Georgia messenger. (Ft. Hawkins, Ga.) 1823-1847, August 06, 1831, Image 2

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MISCELLANEOUS. From the Westchester Spy. The Village Garrison—An anecdote of the Thirty Years’ lVar. —lt happen ed in the course of the thirty year* war, that Gonsalvo de Gordeva, who com manded the Spanish troops, then over running the Palatinate, found it neces sary to possess himself of a little wal led village, called Ogerseeitn, that lay in hrs way. On the first intelligence of his approach, all the inhabitants fled to Manlteiin, and When Gonsalvo at length drew near, and summoned the place to stnrender, there remained within the walls only a poor shepherd and his wife, the latter of whom, having that morn ing brought a little infant into this world ol misery, ivas unable to leave her bed, and tier husband of course, staid with her. The anxiety and distress df the poor man may be more easily conceived than described. Fortunately, however, he possessed both courage and shrewdness; and on the spur of the moment betho't himself a scheme of escape, which, af ter embracing them both, he hastened to put into execution. The inhabitants having run off in a tremendous hurry had left almost all their property at his disposal; so he had no dillicnllv in finding what was requi site for his purpose, namely, a complete change of dress, llavingfirst accoutered his lower man in military guise, he tossed away his shepherd’s hat, which he replaced w ith a huge helmet, “ a world too,wide;” he buckled a long sword to his side, threw a goodly cloak over his shoulders, stuck two enormous pistols in his belt, ant* putting on boots so thick in the soles and high In the heels, that they lifted him about half a foot from the ground, he fastened to them a prodigious pair of jingling spurs which were the fashion of the time.— Thus accoutred, he forthwith betook himself to the walls, and leaning with a pompous air on his sword, he listened cooly to the herald, who advanced to summon the village to surrender. * t fiend, ’ said our hero, as soon cs the herald had concluded his speech. • tell vour commander that though I have not yet made up my mind to surrender 1 at all, I may possibly be induced to do so, provided he agrees to the three fol lowing Conditions, in which I shall nuke no abatement whatever:—lst. The garrison must be allowed to march Out with military honors; 2d. The lives and property of the inhabitants must be |irotected ; 3d. They must be allowed (he fiec exercise of the Protestant re ligion.’ The heraiil immediately replied that such preposterous conditions could not for a moment be listened to, added that the garrison was known to be weak. and Concluded by again demanding the in stant surrenderor the place. * My good friend,’ answered the shep herd, *do not be too rash. I advise von to inform your General from me, that nothing but my desire to avoid blood shed could make me think of surren dering on anv terms whatever, and please to add, that if he does not choose to agree to those I have already stated, he will gain possession of the town only at the point of the sword, (or 1 swear to you by the faith of an honest man and of a chiistian, as well as by the honor of a gentle.nan, that the garrison has received a reinforcement he little dreams of.’ So saying the shepherd lighted his pipe and pnfled away with an air of the most consummate nonchulanct. Con founded by this appearance of boldness and security, the herald thought it piu dent to return, and state to Gonsalvo the demands which had been made The Spanish General, deceived by this show of resistance, and being unwilling to waste either men or time in reducing this paltry town, resolved to agree to the conditions offered, and followed by his troops, approached the gates. This le nient determination was announced by the fierahl to the shepherd, who only vouchsafed to say in reply, ‘ I find your commander is a man of some sense.’ He then left the walls, letdown the drawbridge, deliberately opened the gales, and allowed the Spanish troops to enter the town. Surprised at seeing no one in the street, but a strange look ing fellow, whose caricature of a milita ry costume hung upon him like patch work, Gonsalvo began to suspect treach ery, and seizing the shepherd, demand ed to know where the garrison was. ‘lf your highness will follow me, I will show you, answered the rustic. * Keep my stirrup, then’ exclaimed Gonsalvo, * and on the least svmptom that you mean to betray, I shall send a bullet through you l heart.’ ‘Agreed,’ said our friend. ‘Follow me, Spaniards! for 1 sweat by the word of an honest man and Christian, as well ashy the honor ol a gentleman, that the garrison will offer you no injury.’ lie then placed himself by Gonsnl* vo’s stirrup, and, followed by the troops, passed through several silent ami de serted streets, till, at length, turning into a narrow lane, he stopped before a mean looking house, and having pre vailed on Gonsalvo to enter, he led Imn inroasinall room, where lay his wife, and her little boy beside her. ‘ Noble General,’ he said, pointing to the former, ‘ this is our garrison; and tins’ he added, taking his son in hii arms, ‘isthe reinforcement of which I told you.’ Aware now of the real state of mat ters. the absurdity and cleverness ol the t-ick, moved even Spanish gravity, and Gonsalvo gave Iree course to his mirth. THentAing off a rich cold chain which decorated Ins person, he passed it round the neck of the infant. * Permit me to offer this mark of my esteem.’ lie said good naturedlv, * for the valient ganiSc >nos Ogersheitn. By the hand of a soldier, I envy you the possession of such a reinforcement; and you must let me present you with • nurse of gold, for the use of the vounc recruit.’ lie then stooped down and kissed the delighted mother mid her boy, and quit ted the house, leaving the shepherd to boast, for many a summer day and **mer night of the success of his stra- Sagem. DOMESTIC. /’rows the Rational Intelligencer. TO THE PUBLIC. Circumstances beyond my control have placed me under the necessity o( presenting myself to vour notice. I as sert no claim to your attention, which does not belong equally to every free citizen of the Republic. But I ask. mid I feel that I have, a right to expect, your candid consideration of this ad dress. Its subject if one of awakening interest to us all. Theposition in which I find myself has nothing inviting in it. It is one which 1 have not sought, but which has been forced upon me, and one in which I am caller! upon to vindicate not myself merely, but the cause ol truth, and the best and dearest interests ol the community, at a hazard to which fatuity alone could be insensible. The misrepresentations of a public journal, professing to speak the lan guage of the President of the U. States, and published under his eve, have pre sented to me the alternative, of submit ting to an imputation, alike dishonora ble and unfounded in fact, or of meet ing the issue which has been tendered to me under the alleged authority of that high officer. If I do not shrink from this unequal strife, it is because I have a confidence which has never wavered, in the intelligence of my countrymen, a linn ayd unshaken reliance in the jus tice of that tribunal, whose high prirog ative it is at all times, and under all cir cumstances, lo vindicate the cause of truth. I have studiously abstained from any effort to excite public feeling in relation to the dissolution ol the late Cabinet.— 1 have felt that the question of its pro priety Was one, the decision of which belonged alone to the American People. Personally I have not been disposed to deny tlie right of tile President to cxei cise his own free will, as well in the change, us in the original selection of his Cabinet; and with a perfect sense of the delicacy of my own situation, I would have been at all times a reluctant w itness, in the investigation of the causes which led to the tecent events. It was not however enough that I should sub mit myself to his will, although the prin ciple by which it was avowedly regula ted, could have no application to me ; for this I have unhesitatingly done.— But I have been required silently to w it ness the entire misrepresentation of cc eurreiioes which the public were well a ware must have come untier my obser vation ; nav, to he publicly vouched as authority for that which was directly in conflict with my convictions of truth— and finally to he called to vindicate tuv ow it claim to veracity, assailed as it is under the alleged authority of the Presi dent of the United States, or to submit to an imputation which no honorable man may bear. I mistake the charac ter of iheAincrican people if they would require this. I am totally ignorant of niv own, if, under any circumstances, I could yield to it If in the face of this great community, the cause of truth can be prostrated by the arm of power, at least the privilegeof vindicating it, shall not be tamely surrendered in tnv per son. I will bow to the decision of my countrymen —but w l.atever that decision may lie, the high consolation of having faithfully discharged my duty to them, and to niyvslf, shall not be taken from me. The disingenuous and unmanly sug gestion of my desire to remain in the Cabinet of General Jackson, notwith standing the occurrences which produc ed my retirement, will he my apology for adverting briefly to the origin of my connexion w itli it, and to the circum stances which induced its continuance. It was without any solicitation on my part, or, so far as 1 know or believe on the part of any of my friends, that I was invited to accept the oftce of Attorney General ol the United States. There were circumstances, temporary in their nature, but still strongly operative, w liicli rendered it not desirable to me. I felt, however, that I was called to decide up on the question of my acceptance, not merely as an individual, but as a citizen, and especially as a citizen ol Georgia. On certain principles of general policy, some of which were particularly inter esting to (lie people of that State, the views communicated to me by the Pres ident, w ere in accordance with nty own: and i (clt it to bo my duty, not to with hold any assistance which I could give to carry them into effect. The annun ciation of the names of the intended Cabinet seemed to me, however, to pre sent an insuperable bar to my accept ance of the office which was tendered to me. I thought I foresaw clearly the evils which have too obviously resulted from this selection. A stranger to Gen. Jackson, I could not with propriety dis cuss these objections with him. I knew, moreover, that some of his confident! . 