Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-03-24

On the one hand in ScyIla, and the other Cha
rydss He has not only to select individuals
possessed Of abilities and virtue-that it were
an easy undertaking in country Astounding as
ours does in such characteristic he has to
discriminate with great nicety,, and select
those who possess peculiar and pre-eminent
qualifications for their respective stations.
he must have an eye to all the great interests
of the Republic, and pick out the man best fit.
ted to represent each and every one.
In the execution of this delicate aud highly
responsible task, we hazard nothing in aver
ring that General Harrison has succeeded be-
yond the expectations of his warmest friends.
He has displayed sagacity and knowledge
ofmen rarely found in the closet politician,
and seldom exhibited by any not used to The
camps school, by the way, eminenty fitted
for acquiring an intimate and discriminating
knowledge of human character. The gener-
al sentiment of the country pronounces the
new Cabinet, in the aggregate, the ablest
since the days of Washington. In the detail
the popular appreciation is equally warm and
decided. In word, so entirely unexceptIon-
able has it proved upon enquiry, that even the
Factionists, who did clamor in the beginning
and who never fail to clamor on such occasions
have been discomftted, and forced to silence
la triumph of Truth and Justice over False
and Passion as signal as any recorded in the
annels of history.
But passing by the present the other emf
nent men who compose the Cabinet, we
would bring to the more intimate acquaintance
of our readers the history of Thomas Ewing
THE future Secretary of the Treasury. Mr..
Ewing is selE-made man--one Ofthose who,
sprlnging from obscurity and poverty, by dint
of genius: illustrate the benign influences OF
D. ~
ornament and support. We delight to con-
template such characters, and see them eleva-
ted to the first stations of dignity and respOn-
sibility in the Republic. The appointment
in this instance is alike creditable to the Chief
Magistrate who conferred, and the worthy in.
dividual who received it. And in a more ex-
tended sense, it is deserved compliment to
the genius of free institutions which engenders
such men-and by giving assurance that the
highest post is within the reach ofthe humblest
citizen, muses. generous and noble ambition
into every condition of society.
The following sketch OF Mr.. Ewing is taken
from Watterton's Gallery of American Por.
traits. The sketch was written in 1886
when MIR. Ewing was IN the Senate o
: the United States. 1t will serve to give the
reader some idea oftbe character and inteIlec.
tual power of this gentleman, who has beer
named as the Secretary of the Treasury under
General Harrison:
Mr.. Ewing was born in Virginia, in l799,-
: HIS father was a revolutionary soldier, anC
soon after the birth of young Ewing, removed
to the State of Ohio. Mr.. Ewing is indebted
for his elements acknowledge, to the care, ant
> attention ofhis eldest sister, who taught hin
T to read, and the only additional education h,
received TILL he was % years of age, was tw,
: quarters tuition, under two successive teach
Q ers. But he had acquired love of reading
d and all his leasure hours were devoted to il
e His father being in humble circumstances
$ young Ewing's life was necessarily labor
Gus one blu. obliged as he was to toll DAILY
: he nevertheless awaited himself of every OBJ
: portunity to improve his mind, and to be wha
i his highest ambition then led him to become
e "a scholar. But poverty seemed TO oppos
e an insuperable barrier to his career, and h
: was about yielding up to dependency, when
young man, who had seen something of tn
e world, and who was hired by his father as a
n assistant reused him from his apathy, an
0 prevailed upon him to accompany him to th
y Kanawha Salines, where he procured employ
ment as acommon laborer. After an absenc
o of three or four months, he returned wit
g eighty dollars in his pocket, which he genel
$ ously gave his father, to save his land froI
Il being forfeited. In the following spling, Nj
e Ewing again returned to the Kanawha Sa
lines, where he labored assiduously till NJ
= vember, and succeeded in realizing about fol
n hundred dollars-out of which, after paying
i balance ofsixty dollars, still due on his father
s property, he was enabled to indulge his favo
u ito propensity, by spending the winter at a
academy of Athens, where he was encourage
to make additional efforts to prosecute h
studies, and acquire the power which know
edge bestows. He returned once more
his former labors, and continued at them f
e two years. These severe tolls affected h
+ health; which, however, a short residence
- home restored ana he again entered the acat
envy which had left about two years befor
l. and proceed to labor mentally, with the san
: ardor and intensity that he had Iabored ca
re poreally. His progress is said to have BET
IN very raped but being satisfied that his fund
70 which were daily diminishing, would be insu
n ficient to enable him to complete his educ
y ton, he opened school in GalIiapolus, whit
er in the course Of a quarter he threw ups not
% king the employment, and returned to his 70
mer occupation at the salt works
ltt He now hired furnace, and by eXtfaordil
a airy labor he acquired a sum in the course of
" month, to enable him, as he believed, to Con
t, pIete his studies. He was right; and in Il
re spring of 1915 he received the degree A. B
3 and was the first to receive that academic
> honor in OHIO. He was now 26 years of az
and commenced the study of the law, in Il
re Office of General Beecher, who otter he hs
2 finished his legal studies, from a high opiniC
2 of his powers, took him into partnership, al
% in his new and favorite profession he rose "a
n pi6Iy to distinction. As proof of his ard
L and assiduity, he practiced in eight dlfferen
m counties in the State which he lived. His Fl
E iaI affection was again manifested in the pu
a. chase of fine tract of land in Indiana, wi
the proceeds of his profession, on which
D. placed his father and family. He had no
lie ACQUIRED so high reputation for ability al
81 talent at the bar, that the Legislature of Oh
e. elected him in 1882, to represent that Sta
Sc in the Senate of the II. States; and in ID
d. distinguished body Mr.. Ewing fas cOntin
t. ed ever since, with an increase of fan
n and an untiring application to the imPorta
10 duties of his station, that has given him
Mt clam to the gratitude of his country.
he Mr.. Ewing is, a person, athletic and muse
ne lar-broad across the chest vigorous but
at elegant IN his proportions, or graceful IN
u motions. His countenance is expressive
IT. GOOD nature, and enIivened by freque
all smile: and Trough awkward in his appea
IL ance, his manners have natural ease Tn
re even an early intercourse with refined al
nd polished society could not have rendered mo
to agreeable. Nature has bestowed upon hIm
he mind of great powers, which have been cul
or waited TO the extent his limited means and o
IS; portunities would afford. It is analytic al
IN logical, rather than brilliant and imaginatIV
OTatory, as an art, has not claimed much
If his attentions and though hls arrangement J.