select the members of the cabinet and other
principal public officers from the different sections Of
the party. Accordingly in the cabinet, the Craw-
ford men were represented by Van Buren, and Der
rien, the original Jackson men by Eaton and
Barry, and the Calhoun men by Ingham and Branch
1t became evident that the cabinet was divided
thus:-Messrs. Ingham Branch and Berrien as the
friends Of Vice President Calhoun, and Messrs Van
Buren,, Eaton, and Barry as his opponents 1t was,
however, the general public impression that the in
fuence Of Mr.. Calhoun was preponderant at Wash
ington. His friend, Gen. Duff Green, who was then
public printer and editor Of the Telegraph, the
government organ, was the constant adviser Of the
President, whose early appointments of individuals
to public Office considered decidedly adverse to
the wishes and interests of Van Buren, and favorable
to those of Calhoun. The star Of the Vice President
was deemed to be in the ascendant; and it was ge-
morally believed that the influence Of the President
would be exered to promote his elevation to the Pre-
sidency upon his own retirement, which was then un-
derstood would take place at the end of the term Of
four years-Gen. Jackson having, during the Presi-
Dental canvass, expressed himself in favor Of the
one term principle, and adverse to a reelection of
Calhoun's prospects, was not, however, destined to
be realized
While the patronage Of the executive was so d.
rected publicly to strengthen Mr.. Calhouns party by
placing many of his friends in important posts the
ground on which he stood was crumbling beneath
him. and measures were in train to create breach
between him and the President To Mr. Calhoun
as more early and efficient supporter, the Pres
dent had given greater share of confidence, and
manifested warmer feeling, than he had originally
bestowed upon the Secretary of State, Mr.. Van
Buren,. In this particular the Secretary labored
under disadvantage; but circumstances soon ena-
bed him to obtain great superiority of influence
over the mind Of the President Major Eaton in
forms US that, ''the moment Mr.. Van Buren, was
appointed Secretary of State, jealousy and
fear arose, and then the desire was to place
around the President as many Of Mr.. Cal
houn's friends as possible, to counterfeit the
apprehended and dreaded influence, part of which
most gratritously was supposed to be. Devoted
as was said to be to Gen. Jackson and the success
Of his administration, my appointment was calculated
rather to thwart than to promote their Interior de-
signs. 1t was deemed necessary to prevent it bat
If that could not be effected, then adequate means
were to be resorted to to get me out OF the way
Months had rolled away, and as yet the President
had never seen and corrected the evil. as was ex-
pected. Mr. Van Buren,, it was feared, had gained,
and gaining so fast upon my esteem that serious
approhensions were entertained that | should fall
within tie vortex of his influence. In addition, it
was imagined rather feared, that General Jackson
might consent To a reelection, and reasons were dis
cerned why Van Buren, would desire it as matter of
interest to him, and how through my influence, the
matter might succeed and the claims Of Mr.. Cal
houn be deferred his prospects injured, and he be
driven into retirement. The malign influence must
be removed and to accomplish it, was to retire, not
only from the cabinet but from Washington. The
Secretary of War not qualified for the duties Of
the War Department, yet he might be sent to repre-
sent his country at Of the most important courts
of Europe. TGen Green had proposed, it was said,
that Major Eaton should accept the mission to Rus
sia, as an honorable exchange for the War Depart
mentl He Uhe Secretary and his family were not
ct and good society for the families Of such pure
honorables as Ingham, Branch and BelTien, and yet
they were to be considered good society enough
for one Of the first and most powerful monarches Of
Europe
Major Eaton had, in January, 1929, married the
widow of Mr.. Tmberlake, purser in the navy.
siding in Washington city. Although an elegant
and fascinating woman, the ladies of the most
fashionable society of Washington, on account Of
some supposed irregularities, before she the wife
Of Timberlake, had refused to admit Mrs. Eaton as a
member Of their social circle. Mrs. Calhoun, Mrs.
Ingham, Mrs. Branch and Mrs. Berrien in confor.
nifty to what was deemed the public opinion Of fe-
male society in Washington, refused to associate
with Mrs Eaton or to visit her. invite her to their
parties Major Eaton, in his statement before re-
ferred to, says 81 never complained of any one
for not associating with me or my family. To see
my house filed with unwilling reluctant visters,
constrained to call by the command Of power, could
never be desired by me. Happily, was never de-
pendent such authority for friends, associates and
yisiters. Always, when my doors were open, at
arge parties and at social calls met friends who
eyinced by their frank and open demeanor that they
came of their own yoltiop and not through hone of