1 friends had faithfully discharged their duty to him, and to the* country, by n frank communication of them. In this stale of things, I sought the counsel of those around me. To u gentleman high in the confidence of the President, and to a distinguished citizen of tny own State, I submitted the inquiry, whether, with this view- of the Cabinet which the President had selected, I could with propriety become a member of it. The former expressed liisdecided conviction, founded on a long and intimate knowl edge of the President's character, that lie would liimsell speedily see, and cor rect the evil. The latter urged the pe culiar relations of Georgia with the General Government, as presenting a strong claim upon rne not to refuse the invitation which had been given to me. I yielded to these suggestions and took my place in the Cabinet, with a firm determination to avoid the controver sies which I leared might occur. Te that de'erminatMin I have steadily ad hered. Associating en terms of courte sy with mv colleagues, my official inter course with them was never interrupted by discord. If there were any combinations grow ing nut of the supposed conflict between the interests ol Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Van Boren. I had no part in them —and as little in the supposed measures of that character, having for their object to coerce Major Eaton to retire from the Cabinet—or to exclude his family from the society of Washington. With mine they did not associate; but no advaace bed been made on either aide, and their actual relative seemed therefore to furn- ish no just ground of offence to either party. In this posture of things, and shortly alter I had given an evening puny to which Mrs. Eaton had not been invited. I received and heard witli infin ite surprise the message of Col. John son. I could make no mistake as to its character, for there was a direct and re peated reference to the large parties, which had been then recently given by Messrs. Branch and Ingham, and myself. Such a mistake, if it had been one, would have tieen instantly corrected, from the nature of my reply. If the complaint had been of a combination to evict Major Union from office and not to exclude his fimity from society, the reference to these evening parties would have been idle : and try declaration that I would not permit the President to con trol the social intercourse of myself and lamilv, would have been instantly met Iry an explanation, which would have removed the impression from the minds of Messrs. Branch and Ingham, and my self. Vet we all parted with Col. John son, with a clear conviction that such a proposition had been made, and feeling as we all did, that nn indignity had been offered to us, there was, as I believe, no difference of opinion between us .is lo the course we ought to pursue, if this proposition should be avowed and press ed iiy the President. This conversation took place on Wed nesday evening, and the rumor of our intended removal speedily became gen eral. On the succeeding clay, the per sonal friends of General Jackson inter posed, and he was awakened to a sense of the impropriety of his projected course. It was then, according to Col. Johnson’s statement to Mr. Ingham, that the paper spoken of by Ihe Editor of tlie Globe was prepared. My two colleagues Inid their interview with the President on the succeeding day, (Fri day) jnd as Mr. Ingham’s statement, made from full notes taken at the time, proves no fwper was shown to him on that occasion. Owing to a mistake in the communication of the President’s wishes to me. I did not see him until the succeeding day, (Saturday,) and then the excitement of his feelings had so entirely subsided, that he seemed lo me to he anxious to dispose of the subject as briefly as possible. lie spoke of the falsehood of the repoits Against Mrs. Eaton, of which lie said he had suffi cient pioof; and upon my declining to discuss that question, lie complained of the injustice of excluding her from society; referred to the large parties given by Messrs. Ingham and Branch, and myself, and told me if lie could have been convinced that there was a com bination between those gentlemen and myself to exclude her from society, that he would have required our resignations. He immediately added, that be was en tirely satisfied that there had been no such combination, and again referred to those large parties, and to the rumors to which they had given rise, as having pro duced that impression. So far from then suggesting that information had been received from any member of Con gress, when I claimed the right of hav ing the names of any persons who had made to him representations unfavora ble to tnv conduct, lie still referred to the thousand rumors which had reached him as the origin of such impression which had been made upon his mind.— lie showed me no paper - spoke to me of none - intimated to me no terms which he would hereafter require. By his declar ation that he did not intend to press the requisition which he had made through Colonel Johnson, I considered the ob ject of the interview to he to explain to me the motives under which he had acted, and lo announce the change of his deter mination. lie accompanied this with expression of personal kindness, which , 1 thought were intended to soothe the feelings whit'll lie must have been con scious of having excited. Still I thought it was improper for me longer to remain in the Cabinet. Admitting that suffi cient atonement had been made for the indignity offered hy the message sent through Col. Johnson, there was a per petual liability lo the recurrence of sim ilar outrage. I believed it, therefore, to be my duty to rctiie. My friends thought otherwise, and my own