The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-10-17
1886 to 1840.

i
master, Antonio Buchignani, but soon
obtained a divorce from him. She
died in Washington, Novembe 8,
l1S7s."
In Applton's Encyclopedia is a very
fair statement of the Peggy O'Neal
was the following is drawn from that
work. After reciting that Vice-Presi-
dent Calhoun and Jackson's secretary
of state, Martin Van Buren, were
rival aspirants for succession to the
presidency, it is written.
"A curious affair now comes into
influence Jackson's personal relation
to these men. Early in 1929, Eaton,
secretary of war, married Mrs.
Timberlake, with whose reputation
gossip had been busy. 1t was said
that he had shown her too much at
tention during the lifetime of her
first husband.
jackson was always slow to be-
lieve charges against woman. His
own wife, who had been outrageous
lily maligned by the Wing newspapers
during the campaign, had lately died
and there was just enough outward
similarity between Eaton's marriage
and his own to make him take Mrs.
Eaton's part with more than custom
ary vehemence.
Caused Break With Calhoun.
"Mrs. Calhoun and the wives of
| the secretaries would not recognize
Mrs. Eaton. Mrs. Donelson, wife Of
President Jackson's nephew and mis-
tress of ceremonies at the White
House, took a similar stand, but all
! in vain.
Foremost among those wro frown-
ed Mrs. Eaton out of society was
Mrs. Calhoun. On the other hand Mr..
Ivan Buren, widower, found himself
able to be somewhat more complais-
ant and accordingly rose in Jackson's
esteem.
"The fires were famed by Lewis
and Kendall, who saw in Van Buren
a more eligible ally than Calhoun.
Presently intelligence was obtained
from Crawford, who hated Calhoun,
to the effect that the latter, as mem
Der of Monroe's cabinet, had disap-
proved of Jackson's conduct in Flori-
da. This was quite true but Calhoun
had discretely yielded his judgment
to that of the cabinet led by Adams,
and thus had officially sanctioned
Jackson's conduct.
"These facts, as handled by Eaton
and Lewis led Jackson to suspect CAL
houn of treacherous double dealing,
and the result was quarrel which
broke up the cabinet. In order to get
Calhoun's friends, Ingram, Branch
and Berrien out of the cabinet, the
other secretaries began resigning.
This device did not succeed and the
oustings of the three secretaries en-
tailed further quarreling, in the
course of which the Eaton affair and
the Florida business were beaten
threadbare in the newspapers and
evoked sundry challenges to deadly
combats.
"In the summer of 1881 the new
cabinet was formed consisting of Ed
ward Livingston, secretary of state;
Louis McLane, treasurer; Lewis Cass,
war; Levi Woodbury., navy; Roger B.
Taney, attorney general; in the post
Office department no change. On Van
Buren's resignation Jackson at once
appointed him minister to England,
but there was a warm dispute in the
senate of his confirmation, and it
was defeated at length by the casting
vote of Calhoun. This check only
strengthened Jackson's determine,
Ition to have Van Buren for his sue,
Icessor in the presidency.
"The progress of this quarrel en-.
tailed breach in the kitchen cabinet
in which Duff Green, editor of the
Telegraph, and friend of Calhoun
avs thrown out. His place was taker
by Francis Preston Blair of Ken
lucky, man of eminent ability ant
, earnest patriotism.
As a Society Leader Saw 1t.
i The cabinet of President Jackson