Mr. Calhoun, it seemed now to be settled, was to be the successor of General Jackson.  The new parties were organized, and that headed by General Jackson assumed the name of Democrat, and now held undisputed control of more than two-thirds of the States.  Mr. Calhoun had broken away from the usage of former Vice-Presidents, which was to retire, and permit a president of the Senate pro tem. to be chosen to preside over the deliberations of that body.  He determined to fulfil the duties assigned by the Constitution, and in person to preside.  His transcendent abilities and great strength of character by this course was constantly kept before the nation.  His manners and presence gave increased dignity and importance to the office, daily increasing his popularity with the Senate and the nation.  His position was an enviable one, and was such as seemed to promise the power to grasp, at the proper time, the goal of his ambition, the Presidency of the republic.

From the commencement of General Jackson’s Administration there was a powerful opposition organized.  It consisted of the very best talent in the Senate and House.  The Cabinet was a weak one.  Mr. Van Buren was premier, or Secretary of State, with John H. Eaton, a very ordinary man, Secretary of War; Branch, Secretary of the Navy, and Ingham, Secretary of the Treasury; with John M. Berrien, Attorney-General.  Eaton was from Tennessee, and was an especial favorite of General Jackson.  He had been in the Senate from Tennessee, and had formed at Washington the acquaintance of a celebrated widow of a purser in the navy, Mrs. Timberlake.  This woman had by no means an enviable reputation, and had been supposed the mistress of Eaton, prior to their marriage.  She had found her way to the heart of Jackson, who assumed to be her especial champion.  The ladies of the Cabinet ministers refused to recognize her or to interchange social civilities with her.  This enraged the President, and it was made a sine qua non, receive Mrs. Eaton, or quit the Cabinet.  Van Buren was a widower, and did not come under the order.  He saw the storm coming, and, to avoid consequences of any sort, after consultation with Jackson, resigned.  His letter of resignation is a literary as well as a political curiosity.  General Jackson, it is said, handed it to Forsyth, with the remark “that he could not make head or tail of it; and, by the eternal, Mr. Forsyth, I do not believe Van Buren can himself.”  This was the forerunner of a general dismissal of the entire Cabinet, save Eaton, who resigned.  This rupture startled the whole nation, but nothing Jackson could do, seemed capable of affecting his growing popularity.  A new Cabinet was organized, and soon after Mr. Van Buren was sent minister to England, and Eaton minister to Spain.