sense of what the inteiests of Georgia af that particular crisis required, induced me to repress my feelings. \V hen at a subsequent period, the controversy occurred between the Presi dent and Vice President, I thought 1 saw in this, the evidence of an inten tion again to agitate the question, which bv the agency of the personal friends of Gen Jackson, had been before happily repressed. The connection of Mr. Craw ford with this controversy, and tny own relation to Gen. Jackson, forbade me to lake any part in it, —and 1 studiously avoided all interference, except to de precate Mr. Calhoun's publication. I left Washington on tire 4th day of April, one day alter Major Eaton had an nounced to the President his determina tion to resign ; according to the state ment in Ins (Major Eaton’s letter of re signation, and not the slightest intima tion was given to me of the intended change in the Cabinet. Hut when I saw the correspondence between the President and theseveiai Heads of De partments, I could not doubt for a mo ment how, and by whom, the dissolution had been produced. I did not feel at liberty to express my views generally, until my return to Washington should enable me to dissolve my connection wuli the President; but to a few friends who had the right to understand my tie fual position, I slated the utter imposi* bility of my continuance in the Cabinet, unless the President could place the re tirement of my colleagues on other grounds than those which 1 believed to have occasioned it, und such as I could approve. In full view of the speedy dissolution of all connexion between the President and myself, I availed myself of the occasion afforded by the kindness of my fellow citizens of savannah, to do an act of justice to his public conduct, on a question vitally interesting to the people of Georgia. If there be any rmin who is incapable of understanding, or ol appreciating the motive which prompted this act, I cannot envy his feelings, and will not attempt to enligli. ten his understanding. 1 returned to this city, had a conversation with tip; President, of which the prominent points are adverted to in my letter of retalia tion which immediately follow ;d it, and having brought up the public business, which was in arrtar, retiled from office. While these occurrences were in pro gress, Major Caton addressed lo me a letter of like iinpott with his first communication to Mr. Ingham. He called upon me to Snociion or disavow the statement in the Telegraph, that my family had refused to associate with his. I answered by detailing the conversation which had passed between myself and Col. Johnson, and stated that I had sub sequently expressed the same views to the President, who had disclaimed any disposition to press tills requisition, re ferring to that which I had previously stated to have been made through Col. Johnson. The Editor of the Globe has published this detached sentence of my letter, ami has made an important at tempt to ditort its meaning. The pub lic shall judge of the wlioie correspon dence for themselves. I had no dispo sition to publish this correspondence. — Perfectly satisfied that it would at all times speak for itself, and not emulous of reputation to be required in such con troversies, 1 have resisted the numerous calls which have been made upon me through different journals to give il to the public. But the Editor of the Globe is in possession of it, and hy the publica tion of un isolated extract, attempts to do me injustice. I exercise a right, therefore, which belongs to me, when I take from him, this unfair means of an noyance, by giving the whole to I lie pub lic. ToJ. 11. Eaton, Esq. I received a letter from Col. Johnson, which, with my re ply, I feel myself bound now to give to the public. I have anxiously desired to delay this until I could receive Colonel Johnson’s answer. Perhaps I have wait ed long enough ; for my reply, accord ing to the memorandum which 1 have of it, was dated on the 7th inst. But it is not this circumstance which has deter mined me. Col. Johnson has furnished to the editor of the Globe a statement full or otherwise, of what passed be tween Messrs. Branch and Ingham and myself and himself, on the occasion so often referred to. Extracts from this statement are used to do me injustice.— This is done, to be sure, without the au thority .of Col. Johnson, but he has fur nished the means which are thus impro perly used, and I have no alternative hut to give the correspondence, or sub mit to continued misrepresentation. 1 published Col. Johnson’s lelier, as an act of justice to him, that the public may he in lull possession of his statement.— My reply follows; and after this the letter and statement of Mr. Ingham, to whom, ns well as to Mr. Branch, I for warded a copy of Col. Johnson’s letter. From Mr. Branch I have received no reply—owing, as I suppose, to his ab sence from home. Colonel R. M. Johnson to Messrs. Ber rien and Ingham. Great Crossing, .'one 30, 1831. Gentlemen : Ths Telegraph hits al luded to some communication made to you liy a member of (’(ingress, author ized by the President—the substance of which is that the President wished to coerce a social intercourse between your families and Mrs. Eaton. I see the Globe denies it. I have thought it bare ly possible that the allusion could be made tome, because if I had ever com municated sucks an idea, I should have done the most palpable, gross, and wan ton injustice to the President; for lie disclaimed, on all occasions, any right or desire, or intention, to regulate the private or social intercourse of his Cab inet. The President bad been induced to believe that a part of his Cabinet had entered into a deep laid scheme to drive Major Eaton from his Cabinet, and of this he complained. I did not believe it, and as'llte mutual friend of all concern ed, I proposed that I should have the opportunity to converse w itlr that por tion of bis Cabinet before he had an in terview with them, and he acquiesced— and the interview which I had with you, resulted as I understood, in a better un derstanding. and in fact I considered it a reconciliation. Whatever came from me. upon the subject of a social inter course, was the suggestions of my soli citude tnrestore harmony among friends. My object was peace and friendship.