Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-01-21
THE PEGGY O'NEAL WAR.
One of the Strangest Developments in American
Political History Which Had for Its Centre a
Charming, Pretty and VivaciOus Woman and as
Her Champion the Most Rugged Man Who Ever
Has Occupied the Presidential Chair.


| jealous of her and who abandoned hel
soon after her marriage. They ivec
in Tennessee, which at that time wal
not State. The husband, Robards
went to Virginia and began proceedings
for divorce. It was more difficult tC
get divorce then than now, and, be-
sides, divorce was not looked upon SC
i lightly as at present. First Robards
had to apply to the Legislature for per.
mission to bring suit. This he did. The
fact was duly published when the per.
mission was granted. News Travelled
slowly in those days, and after the lapse
of some time, and supposing that
Robards had obtained the divorce, Jack
son and Mrs. Robards were married.
Not until two years after their marriage
did they discover that Robards did not
institute the suit until after the mar
riage, and then made lis claim on the
ground that Mrs. Robards was a biga-
mist This was the sorriest point in
Jackson's life. For his wife he had a
love approaching reverence. Fiery of
temper, bitter and unforgiving. he
never uttered harsh word in this wo-
mans presence, but he fought duels
with and pursued throughout life those
who assailed her good name.
Warned.
He was in no mood to listen to as
saults on women's character, which,
shortly after he announced his selection
of his Cabinet, one of his friends called
his attention to the fact that the ap-
pointment Of Major Eaton as Secretary
of War would give rise to scandal.
Major Eaton had been guilty of marry
ing pretty Peggy O'Neal. Some years
before Jackson's election to the presi-
dency Peggy had married purser in the
navy named Timberlake. What led her
to marry him is a mystery. for he was a
worthless, drunken creature. On a
cruise in Mediterranean waters he had
cut his throat and thrown himself over
board, leaving her a widow. Major
Eaton, who had lived at the Indian
Queen in rooms adjoining those of Mr..
and Mrs. jackson, courted and married
the widow. The marriage gave rise to
a good deal of gossip. Eaton, who had
been one of Jackson's staff at New
Orleans, was United State Senator, a
man of great dignity, culture and
wealth. The gossips said that he had
been devoted to Peggy O'Neal while
she was the wife of Timberlake, and
made her out to be a woman without
shame.
When the friend told Jackson that
through Peggy O'Neal the appointment
of Eaton as a Cabinet officer would
bring scandal to the administration, the
President asked for proof that Peggy
O'Neal was not a good woman. The
friend could furnish nothing except that
it was general gossip. This enraged
the general. He declared that il there
was a virtuous, good woman on earth
it was Peggy O'Neal. That she was
other than he and his wife had known
her to be he could not believe. For the
evil-minded he had no tolerance. For
those who attacked women he had an
abiding hatred. So he ordered his
friend out of his sight.
But those who attacked Peggy O'Neal
were mostly women, and when Eaton
became Secretary of War the Peggy
O'Neal war began, a war such as
America never had before or since. The
Cabinet was made up of Van Buren,
Secretary of State; Eaton, Secretary of
War; lngham, Secretary of the Treas
ury; Branch, Secretary of the Navy;
Berrien, Attorney-General, and Barry,
Postmaster-General. Van Buren was q
bachelor and Barry a widower. The
others were married, and their wives a,
once put the ban on Peggy O'Neal. Az
the women of the Cabinet were the
leaders of society in the capital, theil
decision bound their followers. At tho
first reception in the White House som.
women left when Peggy O'Neal arrived
Thereafter they refused to go ther,
unless assured she was not to be present
Of all the women in the official set onl,
two, the wives of foreign ministers
would receive the prescribed woman.
The Talk OF the Country.
| Of course Washington talked of littl
else than Peggy O'Neal, and soon tn
whole country talked of her. Neye
was woman's name so mercilessly as
sailed. The stories of her vicious con
duct grew until she was accused of al
most everything possible for woman I
do. In vain did Jackson try to stem tn
scandal. He asked his Cabinet mem
bers to aid him. Van Buren, politician
courtier and bachelor, was charme
with Peggy O'Neal. So was Barry
the widower. But Ingham, Branch an
Berrien argued that it was idle to er
deavor to influence their wives in sue
matter. And so it was. Eaton. proud
: upright man that he was, gladly woul
have challenged any man he could hay
fastened the stories on, but he could nc
challenge everybody. Willingly woul
he have resigned, but that would hay
r been confession of the truth of I'll
|, charges. And poor Peggy O'Neali Wit
. every women spurning her, what cou
she do?
Jackson had fought mutiny in Il
g Indian war when his troops rebelle,
4 He had checked those outbreaks /
. hanging one of the ringleaders. But
: could not hang wife of Cabinet mil
a lister for refusing to associate wit
e Peggy O'Neal.
t Week after week the fight continne