Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-01-19

Mxssas ED,rols:-You will obiige the nu-
nsseas members Of our family by giving pub
lieisy = iins enclosed able report. for which an
indebted 10 the kindnss Of our distinguished rep
sesentatiye, the Hon. G. b. Smith.
ta M Respectfully,
Richmond, Jaa. ~, Is4s. w. B. SMITH.
Il EPOR T
OF IL sslset csssmifeee d foe Snihs, on the petit
liss ~ ALbert J. Smith, praying for change Of
ssm..-(ss IL Cenevs! Asse~Lly Of the Siofe Of
Neo York;
Mr.. J. B. Smith. from the select committee TO
which w.s referred the petition Of AlbcrJ. Smith,
praying that his name may be changed, Reports:
That they have taken into careful cons'dera-
ton the only upon which tho prayer OF
shs petitioner 10 based.
AZ the request seems to be founded on the as
sumpaion thst Smith could not properly be call
ed . name. il appeared TO be incumbent on your
committee TO examine Whether this position was
senabIe or not.
Your committee after an arduous investiga-
ton, sys prepared 70 show that Smith 10 not only
. true name
.But tits . name, 30 spread DER sir and madam,
That one would think the first who bore it Adam"
There appear TO 10 various opinions amongst the
learned ~ to its origin.
There IL an ancient tradition extant that wl,e
men began to multiply upon tho eu'th, in the
pauciiy Of language, it became difficult TO find
names for them ALL
II was suggested upon the ground Of careless
expediency, that never looks ahead to conse-
qusnces, that the number yet left should all be
called Smith.
There Is certainly something very plausible in
this theory Of the origin Of the name. as it ac-
cssnts for the multitude to whom il belongs,
without resorting to the highly Improbable sup
position that the Smiths more thrifty and
prolific race than those Of any other name.
There - another opinion. Of = distinguished
and learned critic, which the committee consid-
ers worthy Of site ndon, viz that the Smith,
10 . nero corruption Of the teri" formerly applied
TO designate the Phrygian Apollo whose sir name
Was SmiDt!leus.
Now by an easy transition. may il not Re sup
posed that this augurt name has undergone a
change that brings il to its present OrthogrAPhy?
Observation-Disclosures
Some Of the family even now assume that
this il the true origin Of tho name. and take u
pious pleasure in writing the name Smi,he.
Leaving these opinions, which to say the least
ara somewhat spocryphaI, your committee will
como down to some hisio ricai facts connected
with the origin Of the rame.
There can be no doubt but il was originally
applied 10 workers in metal. One Of the heather
poets calls Vulcan "the Smith of Jupter.''
In Ovid's Metamorpboses. where he describes
. combat with the centaurs, alusion is made
20 the handle raft from which this name is deriv-
ed. Tho hair Of one taking fire from a burning
brand hurled at his head. is thus described:
..His blazing locks sent forth a cracking sound,
And biss'd like red hot iron within the S"'thy
drowned
II we come to a still later period, we find mod
i6catons Of the name derived from the German
schmeisen. "to smite;'' the Swedish smida, "to
hammer;'' and the Danish smider, "to forge, to
INVENT but, the genuine name Smith. 10 pure
Saxon, from the word smitan, "to strike"
During the age of chivaIry, artizans in metal
were in great request, aud they took tho APP
reliasion Of Smith in addition to their former
name, it gradually came in use as a sir name.
This time hon ored name has become establish
I'd, and rendered conspicuous by \ multitude Of
eminent observation-disclosures n, historians, po-
litical economists, lawyers, physicians, mer-
chants and bankers. The Mormon prophet 90.
Smiti) has rendered the name immortal.
We find on examining tho public records, cab
met officers and governors Of several States,
bearing the distinguished name Of Smith. The
newly appointed Governor Of the city Of Next
co, is Gen. Presifer Smith.
The name stands enrolled amongst men hold
ing the first rank in literature and science.
In time of war it has always stood out in bold
relief, amongst the killed, wounded and missing,
showing conclusively, that the race arc not only
eonspcueus for their valor and patriotism. but
that some of them, at least, think with Falstaff,
shat t, s
'.Prudence is the better part Of valor.''
Byron, however, bears testimony to their war
like spirit. for in speaking Of the select force who
led the attack at the storming Of Isuaii he says,
"'Nongvt them were several Englishmen ofpith.
Sixteen called Thompson, and nineteen named
Smith"
Leaving the conside ration Of the name in gem
sraI, the committee would briefly call the atten-
ton Of the House, to that celebrated member Of
the family named John.
John is a person Of singular ubiIuity. so much
90, that 90 where you will, you invariably find
him.
His versatility Of character and talent is no
less amazing.
The first that We hear ofhim is fighting amongst
the Turks; We next behold him conspicuous in
founding the settlement Of jamestown, Virginia,
where he narrowly escaped from the Indians
through the Intervention Of the celebrated Poca-
hontAs.
John is subsequently found in the Senate of,he
United States; he becomes a member Of Con-
gress. and finally condescends to take a seat in
the State Legislature. Strange to relate, he
again appears ~ an eminent Doctor Of Divinity.
John was the first president of Union College.
in this State. His warlike predictions again
seize him, and Ne find him figuring in the
on the uortlseastern boundary.
By ono of those strange vicissitudes which
sometimes occur in human affairs, We next see
John in position entirely new.
In examining the police reports Of tho city Of