The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-23
THE MAIDS OMAN.
THOMAS EWING.

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THOMAS EWING.
The following sketch Of Mr.. EWING is taken
from Watterston's Gallery of American Por-
traits. The sketch was written in 1896, when
MIR. Ewing was in the Senate Of the u s. II
will serve to give the reader some idea OF the
character and intellectual power Of this gentle
man, who has been named as the Secretary of
the Treasury under Gen. Harrison:
Mr. Ewing was born in Virginia, in 1850
His frther was revolutionary soldier, and soon
after the birth of young Ewing, removed TO the
State Of Ohio. Mr.. Ewing is indebted for his
elements Of knowledge, TO the care and atten-
ton OF his eldest sister, who taught him TO read
and the only accessible book being the Bible, he
employed himself in constantly pouring over its
sublime pages. When he was eight years DID,
he was sent TO school about seven months, and
the only additional education he received till he
was 20 years Of age, was two quarters tuition
under two successive teachers. But he had ac
CURED love OF reading, and all his leisure hours
were devoted TO it. His father being ia humble
circumstances, young Ewing's life was neces-
| sariiy laborlous one; but, obliged as he was
To toll daily, he nevertheless ayailed himself Of
every opportunity TO improve his mind, and TO be
what his highest ambition then led him 10 be-
come--a scholar. But poverty seemed to OPP
pose an lnsuperable barrier to his career and he
was about yielding up to dependency, when .
young man, who had seen something of the
world, and who was hired by his father as an
assistant on the farm reused him from his apa-
thy, and prevailed upon him to accompany him to
the kanawha Salines where he procured EN-
ployment as common laborcr After an abb
sence OF three or four months, he returned with
eighty dollars in his pocket, which he generous
" gave to his father, to save his land from being
forfeited. In the following spring, Mr.. Ewing
again returned to the Kanawha Salines, where
he labored assiduousy till November, and sue
ceeded IN realizing about four hundred dollars
Out oil which, after paying balance of sixty
dollars, still due on his fathers property, he was
enabled to indulge his favorite propensity by
spending the winter AT an academy at Athens
where he was encouraged TO make additional
efforts TO prosecute his studies, and acquire the
power which knowledge bestows. He returned
once more TO his former labors, and continued al
them for two years. These severe tolls affected
his health; which, however short residence
AT home restored, and he again entered the AGA
denny which he had left about two years before,
and proceeded to labor mentally, with the same
ardor and intensity that he had labored corporea-
ly. His progress is said TO have been very rapid
but being satisfied that his funds, which were
daily diminishing, would be insufficient to EN-
III IL
school in Galliapolis, which, in the course of a
quarter he threw up, not liking the employment,
and returned TO his former occupation at the
salt works. He now hired furnace, and by
extraordinary labor he acquired sum in the
course of a month, to enable him, as he believed,
to complete his studies. He was right and in
the spring of 1915 he received the degree of
A. b., and was the first to rceive that academi-
cal honor in Ohio. He was now 26 wears OF
ace and commpnrpd he cfndv If tho la1u II,
the office of General Beecher, who. after he had
finished his legal studies, from high opinion OF
his powers, took him into partnership, and in
his new and favorite profession he rose rapidly
TO distinction. As proof OF his ardor and asst
duty, he practiced in eight different counties in
the State in which he lived His flal affection
/ was again manifested, in the purchase Of a fine
tract OF land in Indiana, with tie proceeds Of his
profession, on which he placed his father and
ton for ability and talent the bar, that the Lee
glslature OF Ohio elected him. in 1882, TO repre-
sent that State in the Senate of the United
States; and in this distinguished body he has
| continued ever since, with an increase of fame,
and an untirlng application to the important du-
ties OF his station, that has given him claim to
the gratitude of his country.
| Mr.. Ewing Is, in person, athletic and muscu-
lar, broad across the chest, vigorous but moi ele-
giant IN his proportions, or graceful in his mo-
nature, and enivcned by frequent smile and
though awkward in his appearance, his manners
have natural ease that even an early inter
course with refined and polished society could
not have rendered more agreeable. Nature has
bestowed upon him mind of great powers.
which have been cultivated to the extent his
limited means and opportunities would afford
It is analytic and logical rather than brilliant and
lmaglnative-oratory, as art, has not claimed
much OF his attention and though his arrange
ment is lucid, and his mind affluent in topics,
and fertile in arguments, his speeches possess
few OF the embellishments Of rhetoric, or the
eegancies of art. He cannot blend the utile
with the duici or amuse while he persuades-
He always endeavors 10 edify, and but seldom
attempts TO please. Reasoning is his forte-in
that he IS conscious of his power, and will not
trust himself to the efforts Of fancy. His dicton
IS plain and unadorned, not verbose or involved
but clear and suited to his reasoning, and is fee
BILE or vigorous, according to the strength or
weakness Of his argument. Mr. Ewing is too
good natured to deal much in sarcasm, or to re-
sort TO bitterness of invective and he never
electrfes his auditors by unexpected bursts of
eloquence. lie is sagacious, argumentatve and
laborious often eloquent, but never oratorcal
As politician, his principles are firm and un-
yielding, never huctuating between sef-aggran-
diZement and the interests Of his country; never
balancing between right and wrong but always
directing his efforts 10 that which he conceves
will promote the glory of the nation, and the
happiness of mankind.
ADDRESS OF HENRY ADDISON, Fsa.
TO GENERAL HARRISON,
on he occasion Of his reception at George