New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-11-11
sPEECm OK THOMAS EWING OF
OHIO.


The venerable Thos. Ewing delivered an adj
dress az Crceyie ~ Y. ID mat. which hss an his
orca interest nom his relation to Gen. Shenandoah
Of father.in.law-beyond that OF an eeetioneering
speech Mr. Ewing. who Il now so indrn az to be
compelled 10 speak sttings make random assertions
Mr. Ewing commenced by referring 10 the fact that
for many wear, be had belonged to political party
therefore felt the pTopTiety OF non-inerveuon with the
present politics OF the day. He had watched with IN
erest the progress Of events particularly the growing
disregard Oflaw. Crime vas marked with more afro
city guided by higher Intelligence and supported oy
pow er;ul combinations. MIR. Ewing referred TO the old
know Nothing Organization, Walkers expedition 10
South America Crit ,Bdens expedition against Cuba.
and 20 he Golden Crcle-the last now in existence
In speaking of the origin Of the Golden Circle he said
Walkers expedition 10 south America, and Critten
done against Cuba attracted the attention Of the Gen
ersl Government their piTatical Organ1ations and
after struggle IN which councils were nearly over
powered thoy checked, but not all broken down
or disorgaBled They changed their purpose, extend
ed their organization and became the most effective in
strument. IN the hands u the restless spirits who con
tempated revelation. Mr.. Justice Campbell, OF Ala
bama the Judge ~ the Supreme Court Of the United
States who pre- led at the trial oi these organized
narauders and checked tbese expeditions against the
nelyhboring nations, told me that be had means III h
power % head their proruss and that they extended
70 nearly every State in the Union, had IN Washington
CITY lodge containing many hundred members, which
met twice n week within n few doors 0i tue nOnse
where lodged This was In January 1901 after ds'
union rife lie also said if vote could be takeD
Unioo, bnt tie organization was 30 powerful ana 50
reckless of that the thing impossible there
In any Of the Gull states.
This was of tie preparations FOR revolt II iur'
nshed a force at q moments warning ready 20 DO the
bidding Of their factions leaders II that bidding was for
violence and rnpne. In the teaEtme tho army OF the
United st.tes the ships, and forts anu arms ana mu'
ni0us VI war In tue hhnds OF the Rebel srcreta'
ries WHO applied them In The best manner possible "a
efeotuate ther treasouoic purposes. Those SHIPS of
war whose commands could not be tempered with,
were ecut 10 remote pOi "a and The army and mu
ntons Of in our depos were distributed IA South
crn States and most Of Sonhern iortTessos aud ar
nories were placed in the hands of those who we're
ready "a deliver them over 20 the Rebel chiefs, willie
each point Of intended attack was weakened or dis.
armed. | In Washington during the months OF
January and February is5 and in the latter part OF
January became thoroughly Impressed win the ap'
rhcu Jon that attack would be made on the city by
this band OF desperadoes, directed, II not beaded by
Floyd the then Secretary Of War. The public offices.
tie Treasury, War the Navy and tue Interior. would
have been ut surrendered 10 them and held for
them by the secretaries and clerks no occupied them
Full Of this apprehension called Gen. Scott, aud
In "a private audience If more than hours Duration
told oil Knew Of the condition " The city and tns
danger which threatened H. snd asked him what MI
tary he had a. his command 20 repel an attack |!
made. tie drew himself up to HE full hight ard said
"Sir they must first march over aly dosi body That
,sd would avail us little II would be satisfaction
TO your country know that they lost not OILY their
Capital but with 1t their ablest Genera! What mil
tary force have At command 10 rrpe! an attack II
made sir" said he. Il have thirty marines
and that ia all except my own military family aud the
city militia He told me in The course OF the CONVEX
sHon that he OF the dangerous condition or
a.. cty-tha he had applied frequently and earnestly
10 the Secretary Of War but 20 purpose told hun
hongbt The SECRETARY Of War was
the country loosod to Ain the CenCFan-C hie for the
protection of the Cariai-thst thought he ought 10
10 to the President lay the condition aud the danger OF
The city before him. demand sufhcien. force for It's
protection, and II refused Il rsstyH aud throw tie re-
sponsbiity him II. said he would do so Instantly
We parted aud the next morning lie advised me ho bad
thousand men la hand which he deemed sufficient Tor
Soon after this there followed the resignation Of Cen
Case who discovered treason In the Cabinet and with
drew nom H. Judge Black was made Secretary OF
state and Edwin NJ. Stsnton Attorney-Genersl. Stan.
