The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-09-06

| borrowed money, while member OF the Senate,
from the United Stats bank, to engage IN this
speculation, and WILLIAM STANBERRY, OF
Newark, then member of Congress, was his
endorser. To this in great measure, may be
attributed his exceeding love for that institution.
Mr.. Ewing, has frequently been charged with
speculating IN scrip, and which charge, up to
October last he has always vehemently denied.
AS early 1886, (f he not mistaken in the year,
at public meeting in Lancaster, and again in
| Somerset, in Perry county, he called upon his
God TO ,ritness that he had neuer directly ndi-
rectiy speculated in scrip TO the amount of one
centM In October last, spurred on by some
| publication in the Statesman, he acknowledged
that he had been a scrip speculator, but denied
that he had made much money by it. have now
in my possession, letter written by himself
franked by him as United States Senator, and
dated Lancaster, October 8, 1882, directed to one
of his GAINESVILLE agents, acknowledging the receipt
of money for scrip, and excuses himself for not
sending more to his agent, because, as he says,
"it sells rery rapidly here at The bank," "(meaning
at the bank in Lancaster.)
Mr. Ewing has always been exceedingly anxious
to have this matter hid from the public eye. His
conduct shows that he feels that the transaction is
most dishonorabe one, and which he is anxious
should be buried in oblivion. Such things cannot
be hid for "murder will out and so will rascality
There is matter connected with Ewing's effort
to conceal this matter, which, if we are to judge
the man by his actions, shows a degree of moral
turpitude unworthy of convicted feon, much
less of man occupying high standing in society.
The facts can state, you can draw your own
conclusions.
Upon the election OF Gen. Harrison, in 1910,
you are aware that public opinion pointed to Mr.,
Ew!ns with degree of certainty, as the person
who would be called to preside over the post office
department. You will recollect how much the
public was surprised when Ewing was appointed
Secretary of the Treasury, instead of Postmaster
General. See if the facts below narrated, will not
throw some light upon this sudden change.
Previous to the Inauguration of Gen Harrison,
as President, Mr.. Clay OF Alabama, offered in the
Senate of the United States, The following resolu-
ton, which was adopted:
"Resolved, that the Secretary of The Treasury
be directed to report TO the Senate, at The ncrt
session Of Congress, the amount of scrip hereto
fore issued on the Virginia military land warrants
giving the amount for each year, the names of the
persons TO ,chOm such scrip ,cas assigned, with
the year of such assignment. See Journal of the
Senate, for March lS4l, page 22s.
The very next day, Thomas Ewing was APP
pointed Secrstary cfhe Treasury, to the surprise
of the whole country. The next session of Con-
gress arrived and no report was made. On the
10th of Augus,, ls4l, after some three months had
elapsed. Mr. Clay, of Alabama, introduced the
following resolution:
"Resolved, That the Secretary Of the Treasury
be directed to inform the Senate uithom delay,
why no report has been made in answer to the |
following resolution, passed at the last session of
Congress" Here follows the resolution given
above
While this resolution was pending, Henry Clay
vehemehtly opposed its passage. He said the
matter was OF but little consequence, but he was
willing to vote for it, provided it was so amended
as not 10 call for the names Of Me assignees, Mr..
Woodbury. replied to Mr.. Clay, and in his speech |
he stated that grave and high charges had been
made against members of Congress, who had
assisted in passing laws creating this scrip, of
speculatlng in it, and that in these charges the
name Of the Secretary Of the Treasury, (Mr
Ewing,) was involved, and that if the party in |
power, voted down the resolution, they would be |
held guilty of sitting the investigation. Clay,
finding his efforts to shield Ewing unavaling, was
forced to acquesce, and the resolution was passed.
after the words "without delay" were struck out.
The papers containing the evidence of Eaing's
guilt were deposited in she GeEeral Land Office,
that being branch of the Treasury Department,
and of course under Ewing's control in some
measure. A few days after the passage of this
last resolution, Mr.. Ewing removed every Clerk
from the General Land Office, where the record
Of his guilt was kept, and filled their places with
ools of his own. The next day John Tyler rein
stated every of these clerks ,and they kept too
light watch over, the papers to allow them to be
destroyed On the 2OthI of August, Mr.. Ewing
tent in a report stating that he had not had time
o give the information required. Time passed
IN, and Mr. Ewing was kicked out of Office by
Mr.. Tyler. At the succeeding session of Congress
he then Secretary of the Treasury made the report,
md scrip to the amount of $252, ,7O4 IA was found
o be charged to Ewing and his partners. This
mouat, am aware, embraced but small proper
ion Of the whole amount, for most of the transfers
we're made in the name of EwiDg's agents, and
he scrip being afterwards either by them sold for
Ewing or transferred to him, no record was made
f such transfers, and the names of but few OF his
gents being known, it is hard, if not impossible,
o identify the original transfers. The Senate
eing whig, the report was never published, and
ad il not been for the efforts of the Globe, which
rocured from 1t the list which it published, Clay
would, alter all, have succeeded in screening
Ewing from the infamy which belongs TO the men
vho assisted in passing laws to plunder the unsus-
ecting and the ignorant. Had not Mr.. Ewing