Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-08-11
JOHN SMITH.

The Loco Foco convention, which met in
this place on Tuesday last to select candi-
date to be voted for by the party as a repre-
sentative in Congress from this district, nomi-
mated the Hon. John Smith of St. Adams
1t gives us pleasure to reciprocate the civil-
ties of our neighbor of the Sentinel, towards
Mr.. MARSH, by admitting, as we do most
cheerfully, that so far as ace know any thing
of him personally, Mr.. Smith is gentleman
of irreproachable character in his private
life. In making this admission, we hold
ourself at liberty TO canvass his political
opinions and his public conduct with perfect
freedom. This privilege we presume MIR.
Smith would himself be last to deny to us
and we shall accordingly pay our respects to
him as politician at our earliest convent
ence.
But though we arc not prepared to- dis
cuss his claims as a public man this week,
we have collected several extracts from the
writings Of his political friends which show,
with sufficient distinctncss, in what cstima-
ton he is held by them. And in the first
place we ask the attention of our readers to
the following extract from an address of the
Democratic" district convention held in
August, 1S34,--which address was signed
by GF7DAvID A. SMALLEY, of this town, n.
L. WnIrTEMonE, of Swanton, and DR..
DEMING of Milton, all patent Democrats of
the most approved brand. The following is
its language.
"He, (INr. Smith,, belonged to the old
Federal party, was the opponent and RE-
"VILER of Jefferson and Madison--the
STRENUOUS OPPOSER of the last
{" war, and found exerting all his influence to
"thwar, the government in the prosecution
"of it; and if we may judge from his past
"politcal course, he has not discarded the
"principles by which he was then govern
d."--Democratic dddress, Aug. 1884.
Such is the testimony of democratic con.
vention composed of the leading men from
all parts of the district, men familiar, it is to
be presumed, with Mr.. Smiths character and
r early history. But this is not all. Our neigh
= Dor of the Sentinel, whose Democracy nc
j.; one will doubt, endorsed this opinion of the
:, Democratic convention in the following
words.
: "John Smith was opposed to the last war, has al
"cdys been rank federdliSt, and if he did not live
"oppose tn. election and administration of Thomas
jefferson, he has rendered himself equally culpab,
with those who did, by jealous opposition through
Y "out his rhoie political career TO Jeersonlan prnci
), pies VIII the writer or editor of the Jonrne deny
/. this Why has the writer lin the Franklin Journal
e "wh such les,ca finesse, passed over the charg,
e "of federdiism made upon Mr. Smith in the address
e Does he think that the democratic freemen will b
l. deceived by This puerle attempt at whewashlnl
"his former political character, and by it be drawn in
If ito his support Was he not the Jealous coadluto
n "of the Hon. BENJAMIN Swift during the last war
g. And do the leading partzans OF Mr. Smlh consde
l. men who deemed II unbecoming moral and reli
r 'glous people TO rejoice at our victories, good demo
d cra,s"-Sentinei, dug. Is, 1884
OIL But let us 60 little further back, and Sc,
what our neighbor of the Sentinel thought O
Mr.. Smith as a politician and man of talents
in in 1888. The editor of the Sentinel wa
\, IL then at Montpelier, personal observer o
d. what was passing, and wrote back as follows
e. "The an,imasons have been in secret session. an
OF Nominated his TirddlcrshiP, John Smith, as cand
IL " date for Speaker"
st Again the editor says
IN Notwithstanding a decided ma jority Of union me
$, "were returned to the Legislature the present veal
L. "ihe baoings for Speaker have resulted in the cleo
r. "tion of John Smith of ST. Adams, genllema
I'd hose political creed is part coored as Joseph
N coat."-Sentinei Oct. H. 1899.
es And still again
he "Many members of the Legi stature contended tina
r I" the conrse!pursued by Mr.. Smith is inudicious
Is "many parcunrs-that he lacks energy forethough
IN "and sound Judgement must admit that he lach
he Information requisite 10 the station he occupies
O. "hdring sererai times been corrected by the Hous
no in his decision upon questions Of order.-Sentine
s ss And yet this man, whose political friend
Of pronounce him " tpaddler, whose politicO
III creed is as parti-eOlored as Joseph's coat,