Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-01-17
An Old Social War Redescribed.

Our Washington correspondence has
made it evident that the opposition to
the confirmation of AttOrney-General
Williams as Chief Justice arises from
social rather than political cases. The
female leaders of society in Washing
ton dislike Mrs. Williams because she
was divorced woman when she mar
ried her present husband, and deter
mined that she shall not have the pre-
cedence to which she is entitled were
she the wife of the head of the judici-
airy department..
1t is not our purpose to discuss the
merits of the question, or to anticipate
its probable results. We only mention
it as being in some aespects analogous
to contest which over forty years
ago cOnvulsed Washington, and even
disOrganized the Cabinet. The story
of Mrs. Eaton is more or less familiar
to many of our readers, but their
memories will not be any the worse
for little refreshing, while there are
Others to whom many of the facts
which we subjoin will have all the in
terest of novelty.
When General Jackson had been
inaugurated President in 1929, he gave
the position of Secretary of War to his
old friend John Henry Eaton, former
ly United States Senator from Ten
nessee. This selection caused a good
deal of talk and unfavOrable comment
from the first on account of the Secre-
tary's wife. Her maiden name was
Margaret or Peggy O'Neal. Her father
kept tavern at which many of the
Congressman boarded. Her conduct
was rather free and lively, and she was
good terms with many Of her fathers
boarders, among others with General
Jackson and Senator Eaton. She final
ly married purser Timberlake of the
navy. He committed suicide while on
duty in the Mediterranean squadron,
in 1928. The reactionary gloom of dis
sipation was the cause ascribed for the
deed, though there were not wanting
rumOrs of unpleasant news in regard
to the conduct of his wife at home.
In Januaro, 1929, the widow married
Major Eaton. A few weeks later it
was rumored that the bridegroom was
to be Cabinet officer, and the fair
aristocraty at the capitol were shocked
at the idea of being obliged to recog-
nize Peg O'Neal as an equal. u Fsa
The horror was not confined to the
ladies. The Rev. Mr.. Campbell, pas
tor of the Presbyterian Church, at
which the President attended, thought
the matter worthy of interference, but
believing it prudent to keep the back
ground, told the Rev. e. S. Ely, of
Philadelphia, the whole story, and
that gentleman undertook to enlight-
Ell General Jackson by letter. There
were some pretty hard stories about
Mrs. Eaton, which if verified, would
have shown her to har to be anything
but prude. The President would be-
lieve none of these. He denied them
all, and argued against their CREDIBLE
bility in long reply to DR.. Ely. The
latter was not wholly convinced, and
rejoined. The President came out
with a second letter, produced docu-
mentary evidence, and demanded to
know DIR. Ely's informant. Mr.. Camp
BELLS name having been mentioned,
he visited the White House, but was
put down pretty emphatically by Gen
eral Jackson, who criticised his course,
and ceased to attend his church. All
that executive influence could do in
behalf of the unhappy lady was done,
but after all, few except office seekers
and others who curried Presidential
favor called upon her Mrs., Vice resi-
dent Calhoun, Mrs. Acknowledgement
Berrien, and Mrs. Secretary of the
Navy Branch took no notice of her.
Mrs. Donelsen, wife of the Presidents
nephew, and mistress of the White
House, though forced to receive her
would not visit her. Mr.. Van Buren,,
Secretary ofState, being a widower,
could do the polite without mourning
scandal, and was courteous according
ly. The Foreign Ministers wives
among the malcOntents.
The British and Russian .Embassa-
doris, being bachelors, were free to act
the civil part as Mr.. Van Buren,, and
was therefore civil to Mrs. Eaton. At
batl and supper given by the British
envoy, Mr.. Van Buren, entreated Mrs.
Huygens, wife of the Dutch, Minister,