Year: 1876

other ever possessed in a greater degree
the confidence of the people, or exeelled
in personal popularity with the masses
than Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee
Politicians were not always satisfied
with him. not even those who had large
ly participated in the success of the party
that twice elected him to the Presiden-
tial Office; but the people were ever with
him, and believed in his honest, devot-
ed patriotism, stood by him in every act
in his administration of public affairs,
when political leaders of the party were
alarmed at the bold aggressive move
ments of the brave and intrepid soldier.
1t is related of a Pennsylvania farmer,
who having sold, in Philadelphia, a
wagon load of products from his farm
some twenty miles back in the country.
was offered for payment the notes of
the United States Bank, then at a pre-
MUM of one per cent. over the State
bank circulation, when to the surprise
of the purchaser he declined to take
them in payment, simply saying that
General Jackson had said the Bank was
bad and corrupt, and therefore he did
not care to have anything to do with it
at all.


A true and staunch friend, he never
was known to abandon any one in whom
he had any friendly feeling although the
whole world might go against his views
and opinions He was ever the defend
er of the weak against the strong, and
no man ever surpassed the old Hero in
his chivalric appreciation Of woman, or
in his disposition to protect and defend
her at all times against any species of
aggression or persecution. This noble
disposition had been increased in him in
consequence of the base and dastardly
attack that was made OH his domestic
life during the canvass for his first presi-
Dental term, and even upon the beloved
partner of his joys and sorrows, whose
life, it was believed, was shortened by
such attacks and prosecutions.


This trait in his character for gallant
defense of woman was brought fully in
to action on the memorable embodiment
in Washington society in 1881, in which
the members of his cabinet and their
families were principally and immediate
ly interested. Reference is here made
to the unpleasant condition of affairs
Immediately preceding the dissolution
of the Cabinet in that year. The rup-
ture that had taken place between Gen
eral Jackson and Mr.. Calhoun, to which
more particular allusion will be made
further on, was soon followed by an
event naturally to follow as conse-
quence- that of breaking up the Presi-
dents Cabinet, Several members class
ed as the political friends of Mr. Cal
houn could not be expected to remain
as ministers to General jackson while
adhering to that gentleman. This disso-
luton of the Cabinet, however, was
hastened and more ,mGec lately brought
about by the embodiment in high sooie
ty referred to above. The main diff
Guilty and source OF these troubles in
society, as the General believed, arose
from a wanton and unprovoked perse-
ation on the part of the Calhounites, of
the family of his friend and favorite
minister, General Eaton, then Secretary
of War, aimed as an indirect attack on
himself, and similar in effect to the das-
tardly war made on his own domestic
peace during his first candidacy for the
Presidential office.


Mr.. Samuel ID. Ingham, the Secretary
of the Treasury, visited the President
at the suggestion OF Colonel Il. I'll.
Johnson, of kentucky, the reputed slayer
of Tecumseh, to see if some harmonious
compromise could not be made whereby
he and others could remain in position
for although friends and admirers of Mr..
Calhoun, and therefore necessarily and
to some extent disaffectea toward Gen
eral Jackson, yet they seemed desirous,
to use q modern phrase--to stick; but
the President was far from being concil-
lated, and, as Mr.. Ingham reported back
to Colonel Johnson, he had become very
violent, and, as he remarked under con-
siderable excitement, that he would
never again undertake s,.oh u mission,
for the President was not only violent
but seemed to roar at him like mad
dened lion. Colonel johnson said lie
would go to him and sse IL the lion
would roar at him possibly the old He
70 had roared enough for that occasion,
for he received the Colonel, for whom
he had high regard, with that impress
sive dignity that was never surpassed by
any high official in receiving those who
approached him, especially under such
extraordinary circumstances as then ex-
listed. Colonel Johnson warmly depTe-
Gated the course afIa.rs were taking
that they would lead to a breaking up
of the Cabinet, and feared that the peo.
pie of the country would become alarm.
ed and disaffected at SO unusual an
event. The President, in his determin
ed manner, assured him that he need
not entertain any apprehensions With
regard to the reception OF such an occur
renee by the people, who would, in their
accustomed epmMon-sense way of look
ing at causes and effects, be but little
concerned by the changes which might
take place in his Cabinet.


The result was as foreseen by Colonel
Johnson-the Cabinet was dissolved. and
as foreseen by the President the people
seemed to care but little about it. Mr.
Van Buren, Secretary OF Stste, and
General Eaten, Secretary of War, being
the special, personal, and political
friends of General Jackson, having ten
dered their designations, the balance Of
his Cabinet were, of course, peSessitated
to follow their example, thus terminal
ing council to the President in which
Mr.. Calhoun had been largely represent
ed, and which, consequently could nc
longer be palatable to the President
General Eaton and his family went tC
Florida, where he had been appointed
Governor. and subsequently as Minister
to Spain. Mr.. Van Buren went as min
lister to England, and the rest OF that
famous Cabinet retired from public te