voluntarily tendered,
were, in modern political parlance, at once "taken care of."
Mr. Van Buren was appointed minister to St. James, Barry to Madrid,
and Eaton to the governorship of Florida Territory. No such
good fortune, however, was in store for either Ingham, Branch,
or Berrien. Each was, henceforth, _persona non grata_ with President
Jackson.

The end, however, was not yet. A publication by the retiring
Secretary of the Treasury contained an uncomplimentary allusion to
Mrs. Eaton, which resulted first in his receiving a challenge from
her husband, and later in a street altercation.

The almost forgotten incidents just mentioned were rapidly leading
up to matters of deep consequence. The true significance of the
words of Webster last quoted will now appear. A rupture, never
yet fully explained, now occurred between President Jackson and
Mr. Calhoun. The intention of the former to secure to Mr. Van
Buren the succession to the presidency was no longer a matter of
doubt.

Van Buren, "the favorite," was meanwhile reposing upon no bed of
roses. He was, in very truth, "in the thick of events." His
confirmation as Minister was defeated by the casting vote of
Vice-President Calhoun, after the formal presentation of his
credentials to the Court to which he had been accredited. It
was believed that this rejection would prove the death knell to
Van Buren's Presidential hopes. But it was not so to be. His
rejection aroused deep sympathy, secured his nomination upon the
ticket with Jackson in 1832, and for four years he presided over
the great body which had so lately rejected his nomination, and as
is well known, four years later he was chosen to succeed Jackson
as President. Unfortunately for Calhoun, one of the ablest and
purest of statesmen, he had incurred the hostility of Jackson, and
never attained the goal of his ambition.

During my interview with Mrs. Eaton I said to her, "Madam, you must
have known General Jackson when he was President?" "Known General
Jackson," she replied, "known General Jackson?" "Oh, yes," I said,
"your husband was a member of his Cabinet and of course you must
have known him. I would like to know what kind of a man General
Jackson really was?" "What kind of a man," replied Mrs. Eaton in a
manner and tone not easily forgotten. "What kind of _a man_--a
god, sir, a god." The spirit of the past seemed over her, as with
trembling voice and deep emotion she spoke of the man