Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-02-23


Cincinnati Commercial a series of
articles, entitled the "Reminiscences
Of Moses Dawson" from which we
take the following interesting passage
relating to the personal, social and
political lcanipgs Of John G. Calhoun :;
PETTIcOAT Politics
A friend confronted us tho other
day with tho inquiry whether he bad
read all that related to the difficulty
between jackson and Calhoun, and
especially that part in which Mrs
Eaton figured, and, on our answering
in the affirmative, he asked:
"Did General Jackson and Mrs
Eaton really ?"
mo they did not really"
"How, really 2"
"Wby, your really"
"Oh / understand"
"You doY Well then allow me TO
say that your improper query rests on
totally erroneous conceptions.
"How SO 7"
zone false conception is that which
Carlisle points out in bis life OF Fred
erick the Great as TO that Kings rela-
ton to his wife, which you may read
for yourself; and the second is, that
ii il untrue that the unfortunate quar-
rel between Calhoun and Jackson
originated in an attempt made by
Jackson to force Mrs Eaton on certain
society in Washington. Hengain aud
again Informed all concerned, that
social intercourse was u matter of
which each had right to judge for
himself, and that he would in no wise
attempt to control it."
THE REAL CAUSE OF cALHoUS's SOUR
NESS.
Even the most superficial observer
Of American politics might know that,
with our public men, questions as to
social intercourse were usually secon-
dairy to political aspirations, and Mr..
Calhoun formed no exception.
He disliked Eaton for proferring
Van Buren to himself for President,
and Mrs Calhoun's dislike of Mrs.
Eaton followed that of her husband,
and not the reverse. Jackson's Cabi-
net was, as cabinets in republics are
too often. the focus Of movements for
the succession. Ingham, Branch and
Berrien were Calhoun men, while
Eaton, Barry, and Van Buren, himself,
were Van Buren men. As soon as
Calhoun and his friends knew, or
thought they knew, that jackson
inclined TO the little Dutchman, there
WIS fax for a political conhagralion,
aud Mrs. Eaton happened to be the
7 ~. =. =. match that got - G-a a,si !
/ that 5 all there is OF ".
A WOMAN TOO MUCH IN WASHINGTON.
We expressed our regret that Mrs.
Jackson's death deprived her consorl
Of that wise counsel which a public
man can only get from a good wife,
but we were careful not to assert that
every wife should 20 with her husband
to Washington In fact, we hold that
very few women are suited TO such |
places. Most of them exceed both the |
measure and appropriate sphere of
advice. Some, also, have manners
aud habits which increase the Difficult /
ties in their husbands way The
White House pre.supposes, however,
Presidential household during con
linued residence Of four years. The |
best head of such household is lady |
like Mrs Washington but, unfortun-
atcly, that model woman stands, as
Mrs. President" almost solitary and
alone.
Mr.. Calhoun had bis wife and |
daughters with him at Washington
for a residence al the capital had 4
become second nature to him and
mis- family. Calhoun was perhaps the
pnrest politician of that period in his
principles as to family life; but that
purity came to the wrong market I
when il went to Washington Cal |
houn was too great a moral rigorist 4
in politics, and topping il off with
social exclusivencss made him disa-
rrecablc to many Mrs Calhoun and |
daughters were Southern ladies, of a
type that becomes moro and more ILL., I
suited to q society such as our polili- /
cal metropolis must necessarily draw /
around itself They revolved from
vulgarity and cherished refinement
and while they would, as denizens Of
the White House and rulers of the /
social tone in the upper ci cles, have
exercised a good influence, yet, as
they had to move as equals in a pro
miscuous crowd, their desiring to con
siilute a society of their own enhanced |
the many incongrui,es that existed
between Calhouna and the world around |
him. They should have submitted 10 I
the public as they found il or staid at
home.
TuE AMERICAN CATO.
Mr. Calhoun might have learned
from the history Of his great Roman
prototype that Censors are not likely |
D 4 .n..