— I have never considered myself at liber ty to say any thing about this interview except to a discreet and confidential friend, 1 certainly should not think any of the parties justified in representing for publication or newspapers, what any of the parties said, without submitting such statement for mutual examination, for the plain reason that such conversa tions are so easily misunderstood. I may well rrmembei what 1 have saiJ myself, but may not so easily represent what you have said, or intended to say. I have not myself seen the necessity or propriety of any allusions in newspa pers, to our interview, which was among intimate and bosom friends, where the conversation was free and unreserved, and for the object of peace and friend ship. But if any should consider it ne cessary, then the great object should be, to state the conversation correctly ; for their can be no motive to misunderstand the facts. For leur that allusion should have been made to myself, as the mem ber of Congress, and believing it barely possible that I may have been misun derstood on the particular point alluded to, I have felt it my duty, and due to that perfect friendship which has ever existed between us, to make known those views, that the pioper correction may be made, as a misunderstanding, without the necessity of any formal pub lication from either of us, and without even a disclosure as to what member of Congress allusion was made. Sincerely and truly your Iriend, KICIIAKD M. JOHNSON. Messrs. Ingham & Berrien, City of Washington. The absence of Governor Branch has been the only cause why this letter was not also addressed to him. Mr. Berrien to Col. Johnson. Washington, 7th July, 1831. Dear Sir— Yours of the 30th ultimo, addressed jointly to Mr. Ingham ami myself, has been duly received. 1 have noted your view of the occurrence to which it refers, with a perfect disposition to meet you in the spirit of frankness and of good feeling, which is expressed ill your letter. It is an evidence of my reluctance to engage io controversy, that I have abstained from going before ] the public, notwithstanding the multi-; plied misrepresentations with w hich the | newspapers are teeming. I still desire to avoid this necessity—but as circum stances beyond my control may rentier it indispensable, 1 acquiesce with the less reluctance, in the inteichange ol recollections which you propose. 1 am to speak of what occurred at the interview which look place between you Messrs. Biancli and Ingham, and my self at my house. You had, as 1 af terwards understood, held previous con versations on the same subject with one or both of those gentlemen, but I was perfectly unprepared fur the interview, until the moment when you announced its object at my house. The impression made hy your annunciation was such as not to he easily effaced from my memo ry. You began by expressing the friendly regard which you felt for those gentlemen and myself, and by stating that this was the motive for your inter rerence. You told us that an impres sion had been made upon tlie mind of the President that a combination exist ed between Messrs. Ingham and Branch and myself, to exclude Mrs. Eaton from the society of Washington—that he was excited hy this representation, consider ing it as aifaiteinpt to wound him thro’ Maj. Eaton, that the President had seen with pain the want of harmony among the members of his Cabinet—that lie was determined to have harmony, and that his determination would be an nounced to us in the course of the w eek. You added that you had in the mean time sought this interview with the ap probation of the President f.om motives of regard for all parlies. You men tioned as circumstances which had con tributed to produce this impression on (lie mind of the President, that Messrs. Branch and Ingham, and myself, had successively given large parlies to w hich Mrs. E. had not beeninvited—and while you disclaimed any disposition on his part tu require an intimacy between our families and that of Major Eaton, von added, that lie would in future expect that at least on such occasions as that to which you had referred, (that is to say, when large or general parties were given) that Mrs. E. should he invited. I replied to you that not having been previously advised of the intention to hold this interview, having had no con ference with the other gentlemen, I must he considered solely responsible for what [ was about to say. 1 then ob served that I would not permit the Pre sident or any other mail to regulate the social intercourse of myself or family— and that if such a requisition was per severed in, I would retire from office.