New-York daily tribune., 1843-04-03
Robert Smith.

~ W. ASA A'N's~~N''
vance Of the Mails.
Robert smith.
II we should seem less active than usual in view
of our Charter Election It's because we believe
that, could party feeling be baRished, ROBERT
SMIrH would be elected Mayor by msj jstity of
Thousands. He is man against whom breath
of evil is not whispered; he is known TO be honest,
capable and patriotic. He has great advantage
in not being an office seeker by profession; for,
though repeatedly called to the mostimportant sta
tions, he never desired one of them, but has with
dif6ucl,y been persuaded to respond to the urgent
calls of his fellow-ciiizens No man can say that
he ever perverted Office to his own aggrandizement
or welded power to the oppression OF others
Such candidate could not fail TO call out strong
vote although no effort were made in his favor.
ROBERT SMITH 10 mechanic, who has risen
from poverty and obscurity to competence and
honor by homes, industry and uniform attention to
his duties, personal and public. Unassumng,
generous, and persevering, he is inspiring
ample to our unpor,iened youth, of the rewards
which crown uprightness and patient effort AS
an early and efficient champion of the righteous
cause Of opposition to the State Prison Monopoly,
he ia justly endeared to thousands. He is the FIRST
candidate for Chief Magistrate of our City who
has been selected from the ranks Of the Producing
classes for years, and we indulge sanguine hope
that he will be sustained by triumphant ma ority
U Mr.. J. FESIMoRE COOPER has written
long letter to the Tompkns Volunteer in rela
ton to his lawsuits against Editors, which we
would dearly like to answer as it deserves, as we
safely might if the writer were any other man than
Cooper or the authoritative exposition of the Law
of Libel such as prevails in any other State than
New-York. AS it is, we must suffer in silence
for while Mr. Cooper does not hesitate to pettiios
his case against rle rrrss vy IN iIis l.~S;sual
newspaper scribblings, but even in his Novels and
Magazine stories, yet when one Of US replies, and
speaks of his conduct in the terms of Indignation
which it merits, at once hauled up for libel;
and, as the law is expounded, any expression Of
our opinions of that distinguished pillar and orna
ment Of American Literature, though avowedly as
opinions, subjects US to damages and costs Yet
he does not hesitate to say in the letter before u.s.
'sMr. Grecley's of the Trial BalSton is
nes of mss,atemenls, both in fact and argument"
Here we gre plainly charged with falsehood by
this F" mild and gentlemanly' author, yet no spe-
ci6cation is given, and nearly four months have
now passed since the Ballston Trial without line
from MIR. Cooper, pointing out the misstate-
msnts in our Report which he Is continually as
ser,ing. Indeed, Richards official letter. notify
ing US to prepare for another lawsuit, instanced
the expression of our opinion-no, the opinion
which we were the point of expressing, but con-
cluded not to-with regard to Fenimore's talk
about MIR. Weed and his family, as the special
ground of this new acton-thus virtually confess
ing that our statements of fact were correct,
else why not point out their errors, and ask US to
xetract them?
Fenimo ore says
If the Editors of the papers have mentioned knew
that they circulating ridiculous aisehood they NIGH,
The papers has just reached coming all The way from
Illinois. IL speaks OF my having prosecuted lbe amabe
never squire Greeley any such .hag sued MIN
unle since oi caumny and beat him, and have Just
Shall uea him again; as nave every man bavs sued
who has cot retIacl-a bis loe!s.'
Now it is very true that Mr.. Cooper sued US for
libel, in publishing structures on his conduct in q
previous lawsuit against Mr. Weed; oil the facts
in9egard to which have been fully presented to
our readers. No reader of The Tribune un-
q
on any of his books but it was for criticism on
his conduct in a public transaction insugated
by himself 1t is also true that be beat US, es we
do not see how he could fail TO do under the Sp-
prsme Court law as laid down at Cooperstown,
Fonds and Baston. The uadeniable fact that
we entertained and had expressed an unfavorable
opinion of portion of his public conduct seems to
constitute a libel in the eyes of our Judiciary,
against which no possible defence can avail, or,
indeed, esA &c made. Such we understand TO be
the e6ec, Of tho ruling in the last case OF Cooper
rs. Weed at Cooperstown. Whether ne ought to
have beaten US is another matter, of which our
readers will judge. It is farther true that be has
got his $500, and Richard his 1856 or some such
matter; and VIC doubt not have spent 1t quite
as wortaily as they earned it.--Sut, as to his
beating again. that is another affair altogether.
Perhaps be will; YET think it would not be pru-
dent for either him or Richard to launch GU, into
any very liberal expenditures on the strength of
his anticipated verdict. There is such thing as
counting chickens quite premasurely.
Fenimere says that :" all the clamor Of the Press
has no moro influence on me than if it were the
>rnusic of so many Jewsharps," &c. We wish he
would suffer us to believe this; but really mis- ha-
bieua conduct, whether in his stories or his law
suits, will not allow it.
He says "I fear that my monument will never
be erected for want of funds" This was to have
been erected OUT of the net proceeds OF his libel
suits to commemorate his victory over the Press.)