Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-11-26
Honesty.

ous to have the people believe that the rres-
tern of purity, and that "honesty" is the
prominent and ruling trait Of its character.
For this purpose stipendiaries are stationed
at the capitol to proclaim abroad through
out the length and b eadth Of the land in
wo:dy correspondence to its party presses,
this truly admirable quality of the powers
that be at the capitol. We have lately Civ
en- some il ustrations Of this rare trat, as
it has manifested itself in the conduct of
some of the pets of the party in power; but
these are but the streams that are sent forth
from the great fountain, and they truly par
take Of its qualit' es. ..,...
Gen. Taylor's Secretary of the Interior,
Thomas Ewing, seems to be the very IN
carnation ef this peculiar attribute OF the
Taylor dynasty. 1t took the old hero him.
self 10 play false 10 his political opponents
by promising to conduct the government up
on no-par.y principles, and to prescribe no
man for his political opinions, by which a.
lone he secured The elevated position he now
occupies, but it took Ewing to oplay the deep
er game of deceiving his political friends # r
the purpose Of pecuniary gain. The N. Y.
Globe thus briefly gives the fac's of a most
rascally transaction Of old Solitude In al
tempting to barter away public office for
dwelling house, which transaction was
recently exposed by the Washington Union:
"Mr. Ewing being member of the whig
Cabinet, was desirous Of procuring house
for his residence during the term Of the
Administration. He applied 10 Mr.. Doug
lass, who had one Of The style and convent
ence suitable to Mr.. Ewing's taste. Al
the first interview, no price of rent was
agreed upon, nor does it appear that any
sum was mentioned. A day or two subse'
| quent, Ewing sent person to Mr.. Doug
lass, who suggested the policy of putting
the house at low rent. expressing the
opinion, that if Mr.. D. was liberal, he
would probably be appointed to the office
of Public Gardener, in place of the celebrat
ed Jenny Maher, appointed by Genera
Jackson This hint had the desired effect
and Mr. Douglass agreed to let Ewing the
house at nearly half the rent which hae
previously been given for it, with the un'
! derstanding that he was to be made Public
| Gardener. =
Ewing moved into the house and TOOK
possession. Douglass waited several weeks
without obtaining the garden keys, nnt
thinking there was some deceit and duplicity
in the case, applied TO the ''Secretary o
the Home Department" for the ful6 linen
of mis- pledge Ewing prevaricaed-
assured Mr.. D that Maher should be turn
ed out, ana told him to procure letters o
recommendation from certain persons whom
he named. Thus matters stood until tht
7h of July, when Ewing sent Douglass
note informing him that he could not re
move Maher until after the meeting o
Congress. Thus matters stood until aftel
the meeting of Congress, This satisfied
Douglass that Ewing only intended TO pu
him sff until he obtained lease ofthe house
and then refuse him the office Of Public
Gardener Mr.. D. then withdrew his
application, and refused to give Ewing {
lease of the house."
The Ohio Eagle, published at Lan"aster
/ The residence Of Secretary Ewing, gives lh'
following fu. ther illustration # his peculiar
honesty: '4 ~A ~ .
"He has proven himself to be afflicted
with never satisfying and most unscrupul
! ~, He chorn aya 10 ar m this
look out for speculation, and he seems te
think that all is fair in money getting as
well as in politics. Many Of our citizens
will remember the illustration of this trail
in his character, in the lateral canal STOCK
speculation.
"The stock was low-the State took the
canal from the hands Of the company
agreeing to pay for the stock in full. with
eight years interest. Mr.. Ewing was in q
situation to know all this in advance of the
people. Here was chance for specula
tioni and off he sends his expresses
throughout the county to buy up the stock
at trif1e on the dollar, in which he sue
ceeded to considerable extent. This fac
| illustrates the character Of the Hon
Thomas Ewing, Secretary Of the Interior
ond Butcher General Of the Taylor Admin
istration.' s-'.-z 81
Such seems to be the character Of the
functionary, in whatever capacity he acts =
whether specula ing in Revolutionary sol.
dier's and warrants, Canal stock, or pub.
lie offices. Who ever dreamed that it was
possible for an admins ration made up Of