— You expressed your regret at the terms of this answer—and I remarked that it was indifferent to me in w hat terms it was conveyed, provided the substance w as retained—but that from this 1 would not depart. I understood you to dis claim any intention on the part of the President to require ail intimate inter course between the families of Messrs. Blanch and inghatti, and myself, and that of Maj. E., blit lo express with equal clearness his expectation that w hen we gave large or general parties Mrs. E. should he invited—and it was niv purpose to deny altogether his right to interfere in this matter. The replies of the other gentlemen were according to my recollection, substantially the same —but I shall enclose copies of your letter to them, and leave them to speak for themselves. The impression which this conversa tion made upon my mind is clear and distinct; and it is not probable that it could have been effaced from my mem ory. .My own disposition was instantly to resign my office. In consenting to retain it, I yielded to the opinions of those in whose judgment 1 had opr.fi | dence, and to my sense of what was due | to the interests of Georgia, at that par ticular- juncture. My remembrance of this conversation is moreover confirmed by a recollection of w bat occurred on my subsequent in terview with the President, in which a particular reference was made to it.— When he spoke of a combination be tween Messrs. Ingham and Branch and myself, to excluoe iVrs. E. from society, I claimed, as matter of right, to know the names of the persons by whom such a representation had been made. He said the impression har. been derived from the various rumors which had reached him ; spoke of the parties w hich had been given by those gentlemen and myself, to which Mts. E. had not been invited—and added that the reports against her were foul calumnies. I re monstrated against his having adopted an opinion dishonorable to any me iber of hisCabmeton mere rumor blit ex* pressly declined to discuss the question of the truth or falsehood of the reports to which lie had referred—telling him, that, without undertaking to decide whether they were true or false, it was tny purpose merely to conform to the general sense of the community of which I had become a member; and that I could not be induced to change that de termination. The decision of the Pre sident not to pursue this matter further, I understood at the time to have been produced by the representations of some of his most intimate personal friends. Such is my understanding ofthe con versation referred to in your letter. I look to it as the origin and continuing cause of the distraction of the party, which has thus lost the meant of doing much good which it might have effected. But I am not desirous to bruit it to the wotld. If, without imputing u> me the alleged want of harmony in the Cabinet, my relitement is placed on the ground of the President’s mere will, so Far as 1 am concerned, it is well. Ido not dis pute Ilia right toexerciseth.it as lie thinks fit ; but for the sake of my children 1 will net submit to the continued misre presentations of the public journals The best legacy I have to bequeath them •• the untarnished reputation of their father. I can easily conceive, also, that a slate of things may exist, in which a sense of duty to the public wilt compel me to speak. But I hope such an emer gency will not arise. I ought perhaps to arid, that I have already stated to Major Baton the sub* stance of this, so far as it whs necessa ry to answer a call which he made up on me to avow or disavow the statement in the Telegraph, that iny family had refused to associate with his. It was not necessary, howercr, to mention vour name, and it was consequently not men* tioned. I spoke of tlie interview ns ha ving been had with *• a gentleman who represented himself as acting, and who I doubt not, did act under the authority of the President.” Having now re plied to your letter, I will only add, that, should our recollections differ, 1 shall regret it. Hut that i have taken great care not to put down any thing w hich is not distinctly impressed upon mine. 1 am, dear sir, respectfully yours, JOHN MACPIIERSON BERRIEN, lion. R. M Johnson. Mr. Ingham to Col. Johnson. Nkw-Hope, July 13, lU3I. Dear Sir —l have received a copy of your teller ol the 30tli ult. to Mr. Ber rien and myself, forwarded by him from Washington, relating, to an allegation made in the newspapers, that General 1 Jackson had required, through a Mem ber of Congress, of Messrs. Branch, Berrien and nivself, that our families should associate with Mrs. Eaton. I ’ had also noticed ll e publication in tlie Telegraph to which you refer, and an other of the same import in a New Yotk 1 paper of an earlier date, and supposing 1 it probable, in Ihe existing state of the public mind, that the discussion would take such a range as to involve all the 1 parties to that transaction in the nccessi i ly of making explanations, I had com menced the preparation of copies of a ’ statement of the conversation which you ’ have referred to; as well that between you and me, as that between General Jackson and in} sell on the same subject, intending, as soon as they could be 1 completed, to send one lo him and an other to yourself. Upon Ihe receipt of your letter, 1 immediately wrote you a 1 note, expressing an intention lo wait for the further comparison of our recollec tions before I made any determination 1 as to the disposition ol my statement. — But two articles in tlie Globe of the 11th inst. w hich you have no doubt seen, reached me before my letter was mailed, and arre ted its progress. These arti cles, as f3r as they lelate to this subject, bear on their face the evidence of hav -1 ing been authorized by General .1 acksoi; and yourself, and leuva me no choice as lo the publication of my statement.