The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1858-08-04
i CADIz oHIo, WEDNESDAY AUGUST l. 1858

Peniteniary that drafted the law recognizing
the Institution. He was very active in framin:
! the most humane rules for the regulation anC
management Of the prisoners, sympathized deep
ly with tho conyicts, and took a groat and abd
ing interest in all the internal workings of thu
Institution, We never doubted the purity o
his intentions, nor the sincerity Of his motives
and freely accorded to him all the merit due to
a kipd-hsarted philanthropist. But the sur
has his spots, the summer sky its dark clouds
and politicians like Mr.. Mendenhall, their faults
Did we not feel It duty to show up the rea
sons why these Directors refused to retain Mr.
Ewing in position for which he has proved
himsefso admirably adapted, we would gladly
shrink from the unpleasant duty of exposing the
secrets ofthe prison house. We can judge mems
motives only by their actions. BY this rule we
think we can discover Mr.. Mendenhalps oppo.
sition to Mr.. Ewins's retention as Warden O.
The Ohio Penitentary.
When we find man who has bee honorei
with seat in the halls oflegislation, carrying
on q surreptious correspondence with convict
sending his letters clandestinely in the care o.
n guard to avoid inspection by the proper au-
thorities, it is time to be looking after him to
see of what kind ofmaterial he is made.
How long this correspondence between the
Legislator and the convict had been carried on
=. I,,I al, nf . lof-
ters addressed to "Wm McGa"y, are Of j ohm
II. Nell, Columbus, Ohio" was put into the
Penitentiary Post Office box, and by this means
the secret communications between these inter
esting parties were discovered by the officers
OF the prison. This letter from Mendenhall
dated July 7th 1856, says to "McGary that
his favors Of the 18th and 29lh ult were duly
received; the latter, postmarkcd July lst re-
ceived on the 3l--too late, as you see, to be in
Columbus on the 1st, as l think should have
been. had received it in time. am truly Sor-
ry to receive the intelligence conveyed BY last
letter had flttered myself that all was
working well, and that the fears with which
had been deeply troubled were groundless.
have, however, never ceased to be gricved with
some Of the appointments of the new Directors.
| had hoped and believed that at least there was
n majority which would act from pure motives,
uniniluenced by mere party, political, or any
other sinister motive am not, however,
without a strong hope that corrective is at
hand 7 shall wcrk for that. The ''wirc work
crs' shall not Rcftat or Efforts. They may for a
time delay the fruits but the work has begun,
and will not be arrested. The matter Of re-
form in your institution has taken too deep a
hold upon the heart OF the State to be easily
thwartcd. He who puts himself in its way
will be run over, that is, il the 'barbarians'
don't again get the reins, which don't believe
will he soon. have not felt so badly over any
letter for long time, as your Communication
Of the 29h. l should I've greatly obliged to you
to give me more particulars of the transaction
to which you refer, and to be more definite as
to those in whom am mistaken. thank you
for your promr rtness ard regular communication,
and beg you re fer, and to be more definite as to
those in whom am mistaken. Thank you COR
your promptncss and regular communication,
and beg you to write me often and freely.
want to hear every thing. Your communca-
tions shall never be q disadvantage to you; they
arc confidential with me. vii! pay you what
ever expense they are to you, even if you will
write me every day. | would Scorn to ask this
Of You as a spy. know you would scorn to
stand in the position OF spy; but this is not, in
this instance, the case. 1t is perfectly proper
that should know, and that you shold COM
municate to me all that takes place which
bears upon the interests of all that institution
beg you to do it. Let mo know all about the
case to which you refer"
After expressing bis sympathies for two OF
three ofthe prisoners Mr.. Mendenhall goes on
to say to his friend NcGary:--
~ feel the DEEPEST interest in the 0. p, and
my interest greatly increases; TO see it properly
managed shall be an object Of my life Under
some circumstances | should be willing to give
up the comforts of one of the pleasantcst and
happiest ofhomes, and, more than any Office ir
the State, couet that ofWarden off the Ohio PEN
itentiary. But | assure you that the mere pay
could never induce me to do it. | feel mncf
interested in the welfare OF any man who leave,
the establishment, and should be happy, as far
as possible, to take him by the hank, and give
him all the aid in my power to take his true
position in the world. | shall in future write
you oftener, and believe me to be ever
Yours truly ss
CYRUS MENDNHALL.
After reading this extraordinary letter. Mr
Ewing at once discharged Nell, the Guarl, ant
instantly wrote to Meedenhall scathirg letter
upon the improprety Of his conduct in thus
sitting ut defiance the discipline Of the Institu
ton. To this letter Mr.. Mendenhall replied
apologzing for breaking the rules, excusins
McGary, and taking the blame upon himself
stating his object to be to learn the workings
Of the new law, and that he had no other inter
est to serve than the good of the Institution
and winds up his letter with postscript beg
ging the Warden to re.emplov Nell, the Guard
Through whose instrumentality the correspond
ence had been carried on.
Mr.. Ewing again wrote to Mr.. Mennenhall
very properly refusing to re.employ an office
who, regardless Of his oath, had proved so de
relict III his duty, and from that day until III,
meeting Of the Republican Convention. 1911
July. 1853, there was no further communica
ton between the parties On the 14th Of Jul,
tMr MandenhAiI was anpointed Difactor az tn,