Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-11-02
Death os Thouaas Eu,Dp


found himself much reduced in finances
having lost the bulk of his property
during the struggle, and, in hopes of
bettering his fortune removed to the
Muskingum Valley, the Far West. In
1892 he aga moved, this time settle
ing in Athens county.
Very little is known of the early life
of the subject of our sketch, save that
he displayed a great eagerneSs to learn,
and his aptitude soon enabled him to
master the ineagre stock of knowledge
which was fttainable. He was taught
TO read by the older members Of his
fathers family, and cultivated his op-
portnnities, such as they were, with
avidity. 'l.s
at the age. of twenty Sfr. Ewing set
forth in the world to achieve his for
tune. he first went 10 the Kanawha
Valley, where he labored for some
years IN the salf nianufactories, and by
close economy and frugal habits, ae-
quired enough by the time he left, to
purchase a home for his father, and pay
his way through the Ohio University,
where he graduated in 1915, having re-
ceived the first degree, that of A. B.,
ever cenferre by that iRStitutir-i. He
at once commenced the sa: Is OF the
law at Lancaster, and Il ye-fS iater he
was admitted TO practice. His course
as a lawyer was from the first highly
successful and remunerative. He WAS
aIways thorough, fine reasoner and a
ready speaker, and these qualities soon
msde him a bright light in the legal
armament. He engaged in pllitits
also, ana in 1881 he was elected as q
Wing to the United State Senate
Here he was associated and became in
timate with Clay and Webster. In
the Senate, he at once assumed IA high
position, and his influence Increased
rapidly He was a warm protection
ist, in which he and Mr.. Clay became
close allies. He came in collision with
the then Postmaster General in some
matters relating to that Department
and emerged from tho contest yictori :
Gus, having received the support OF
Congress. He was quite active in hax-
ing cheap postage introduced, and did
much. to secure that beneficial result.
He was also an active friend of the
United States Banks and voted for what
was then termed the Force Bill be-
ling bill for the collection of the reye-
nae. He was bitterly opposed to the
removal of the. deposits from the Uni
ted States Bank, which act he deemed
unconstitutional. The Ohie rboundery
question, long a source OF .bick kerings
a9d jealouSies, was adjusted ,satisfaet-
4 orily to the people of his. State through
Mr.. Ewing's instrurnentality. In 1855
he introduced bill to abolish slavery
land the slave trade in the District OF
] Columbia, which was defeated, In all
matters of public policy at that day
Mr.. Ewing took that active part which
was to be. expected of a man of strong
convictions and WHO never neglected
I his duty. A bill which he brought for
ward in 1886, for the annulling of the
celebrated specie Circular" was the
cause of much excitement and heated
! debate, but it was finally defeated.
/. His term expiring in 1886, MIR. Ew.
ling retired to priya. e life and Ttsnmed
: the practice of his profession in l4gffcas-
!, ter, where he remained until he was
: called upon by Mr. Harrison to fill the
position of Secretary of the Treasury
He. continued inI this position Under
Mr.. Tyler, resigning finally under The
following circumstances: In bis frs
!. report as Secretary of the Treasury, ), he
attacked what was known as the inde-
,, pendent Treasury Act, and advocated
the establishment of a National Bank
A bill drafted by him was: finally pass
j ed by Congress. but was at once vetoed
by Mr.. Tyler. Mr.. Ewing then, a
, the request of President Tyler, drafted
! charter, which also ,'asSed both house:
! lof Congress, but which. Mr.. lyle
promptly vetoed as he had the first
! Upon this the entire Cabinet save. Mr.
i Webster resigned. -,
During the administration of Gener
al Tyler, the Department Of the Inter
lior was created, and Mr.. Ewing wa
\ appointed Secretary and first organized
> it. The question of slavery was thel
, being thoroughly agitated, on 8hicl
: Mr.. Ewing differed with Mr.. Clay, Nj
! Ewing depreciating any legislation ol
/; the subject as uncalled for, While Mr.
j, Clay wanted the matt rfnaily settled a
) once. General Taylor's death, and tn
, access on of Mr.. Fillmore, brough
J matters to a crisis, and, Mr.. Ewing re
rigned. Hewas succeeded by the Hon
Thomas Corwin, whom he in tui n sue
D [ceeded in the United States Senate b,
5 appointment of the Governor. IL
: was, of course, at this. time, an activ
j defender of General Taylor's Admins
e tration, fought against the fugitiv,
: slave law, and chara1 terized his entir
course by extreme activity in. adyoca
4 ting reforms and measures which h
! Thought TO be for the public good. IL
: continued thus active until 1851, whel
! he once more resumed the practice Q
. the law in Lancaster.
Through all of his long, eventful an,
! useful life, Mr.. Ewing stood high il
the estimation and regard ofthe peo
lple, as thoroughly honest man, gffter
: with rare talents and full of patrioti
d love Tor his country. BY his death on
u more link that bound us to the memo
! ry of the days of Clay, Webster, Cor
win, and the hust Of giants who mad
i American Statesmanship hbnored, i
: lseve-ed. Very few of those who tflel
Z held public position are now left. !. Hi
{ lecease twill be- widely and deepl,
: mourned by thousands who knew ant
10 ed him. -.iii 4i.i'
k During his long life Mr.. Ewing ne7e
espoused any particular religious belief
y although he was always d. Christial
gentleman. A few days since, how
ever, he professed beliefin the doctrine
e of the Catholic Church, and received
the sacrament, Archbishop Purcell off
o ciated. .yi' - - - .'' -''.'9' Ii ~
MECHANICS WANTED IN GH 3cAGo
n -Fhe ITi5ttne in an editorial announce
that five or six hundred additi0na
n brick and stone lnasons can find eIn
olployment in, Chicago throughout th
winter atfroin four or five dollars be
3 day; that two thousand carpenters, cal
find employment all through the win
:. tier at high wages; that in March Tier
~ would be employment for twice a
lmany more OF both these trades in ad
,fI dition; that workers in wood, y iron
plumbers, gas filters workers in fin
brass and copper whole arfny-wil
y hp varfnd IlfTlh hottaanfi,, ~ l.ef,,,. -.