Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-03-26

During the Presidency of General Jack
son att dinner party given by jackson to
President Monroe at the White House,
Jonah Ringgold, then Marshall of the Dis
trict of Columbia, a lifelong and cohfiden-
tial friend of Monroe, was present In the
course of conversation the subject of the
Florida matter came up, and Ringgold
looking to the head OF the table, where
Monroe and Jackson were seated, said that
these two distinguished men ought to
be good friends, for had it not been for
Monroe acting against the advice of his en-
tire Cabinet, General jackson would have
been tried for his invasion of Florida. "You
are mistaken, sir" was the reply of the gem
tleman to whom the remark was addressed
"Mr. Calhoun was General Jackson's friend
in that matter, and saved him by his elo-
quence from censure, if not from public
trial" at is you, sir, that is Mistaken
said Mr.. Ringgold. 81 know what | now
say to be true. Mr.. Calhoun was not Jack
sons friend in that matter. 1t was Calhoun
that moved that jackson be brought to trial
for his conduct, or if not tried that he be
severely censured." General Jackson caught
a few words of Ringgold's remarks, enough
to make him ask Major Lewis, who was
guest, all that Ringgold had said. Lewis
repeated it. Finding that General jackson
doubted the statement Major Lewis then,
for the first time, repeated the conversation
ha haI vsitl (tnlgpoI IIa,n;ItA,
Jackson asked Lewis if could get Craw-
lords letter from Hamilton. Lewis thought
he could The next day he left for New
York, saw Hamilton, who told him the let
ter was written to Mr.. Forsyth, of Yazoo.
Hamilton wrote to Mr. Forsyth, who wrote
to Crawford for his consent to make 1t pub
lie, and, obtaining that consent, he inclOsed il
to Major Lewis, who gave it to Gen. jackson.
The General inclosed copy of it to Mr.. CAL
houn. Mr.. Calhoun in reply, was forced to
admit the fact stated by Crawford, but stated
that he did so because he did not approve of
the seizure OF the Spanish forts or the exc
cution of Arbuthnot and Ambrister. In the
reply he abused Mr.. Notwithstanding
him with hostility to Jackson, and insisted
that his own conduct toward General Jack
son from the beginning had been that of
true friend This letter bore date May 30,
1880
The next day General jackson replied TO
Mr.. Calhouns letter In it he stated that in
the dispute between Calhoun and Crawford
he had no interest whatever, but he felt il due
10 himself TO state "that the knowledge of
the Executive documents in my (Jackson's)
possession will show conchsively that had
authority for all did, and that your expla-
nation of my powers to Gov. Bib shows
your own understanding of them" The let
ter closes thus: understanding you now
no further communication with you on this
subject is necessary" Mr.. Calhoun replied,
but no answer was given. The General left
full expose of the whole affair among his
papers, which saw the light after his death
The difficulty never was and never could
be healed. General jackson thought Cal
houn guilty of a ialsehood and deception,
and with II man that he thought acted such
part there was no future friendship.
The quarrel finally proved the disruption
of General Jackson's first Cabinet In that
Cabinet Mr.. Ingham, Secretary of the Treas
ury; Mr.. Branch, Of North Caralina, Secre-
tary of the Navy, and John Mcpherson
Berrin, Of Georgia, Attorney-General, were
all Of them original Calhoun men, and APP
pointed as such. In the quarrel they stood
by Calhoun, and attempted 10 get rid Of
Jackson's personal friends in the Cabinet.
Mr.. Van Buren,, Secretary of State, resigned
as did JacksOn's other friends, and he served
u gentle notice TO quit also ON lngham,
Branch and Berrien, and a new Cabinet,
with Edward Livingston, Of Louisiana, as
Secretary of State; Louis McLane, of Della
ware, Secretary Of the Treasury; Louis Cas-,
Of Ohio, Secretary of War; Levi Woodbury.,
Of New Hampshire, Secretary Of the Navy /;
Amas Kendall, Postmaster General, and
Roger B. fancy of Maryland, Attorney
General.
A strong attempt was made at the time 10
show that Mr.. Van Buren, caused the disco
luton Of the Cabinet, but there is no evil
dcnce TO make the charge even plausible.
Another attempt was made 10 show that the
Cabinet was changed because some Of the
members refused 10 allow their wives 10 as
sociate with that of Secretary Eaton's. Her
father had been a tavern-kceper, and she
had not been accustomed 10 what in Wash
ington il called good society" Her manners
were free, perhaps too free, and Eaton's enc
mics sought 10 attach scandal 10 her name.
General jackson had boarded with her
father, and, like most childless men, was at
tached 10 children. Her husband and her
father were both personal friends of Gen
eral Jackson, and this, added to his cOnyic-
ton Of Mrs. Eaton's Innocence, made him
her friend, and moved him 10 resent the
ISLANDERS on her character.
The real cause Of the breaking up of Gen
eral Jaclsons first Cabinet was the quarrel
with Calhoun and Of the right or wrong Of
that disagreement the reader can form his
own opinion
The quarrel with jackson eventually threw
Mr.. Calhoun and his friends into league
with the great Wing leaders, who turned on
Jackson in many a hard-lought political hat
Tie, but IN the ond were always worstod.
While Congress was debating the question
Of censuriDg General Jackson for his con
quest of Florida, the people throughout the
country became excited. The approval Of
Jackson's course under the circumstances,
although they did not know that hc only
obcycd orders, wa almost universal. At IA
small gathering In village In Pennsylya-
mia, after a discussion and Of a "cussing' of
bis enemies, an old farmer remarked; "l.et
W make him Presdent~ Like wild.nre IL
took The expression got into the papers,
and that expression made Jackson a candi-
date and eventually made him President
The Courts have decided that chalk mark
Il paientable. and have ordered the Commits