ton instantly through the condition Of things snd
the designs Of the tratcrS who still. held control Of the
Cabinet and he waged open war against thoDi. lie ex
posed the robbery Department Of the Interior by
Cabinet Ministers, aud compelled Floyd 10 resign 20
avoid public exposure He called on mo nightly for ten
or twelve nights when the struggle was IN progress.
reported the condition OF things, aud consulted as %
future In the whole struggle he bore him
self mannlly, and what Is much 70 al. credit all save
one on whom he east suspicion. open traitors
| FLOYD resigned--s loyal man appointed IN his
place and the Executive and Executive Departments
longer instruments IN the hands OF those who
meditnted tine overthrow OF tho Goyernment. As 90
buchanan himself his advice was not srsa1sT but IN
beciliy He had selfrelisncei was timd and indo.
pendent aud thus he wes made tho instrument ~ bnd
men whom a combination OF traitors selected and
placed around him; and The country suffered Is much
hy his imbecility II would have suffered by his
tenchery except the single fact that the Capital was
not delivered to tho traitors aS were the nrsenas.
and arms and fortresres All these thiHss were doue
before State except South Carolina bad seeded IN
form; and when thor Conventions met their hall, OF
deberation were filed with assembled rutfians con.
yened for the purpose OF oyefawng tho members, and
compelling secession. Such know 10 have been the
case In Virginia where member friends OF the Union.
were drawn from their seats and actually compelled Ia
escape from the city 20 avoid Threatened violence. The
Knights of the Golden Circc thus passed the virginia
resolutions OF secession and the was the case,
directly ar indirectly, In mos: oi the other seeding
States But the secession took place sni the war was
Immediately commenced contrary "a mo usus forms
in civilized nations without pfoVocation, without de
claraton without notice, other thsn That which was
gwen at tie cannvn's mouth. 49,
such were the passing events and such the condition
OF things when NJ. Lincoln assumed the Presidential
chair and during the first Two months Of his Presidency
lie oeme to the Presidential chair new - its surround
ings and mol niu med How could he be iniOrncd Ia
full extent VI tho disturbed condition of the country
And II he had been informed. be lad no immediate
means Of protection. and have wondered ruch that
Washington was not seized by Rebel force within this
period Of unprepared activity Within this time Cen
Sherman then IN civil Ike offered himself to tho TIes
dent for such military service as he might assign HIM.
The President replied that he hoped 20 dspeaie with
amiltary force. sherman know better but he had bis
answer and dd not press hs suit. The President
far from being harsh OF ha'ty in urging on hostities
Ills fault was too much iOrbearancetoo much hope OF
conoiiiatiOn and peace. Even Seward. with all his
knowledge OF their violent leaders in the Senate. aud
aterwad o. the strength Of their organization declare!
the battle of Bull Run put ond % the delusion.
chanocd to be In Washington tho day OF that battle
Sherman, with the rank Of Colonel commanded
brigade He the last 10 quit the held, and the only
general officer who held portion OF his men in hand
during their retreat and halted them at their fortdca
tons on the south side OF the Potomac.
The city was full Of dshearteDed politicians and de-
moralized troops Then. for the first time the Pres
dent became Impressed with tho magnitude Of task
before him perhaps not even fully then. Much that We
object 70 arose the novel condition Of the country
new 10 him. new 20 nl and which takes Us long 10
realize apd n@l.aIzs ~ epg habits and oplli9ns.