— The articles which 1 supposed to have 1 been authorized hy you, shows that you have also taken a different view of this matter since your letter to me before re ferred to was written. I could not oth erwise reconcile your remonstrance a gainsl a publication ot what you then deemed a confidential conversation, with the authority alleged hy the Globe to publish vour denial of the statement alluded to; at least, without a previous interchange of recollections between all the parlies concerned. Ido not, how ever, concur w ithy ou in the opinion that there ever was any obligation of secrecy imposed on me, or those tssocialed with me, to be implied from tlie friendly char acter of the conversation referred to. — The comiimiiicaiion made tome hy you that my continuance to office would de pend upon the consent ol tnv family ti visit Mis. Eaton and invite iter to their large parties, I considered at the time, though not so intended by you, as in its nature offensive. Il could not, thete fore, carry with it the confidential obli gation which belongs to tlie usual inter course of friendship. I regarded the proposition as wounding to my feelings, and had determined to lesign my office, even after you informed me that Gen. Jackson had changed lus ground, fioin which 1 was only dissuaded by the earn est remonstrances of the mends I con sulted, w lio urged, among other consul erations, that although uiv personal re spect for the President might be iiupair en, my services in the Department were for the country, and while ii was faith fully served, I could nut be unfaith ful to the Administration. A proposi tion thus disposed of could l e teg udert as any tiling r-iiher than imposing an obligation of friendly confidence. But ! I find an additional reason for publica tion growing out of your letter ; its up- ) parent disagreement from my statement, j and its admonitory suggestions could ; not fail, whenever the whole matter shall j lie brought out, which is inevitable in j die present state of the public mind, to j expose me io the imputation of having shrunk from doing what duty to my own , character, if not to the country, seemed to demand, 1 cannot therefore accoid in your desire that no publication shall lie j made, any more than I can in the views of the obligation of secrecy which you have suggested. I would prefer, how ever, to accompany the publication w ith that ofyour letter of the 30th ult., but j not having received any intimation of your wishes on that subject, it w ill re quire some deliberation to determine ; what is most proper to he done in this particular. 1 can assure you that this determination will be exclusively gov erned by a desire lo do what, under all circumstances, may appear most likelv to meet your own wishes. I have now only to add that in making the state ments ol these conversations, I have re lied not mcrel) on the indelible impres sions made on iny memory, but on memnrancln put on Paper at the time I have not the slightest recollection or j any note of your having advpited to any fact or circumstance alleged by Gen. Jackson or yourself, as evidence of un kind feeling for, much less hostility to, or a conspiracy against Maj. Eaton on the part of Mr. Branch, Mr. Berrien, or myself, or of any want of harmony in the Cabinet other than the simple and isolated fiicl, that our families did not visit Mrs. Eaton ami invite her to their parties. Nor have 1 any note or recol lection of any proposition made hy yon to me individually, or jointly with the other gent lenten, as a me.,ns of reniov ine the alleged difficulties, oilier than that our families should visit Mrs. Ea ton, ami invite her to their parties, I cannot but persuade myself that my statement will call to mind mutters huh may have escaped your recollection, and satisfy your judgment that, what ever may have been the nature of your instructions I could not have understood them differently front what I have. I have the honor to he, very respect fully, yoitrobt. servt. S. TANARUS). INCHAM. lion. Richabd M. John son. Mr. Ingham’* statement, a copy of which ‘ tons enclosed in hi a letter to Col. John - 1 son | On Wednesday, the *7lh of January, 1 1 1830, Colonel Johnson of Kentucky, I waiter] on me in the Treasury [),„ “lent, and alter some prelimi na ‘ ’ rt ‘ versa)ion, ... which he exp,esse,-?’ great.regret that my family and pJ"! Mr- Branch and Mr. Berrien ,i,h of visit Mrs. Eaton, he said that it'h i.i i llOl a subject of great excitement win, ,? 1 resKien*, who had come iu the • e initiation ol having harmony in imT’ hmet by some accommodation ofn matter. He, Ol. Johnson, > liieud of ns all, ami had now con h the request of the President to whether any thing could he done - thought that when our ladies gave ties, they ought to invrte Mrs. and as they had never returned her call’ ll,c y would leave the first card ani open a formal intercourse in that w, ° tlie President would he satisfied but jess something was done of this’ nature he had no doubt, indeed he knew, q,.’ the President was resolved to have har moiiy, and would probably remove Mi Branch, Mr. Berrien, and myself, i replied to Col. Johnson, that in all ,„ at . ters of official business, or having anv connexion therewith, I considered m/. self bound to maintain an open, f ran j t and harmonious intercourse vitb q'l gentlemen I was associated with.—The President had a right to expect the ex ertion of my best faculties, and the em. ploy meat of my time, in the public set. vice. As to the family of Mr. Eaton 1 felt an obligation on me not to say any thing to aggravate the difficulties which he labored under, but to observe iota] silence ami neutrality in relation to tile reports about his wife, audio inculcate tlie same course as to my family, an( j any other representations had been made to the President they were false. J) av ing prescribed to myself this rule, and always acted upon it, I had done all that the President had a right to expect— That the society of Washington w a , liberally organized ; there was but one ciicle, into which every person of res pectable character disposed to be social was readily admitted, without reference to the circumstance of birth or station which operated in ninny other places— That we had no right to exert official power to regulate its social intercourse, That Mrs. Eaton had never been recei ved ly tlie society here, and it did no; become us to force her upon it; that mv family liwl therefore not associated wuli her, and they Imd done so with iwyap prohation, and that the President ought not, for the sake of his iwu cliaracicr. to interfere in such inaMers. Bui il l* chose to exert his power to force mr family to visit any body they did n J. choose to visit, lie was interfering uuli that which belonged to me, and no In. nvan power should regulate the sr-cial intercourse of my family, by means cf official or any other power w hich 1 could resist. If I could submit to such ent trol I should he unworthy of my statios. and would despise myself. That il wn eminently due to tlie character of ik President to have it known that he dr not interfere in such matters, and llui the course vve had pursued was preser vative of his honor and political stand ing. I had taken my giumtd on mama reflection, as to vvliat was due to an family, to my friends and to the Ad ministration, without any pirjirdice against Maj. Eaton or Iris wife, and had fully determined not to Change it, what ever might he the consequence. Col. J. said that be had been request ed by the President to have a roinersi tiou w iill the Sea c-tary ol the Navv soil the Attorney General also; Let l.ra what 1 linrl said, he supposed it would he of nn avail. The president had ex pressed a hope that our Ihinilifs would have been w illii.g to invite Mrs. Eaton to their large partus, to give tfie ap- pearance of an osier,sil.ie Inteicimw adding, that he was so Hindi uciltd that he was like a roaring lion. Ilrii-n heard that the l.tdv ot a foreign minis- : ter had joined in the conspiracy agaii.st Mrs. l'.H'Oll, and he had sworn ihdre ! would send her and her husband litirt ’ If lie could not put an end to slid do . ings. I replied I hat it could Imriiii ti j possible that the President contemplaKd such a step. Col. Johnson replied that | lie certainly did ; and again mnurW that it seemed to be useless for him to , see Mr. Branch and Mr. Beriirn. 1 j told him that cacli of us had taken'"’ ; course, upon our own views of proper ty, w ithout concert ; and that lie cup I not to consider me as answering m any one bill myself. He then proposed that I should meet him at Mr. Brandi's and invito Mr. Berrien, that evenim* l j 7 o’clock; which was agreed to. Cos!. ’ J. came to my house about 6, ami j went up to Mr. Berrien's, havint M j sent for Mr. Branch. On our way 10 Mr. Berrien’s, Col. J. remarked dial lit President had informed him that l>< [ would invite Mr. Branch, Mr. Hert.ea. and myself, to meet him on the not Friday, when lie would inform us, it the presence of Dr. Ely, of his dftet” mination; and if we did not agreet comply with his wishes, lie would n pect us to send in our resignation!” Upon one urilval at Mr. Berrien's, Col- J. renewed the subject in present*' 11 him ami Gov. Branch, and repeal substanJßllv, though, 1 thought, radio more qmilifiedly, what he had said H me. He did not go so much in detail nor do I recollect whether he mentica* ed the President’s remarks as to tin Ml above mentioned and Dr. Ely—thus* gentlemen will better recollect. M'- Diancti and Mr. Betricn replied, as ll "’ equivocally us 1 had done, that tb would never consent to have the sm'* l relations of their families controlled by any power whatever but their own** Mr. Ilrancli, Mr. llertien and went the same evening to a party si Col’ Tow son's, where a report was current, that we were to he removed fold)** 1 * 1 ’ of which I had no doubt at the tiu*> Tlie next morning Col. Johnson came to my house, and said that he perhaps to have been more frank |j>l evening, and told us positively lliat tl ,e President hud finally determined on on’ removal from office, unless e g rW ” at once that our families should Mrs. Eaton, and invite her to •I’*” large parties ; nnd that he had made u|’ his in• ixl to designate Mr, Dicker,* •* take charge of the Treasury Oe|n (t ----meiit, and Ml. Kendall to the clunge 1 the Navy Department, and would an Attorney tjeiieral somewhere observed IhHl my course was fixed, ■*’ could not be changed for all the offices in the President's gift; and it in , d* *“ more dilTeroiive to me than to any person whom the President deig ,l4,,u