Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-09

ter or the crawford incident or both. that
actuated Jackson is hard Ia determine.
but he decided 10 get rid of the three
members of his cabinet whose wives led
the war on Mrs. Eaton. Ii happened that
these three cabinet members were follow
ers of Calhoun. To have peremptorilN
called for their designations would have
provoked all sorts of rumors. so round
about way was resorted Ia in order ID
get rid of them.
Van Buren, and Eaton resigned, and, on
JackSonS intimation that il was neces-
sary To reorganize the cabinet. Ingham,
Branch and Berrien followed suit. Barry,
il will be noticed, did not resign. He was
a Peggy O'Nealite. Van buren, was sent
to England as United States minister and
Eaton, after serving tor a short time as
Governor OF Florida. was sent minis
ter to Spain. Ingham, Branch and Berrien
We're retired IL private life and obscurity.
Their wives We're no longer part. not 10
speak OF being leaders, OF Washington
society. AsSUredly II this was pun
ishment for their attitude toward Peggy
ONeai ii could not have been more
severe. Some political students of the
time were sure IL was. Others thought IL
was only part of the revenge visited on
Calhoun for his deceit toward Jackson.
Whichever way il is considered, Peggy
O'Neal could take it Il retributive jus
tice.
1oWn Ill loEluts anu lar dCIOSS the
seas. in Madrid. Peggy O'Neal found less
of venom and more Of happiness than she
found in the stormy days In Washington.
But even after she was gone she was not
forgotten. Jackson pursued Calhoun with
relentless fury. and Jackson controlled the
nation. No President before, and only one
since, has had 50 large a personal follow
ing and SO absolute control of the party
machine When Calhoun left the vice
presidential chair Van Buren, succeeded
him. And 1t was Van Buren, whom
Jackson selected to become his successor
as President. That put an end TO CAL
houn's chances for the presidency, the
one great ambition OF his life.
1t is difficult to believe that Jackson
drove Ingham, Branch and Berlien out
OF public life In order TO punish their
wives for their conduct toward Peggy
ONeal, for no man was more considerable,
more generous or more kindly 10 all
women than was Andrew Jackson. Harsh
he was 10 men, but never to women 80
delicate minded was he that never To
Peggy ONeal did he mention the Peggy
O'Neal affair. Strange, too, how polished
was his language and collrtly his manner
in their presence. There is a story told
of the excitement In Creole society in
New Orleans when II WAS learned that
the savage man who had fought Indians
50 long was to place the city under mar
tial law aud how the women who met
him al the first dinner given in his
honor scarcely believed he could be tho
man they had heard SO much about.
How could IL be otherwise when he could
answer Il pretty girl SO gracefully as
this:
so you have known our host a long
time?" she asked.
Yes, Miss Choutard." lie replied. Il
had the honor OF knowing him before the
world was blessed with your existence"
And while he did not like correction bv
man. he liked 1t from a woman. He
was proud Of declaring that his foot
never had touched foreign soil. once ia
made this statement while Peggy O'Neal
and her husband were visiting him al
the Hermitage.