Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-26

y =
IN those old days the tavern or inn
frequently heard epochal pronun-
ciamento before it was sounded in the
halls of Congress. A hs.able illus
tration of that are the words now
craven on the base of Gen. Andrew
Jackson's, statue IN Lafayette Park,
fronting the White House-"Our Fed
. eral Union-it must be preserved!'
This was a toast given by Gen. Jack
son, soon after he was inaugurated
PRESIDENT. at a dinner in celebration
of Jefferson's birthday. 1t was gem
orally expected that he would an
nounce his policy toward southern
democrats in general and toward Sem
resigned Vice President, in particular.
The latter was an ardent states
rights advocate and confidently ex-
pected the olive branch to be eX-
tended to HIM across the festive
board and was prepared to make an
oratOrlcaily ornate response.
The sierra. old, unyIeiding President.
however, left at home an deliberately
worded toast and gave instead the
uitimatum that has been carved upon
ms stalue as most typical of the man
and President.
While the ''nullifiers" were evidently
at loss concerning this cryptic ut-
terance, Cainoun himself never lost
poise or ready rejoinder. He mental
iy flung ASIDE his prepared toast, raIs-
ing glass in hand and answered: The
Union, next to our liberty most dear j
may We all remember that it can
only be preserved by respecting the
rights of the states and distributing
equally the benefits and burdens of
the Union"
hotel anu friendships environment OF
those primitive days of the republic
welded IN national politics is seen
during the first administration Of
Gen. jackson, when every member of
his cabinet rendered his resignation
accepted. This grew out Of Gen.
Jackson's having lived at O'NeaPs
Tavern. kept by William. O'Neal, later
proprietor Of the Franklin House.
He was a maker of barrel slaves and
hoops. In. December, 1905, he began
his career as a boniface, which con-
nected his name inseparably with the
hotel business of the capital. He an
nounced that he could board and
room twenty gentlemen, and until
wood and coal as side line and
furnished coaches to the Capitol for
members" His embryo hotel was on
the north side of l street between
10th and 21st streets. This became the
Franklin House in 1919. and it was
Clinton died in 1912.
Before he went to live in the White
House Gen. Jackson. while staying at
ONeafs tavern, met the fascinating
peggy, daughter of the landlord,
and a warm friendship resulted
Peggy" ONeal married John B.. Tim
berlake, a purser in the United States
Navy. The husband died and the
widow. noted for beauty and vivacity,
married Gen. John Eaton; former
q - 4Rr< -
Governor of Florida and minister to
Spain. who was then Jackson's Secre-
tary Of War. Mistress Peggy O'Neal
Eaton caused quite a sensation In Wash
'ngton society during the Jackson adj
when the wives and other members re-
fused to admit her to their circle The
ensuing social battle was the most
bitter in the history of the capital.
and before it was over the resigna-
tsa 81 every cabinet smsnseer was
Martin Van Buren,. then Secretary
of State. who had been very friendly
toward Mistress Peggy" and Gen
Eaton were persuaded by the Presf-
dent to retain their posts, but the
This incident is credited with being
somewhat responsible for Van Buren's
subsequent elevation TO Vice Preside nt
and then to the White House.
Daniel Webster. whose convivial
nature and gigantic brain were equal
fellows. was wont to dispense his po-
hticai wisdom and to lay many a
legislative campaign at the festive
board with boon companions. He was
Known as the one man OF his time who
was the center of most-of the i'm
himself told inimitably Of difficuIties
he experienced in getting from his
own hotel, the st. Charles, near the
Capitol, to political campfire in a
Georgetown hotel. where he was to be
the center of attraction, and which
gives an amusing picture of the Cap
ital in those days.
pennsylvania avenue-the Appian
way of our REPUBLICANS graded
while Jefferson was President, at a
cost of $4,000. Jefferson personally
superintended the planting of four
the Capitol and the white House, a
row along each curbstone and two
other rows in the street. This d.
vtded the Avenue into three straight.
Always. like Inter den Linden in Ber-
lin. In winter and spring the drive
mudholes, some of them axle deep.
and the croxs-streets a mass of red
mud. ~
On this particular occasion Mr..
webster ana a friend essayed to go to
Georgetown in hackney coach.
which got stuck fast in the mud. The
driver had to carry his passengers
one at time to the sidewalk. where
they strobe around impatiently until
the empty carriage could be pulled
out of the bog. Years afterward, in
narrating this incident. Mr. Webster
used to laugh at his fears that the
Jehu might fail under his weight
and his dress suit would be ruined.
\
John RANDOLPH, representative
} and senator from Virginia, one of the
most picturesque characters of his day
in Congress-the same who fought a
bloodless duel with Henry Clay-used
to call Pennsylvania avenue 1.-The
Great Serbonian bog" and tell of the
dangers of a trip over it from the
Union Hotel in Georgetown. where he
stopped and held his political and So
cial court. in a large stage with seats