The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-02
From the National Inteligencr.
MIR. Ewing and the Union.

When the party press OF this country was
| signalized by such excessive virulence as
marks the course Of most of the Opposi-
with all sorts of political aspersions, they
invade the walks of private life and de-
| scend 10 personal defamation. They APP
pear to regard the Administration of Gene
| raj Taylor, and every member Of it, with
| hatred the most intense,' and wage war
| against 1t with an acrmony as measurele.s
as it is unparalleled. Conspicuous, if not
chief, in this savage warfare, we are sorry
to say, is the "Inion'' of this city and
we have reason to believe that many even
Of its own party share our regret to see it
occupy this "bad eminence. Who
would expect to see the arrows of Nestor
poisoned But so it is.
An instance of this extreme injustice,
prompted by party malignity, we feel it
our duty to notice, and in doing so could
not forbear the general remarks with which
we have prefaced it.
The Union has for some cause or other
singled out the Secretary Of The Interior,
| Mr.. Ewing, as the mark of its envenomed
shafts, and, having assailed him for every
species of political offence, ventured some
weeks ago to arraign him on charges Of
private corruption and personal dishonor,
| in having, as it alleged, obtained house,
as his residence here, from citizen of the
name Of Douglas, scotsman and horti-
culturist, at very reduced rent, on con-
dition or promise, or understanding, that
he would give Douglas the place of Public
Gardener, worth some s 200 or S 800.
| The Union does not venture to charge that
such a promise was made by Mr.. Ewing,
or any such understanding entered into by
him, but it nsinuates as much, and upon
this insinuated charge weaves an immense
tissue OF degrading imputations, as unwor-
thy of the established character for honor
and probily of the eminent citizen who is
illuminated, as they are disgracelul to the
party making them.
When this story first appeared in the
Union, it was passed by in silence. The
self-respect of every man, especially one
occupying the elevated and responsible
position which MIR. Ewing does, would
naturally recoil from the humiliation of
| pleading to charges SO base. Encouraged
| BY this silence, the Union has again re-
cured to the subject with renewed ferociiy
and vituperation. We have, therefore,
thought it due to truth, as well as to the
good name Of an able, distinguished, and
veteran public servant, worthy OF every
| honest mans esteem, to inquire into the
| facts OF this mountain OF falsehood, and now
give them to our readers, TO whom we can
undertake to pledge ourselves for their
| truth.
1t would occupy our space unnecessa-
rily, and would exhaust the patience OF
our readers, were we to take up all the
points of all the articles of the Union on
| this subject, and expose them one by one /;
| for, we repeat, it does not charge case OF
direct collision between the Secretary and
Douglas, but endeavors to establish cor
ruption by inference. Now, in what fol
lows we shall meet every tangible point by
| evidence of its ialsity; and where, from
| the nature OF the case, negative cannot
be proved, the allegation shall be met by
positive denial.
In March last, when about to rent
house, Mr.. Ewing inquired of one OF the
Editors of this paper if he knew OF one
suitable for the purpose. A few days
afterwards that individual recommended
house on G street, occupied by the late
| Postmaster General, the rent of which was
$500. About that time Douglas offered
his house. 1t being too large, he offered
to rent the main building, without the
wing, (which took off nine rooms, } max
| ing ii about equal IN accommodation to the
house OH G street. Mr.. T.. liked its stu
alton better, but il was inferior in this,
that il had no stable or carriage house, and
no grounds. This Douglas offered for
$3.50. Mr.. Ewing considered the rent of
both houses reasonable, and, OH the whole,
concluded TO take the house OF Mr. Dou-
glas, on his agreeing to make certain i'm
provements, which were necessary to It's
convenience as a residence. During the
negotiation, Douglas never in the slightest
manner connected an application Tor office
with his proposition to let the house.
| Nothing OF the kind was said or init
mated; nor is ii pretended even by the
| Union that there ever was, between Dou.
glas and the Secretary. The rent which
was agreed on was the fair value of the
property. Ii had been some years before
rented for $3.50, kept a few months, and
reduced 10 $500, including the nine rooms
in the wing; the lessee al the end of the
year surrendered the wing, and kept the
main building about year at $500, but
gave il up lthad two successive tenants
afterwards within year, and was va
cant when Douglas offered il TO Mr..
Ewing. An addition Of $50 year was
the full value of the seed-room in the
main building, which was fitted up and
added for the use of Mr.. Ewing.
Having closed the contract verbally,
Mr.. Ewing requested Douglas TO have
lease prepared, which he promised to do;
and, being much occupied with official
business, Mr.. Ewing gave no further at
tentlon to the matter, except to inquire of
Douglas if the lease was prepared, until
he moved his family into the house.
w lille the Itnnrovptuenfs agreed unon