The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-09-16
Letter of Hon. Thomas Ewing.

Hon. Thomas Ewing has written a
very able and elaborate letter against
the whole policy of the Republican
party, and particularly that of Mr..
Boutwell,, the Secretary of the Treas
ury. The letter affords abundant ev-.
idence that Mr.. Ewing, who must be
between three-score years and ten and
fourscore, retains all the vigor and in
tellect which for forty years has rem
dered him an historical character. 1t
is now third of a century since Mr..
Ewing was Wing United States
| Senator from Ohio. Twenty-eight
| years ago he was the Secretary of the
Treasury in the Cabinet of General
Harrison. Eighteen years since he
filled the same position in the Cabinet
of General Taylor. He has since,
with one or two exceptions, acted
with the Republicans, and against the
Democracy.
But the late outrages of that party
have been too much for him. He is
particularly opposed both to their re-
construction and financial policies
His letter, which is full Of valuable
suggestions, cannot but be felt upon
the result of the canvass. We will
quote here what he says upon tn two
issues, the Fifteenth Amendment and
Boutwell's financial policy. He in
sists that the amendment has not been
legally submitted, because the Sena-
tors and members from the southern
states were denied admission, and
that the two-thirds required to pass
it must be two-thirds of the entire
houses, and not of the fractional
number present. In this connection,
he says:
"That which we have is no more a
constitutional submission than would
, have been a resolution of Republi-
, can caucus.
"But there is now also an attempt
to force this irregular resolution upon
us, without the consent of the legisla-
! lures of constitutional majority of
, the states. The southern states. not
reconstructed are to be denied read
, mission as states until they adopt this
amendment. They are to be thus
forced to give their free consent to it.
Besides, if the eunreconstructed states
ratify the amendment pursuant to the
: resolution, what will it avail The
+ whole action OF Congress is founded
: on the assumption that they are not
Y now states in the Union, but some
e kind of quidity, no one knows what
S territories, conquered provinces, mil
c itary proconsulates; and not states
until again admitted. Now, If they
: adopt the resolution in obedience tC
e this mandate, their action is nugato
: ry. None but states of the Union cal
e participate in amending the constitu
! ton of the Union, and the whole rad
; ical system Of reconstruction rests up
: on the assumption that they are no
) now states. But the party. having de
e terminel to carry the measure, consti
d tutional objections are, [ am wei
e aware, neutrality-suspicious., per
It haps, since Caucus resolutions haV
VI become the paramount law. | am
n however, opposed to the measure, to
l. tally and entirely, and to all the jug
e glery and thimble-rigging by whicl
/. it is to be brought about. / am un
e willing to change the Constitution o
l. the United States for a trivial cause
even if some possible good nigh
n follow there / can see none. Th
% proposed amendment is not in accor,
= with the opinions and feelings of on
y people, and [ would not have then
lured or forced unwillingly to adop
r, it. There is no more reason for eX
+, tending to the negro political than SO
l. ciaI equality. Indeed, both, are pro
il posed by the ultra Republican reform
y ers, and both supported by the sam
< arguments. The experiment of negr
N supremacy, where now in full opera
N ton, has not generally produced re
l. suits which impress men favorably.
l. In regard to Mr.. BoutwelIs polio
~ he thus comments:
~ "While 1 am writing, the Secretar
m of the Treasury reports that he ha
20 paid off another two millions of tn
20 tive-twenties. They were, by the e1
~ press terms of the law under whic
they were borrowed, payable in legs
- tender notes. He paid them in legal
VI tender notes, and added, as gratuit1
four hundred thousand dollars-h
n paid $2,400,000in currency for 50 900
IT 600 due in currency. This is simpl
Te plunder, excusable by no reasonabl
N doubt OF ambiguity of fact or lar
is guage. There should be an end t
le this. The whisky rings and all othe
10 rings, official and unofficial, formed t
e defraud the revenue and plumber th
re treasury, played at child's play CON
he pared with this. Carried to its utmo;
.E result it will rob the nation of MOI
I'll than seven hundred millions, prime
l. pal and interest, in the next ten year
E And it will be SO, unless the peopl
l. by an emphatic vote, forbid it. Th
7 public treasury will be added to til
e public offices to fill the measure of til
spoils; without it they are quite to
a- small to meet the pressing wants {
D. the party" g.. a
| -4.-g l.s Z .