West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-30
now lie WAS CONVERTED.
Why General Tom Ewing Cut
Loose from the Republican

Why General Tom Ewing Cut
Loose from the Republican
Party.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
When General Ewing left the Re
publican party ne was a citizen Of
Kansas, and continued suca Tor more
than three years MISUNDERSTANDING,
IN the meantime, IN 1868, supported
Mr.. Seymour for the Presidency
The people Of Kansas had before
that time conferred upon him high
Offices. lie was one Of the politica
leaders Of the State, in the line OF
prom oLion to the highest honors; and
the State at that time was and ever
since has been, overwhelmingly Re
publican, which party also then held
the National and nearly all OF the
State Govern nents,
Gould personal and selfish consid-
eratoins have induced this change?
General Ewing returned to bis
native town ard State in 1870, and
again became a citizen of Ohio.
The following letter under date Of
November 10, 1867, taken from the
Nat onaJ IntelHgencer of November
Sd, 1867, gives the reasons why he
could not support General Grant
and the Republican party. 1t is ad-
dressed to Colonel o. A. Bassett Of
Lawrence, Kansas, and ia as follow
"WAsuINGToN, November Is,
1861 Dear C0loneh I have your
letter Of the 10th met, advising me
Of the formation Of Grant clubs by
many Of our comrades in Kansas, and
asking my opinion Of the movement
II earnestly wish to he in accord
with The great part Of my Kansas
and ermy friends, and still hope to
unite >hem in supporting General
Grant for President. But I want
first to know whether he approves
the reconstruction measures, for if he
does / cannot support him. / reg I'd
them as mischievous 90 begot Of re-
venge miadirected philanthropy and
lust Of power. l would as soon ex-
pect house to stand on the crater
Of a living volcano as a State, where
whites and blacks being nearly equal
in numbers, the whites are pro
scribed and the blacks made rulers.
Such a Government cannot long
have the heartfelt sympathy Of any
large body of white men anywhere
Blood Is thicker than water, AID
Northern whites will sympalh.z
with Southern whites in their slrug
gle TO shake off the iacubu9 Of negro
rule. II there were no prejudice Ct
rae to affect their action TIE NJrtb-
ern people would still refuse to p.o-
duce N the States of the union
Hayh or San Domingo, or any
other government and civilization
the negro has established since the
flood To punish Tho Southern
whites for their treason the North.
ern people might possibly Tor time
be willing to afilict them with such
governments, but self-intete8t for
bids it, 1t were like the tabled war
Of the belly and the members. The
North already groans under the pun.
ishment now being inflicted on the
South, and must, besides, pay for
the whip. The negro governments,
when formed, must be pr)ppel by
Northern bayonels, and, however
costly, they can never safely be
withdrawn. When reconstructed
each one Of those States will be like
& magazine, all secure while careful
! ly guarded outside, but when left
unguarded a chance spark will blow
it and all about it to the devil,
Entertaining those views, would
not support any candidate TOR the
Presidency who indorses the recon
atruot!on measures, even if they were
Lawful, stili less as I consider them
wholly unconstitutional, and full Of
danger and Precedents.
IL write you explicitly, because
l value your good opinion and want
| You to know how I think aud feen
and mean TO act on the stupendous
questions which lie around and be-
fore rs.
Yours faithfully,
THOMAS EWING.
o