Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-28
MRS. EATON.BOURGANNI.
"Reminiscences Of au EVentfnI life
5Iss Eaton Scandal and the War i'm
Gen. 5aCksOus Cabinet.

"Reminiscences of au EVentfHI life
she Eaton Scandal and the War i'm
Gen. JRCksOHs Cabinet.
From the New York Tribune Oct. -.
Madame BOurganni, or, as she prefers
to be addressed, Mrs. Eaton, is still in
New York, living in a style greatly in
conzast with that the wife of n Cabinet
Minister Of thirty-eight years ago. She is
now quite seventy years old, although in
face ard figures he looks at least ten years
Younger There is hardly 4 wrinkle upon
uer checks her dark eyes flash with the
iriIliancy Of youth, and her voice, which
in her younger days must have been
strangely musical is still rich and mellow
as that ola woman Of twenty. Hers
has been an cvontlul life. She was born
ia Washington City, not long after our
country had passed from its condition of
pupiiGge into that Of the struggling re-
public, Il the time when some of the
greatest minds were most deeply engaged
In attempting 10 solve for prosperity the
problem Of popular government The
country had not forgotten the ordeal
thought which the patriots had passed
and the struggles of the American ReyO-
,ution were rs fresh in mems minds as
are the greater struggles of the rebellion
in oure to day When child, she was
melted and carcssed by veterans who had
passed through all the trying scenes Of
that glorious contest, and when grown
un 10 womanhoOd saw many an aged
soldier Of the war dragging himselftO the
~ .. tbn MI
doled out as rccompense for the loss
of sight or strength in the service Of his
c0Hutrv.
Mrs. Eatons father was the landlord Of
the old Franklin Hotel, which for many
wears occupied a site on Pennsylvania
avenue near that Of the pTesentwellknown
Wizards. Here Purser Timberlako Of
the United States navy fell III love with
her, and after a short cOurtship they were
marFied. TimbeGlake died at sea, and
the young widow at the expiration of
eighteen months became the wife of Gen.
John II. Eaton, then q Senator from the
State orTennessee Gen. Eaton had been
one Of Timberlake smost intimate friends,
aud was one Of his sureties when the
latter took the position Of Pur5er in the
navy Shortly afterward Gen. Jackson
became President of the United States,
and his friend, Gen. Eaten, was made
Secretary Of War. At this time John c.
Calhoun was Vice President, Martin
Van Buren, Secretary Of State Samuel
u Ingham, Secretary Of the Treasury
John Branch of North Carolina, Secretary
Of the Navy. The Postmaster General
was VIM. T. Barry Of Kentucky, the first
holding that Office who was ever invited
To Il seat in the Cabinent councils.
The story the dissolution of Jacksons
cabinet is n matter of history, and the
different opinions, so often expressed in
regard tothat episode u the life ofthe great
soldier and statesman are too well re-
membered to require repetition here. 1t
was said that Mrs. Eaton, who was most
fascinating woman, and whose husband
syaa the most influential adviser Of the
President prompted him to dismiss the
snemberE Of his council, because their
u ives would not recognize her as their
equal in society. This gave rise to
social war, which in bitterness, in eXpens
diture of paper bullets Of the brain,
and in astounding developments as to
moral character, has never been equaled.
Mrs. Eaton was charged with numberless
crimes and misdemeanors, and was most
veientlessly prosecuted and prosecuted.
Thephpers otthe day teemed with charge
and counter charge Her life from babys
hood up was dissected and analysed Her
enemies and thuse OF her husband repre-
-,y.faI 10 sg
dontd ana unworthy Of the respect Of
society. Gen. Duff Green, then occupy
ing PrOminCn5 editorial position on a
Washington daily, was narticuIarlv
severe IN his structures, and most broadly
personal in his remarks. Even the Vice
President, John L Calhoun, the nulIifer
the first bold preacher of the doctrine If
secession, the prophet whom the cbiyaIrv
al the South revered, and whose teach.
ioas have since led thousands 10 untimeIv
raves, found leisure amid the cares Of
state Ia assistin dragging down to infamv
a weak woman, whose chief fault seems
80 have been that she was beautiful. an
that L'r husband cnioyCd the confdenc
If the ma p utll al tine lie mostarbitrar
thc most unyielding, the most honest and
the most powerful Of all in whose hands
lay then the destiuies Of the young repub.
lac
Recently representative of the Tri-
tame passed an hour in conversation with
Mrs Eaton, ANA learned from her many
facts in connection with her strange hiss
tory, which are here briefly set forth for
the first time in many years. Some of
them, indeed, have never before been in
print The first imputation against Mrs.
Eaton 5 character as a woman and wife.
was traced To a Rev MIR Eli, of Philadel-
phia. In those days there was no railroad
from Washington to the City of Brotherly
Love, and the stage made but few trips
duriR" the month Mrs Eaton made the
Journey in her private carriage, called
upon Mr. Eli, who, by the way, was sup,
posed 10 have the ear of the President in
al matters pertaining to appointments
etc, and forced him to divulge the name
Of the person from whom he had received
his data This was another minister