Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-08-29
From the Indiana Sat Joara
HON. CALEB B. SMITH.

Il too frequently occurs that. in times of
undue excitement. great injustice IS done
our pubic men bv those entertaining add
verse political opinions. Heated pari
Fans are too prone 10 misconstrue the mo-
lives and 10 misreprcseni the actions OF
those 70 whom they are politically opposed.
Il the return of moments OF more de-
iberate reflection they are often surprised
that they permitted themselves TO be so
far Influenced by excited passions as 10 do
manifest injustice 10 any one. even though
he be not Of their own peculiar faith.
The late political contest in this State
was one of unusual character. An en-
,raordinary coalition Of the supporters TAT
the recen, Presidential election) of Gen
Cass and Mr. Van Buren, was formed. for
the purpose of opposing the existing adj
ministration. " neither such a coalition
conceded a compromise OF principle must
be determined from the fact that last fall,
It's members opposed each other because
;he one party supported candidate who
favored Legislation to prevent the introduce
ton Of slavery into our new territories.
and the candidate of the other party OPP
posed such legislation
Ia the prosecution of the object OF this
new coalition the leaders of these factions
contended with each other as 10 who should
go tarthcst in mlsrepresenting the admin
isiration and its supporters.
Prominent among those whom they thus
attacked was the gentleman whose name
stands at the head of this article.-No
terms of reproach 10 be found in the Eng
lish language remained unemployed in
their denunciations
The supporters of Cass, who avowed
that Congress had no right TO prevent sla-
very in our territories, and who reasoned
in favor Of its extension, by ayowing that
such extension would not increase the
number Of slaves, denounced him as a
traitor, with an ctlrontery that would
have graccd the brow of Pluto himself
The supporters of Mr. Van Buren,. VIII ose
past political history presents the most alb
lecf trucking 10 the claims of the ultr;
Shareholders OF the South. not to be on
done by their compeers in dctraction, tool
up the song, and .'sung it an octave niuh
er. II an abortve celebration of tn
, anniversary Of the passage of the ordi
, nance of 1887, Il gentleman whose forrne
position as Commissioner of the Paten
: Office, rather than any mental capacity
gives prominence among the leaders {
the Van Buren, faction, thus gave utter
: ance 70 a gross libel upon Mr. Smith w
quote from the report of his speech a
! published in the abolition papers:
, ''Our efforts have had effect. We hav
achieved great moral triumph. Dough
: faces are beginning TO learn lesson
. They are reaping their rewards. Tn
/ people are regulating them. Their pre-
misses are at discount. OF this we hay
few distinguished specimens.
!. Caleb b. Smith promised faithfully ,
r stand by Free Soil lie was elected. b,
y in hope of getting a foreign mission wort
+ $4,000 per annum. with $4,000 outfit, i
o tried 10 sell his constituency That h
= has not got Yet. but probably will; but h
: has lost all his influence at home, and
universally despiscd.'
Q Had this man the regard for truth While
G one of his age and profession ought
/ possess, he never would have thus ..bori
false witness against his neighbor." Iii
. fervor Of newborn zeal should not ha,
Destroyed proper selErespect. Were "
5 disposed to rotor, in the same spirit whic
seems 10 have prompted the above, "
might. with more truth, tell how it happier
ed that person whose shameless condu
: and drunken bestiality disgraccs OF
country abroad, was placed in that pos
). ton; but for the present, at least, we 70
bear.
ht-nnded. honest men. no matt,
what political ,enets that may profess, a,
not willing 10 do injustice TO a political .,
ponent To such We now address on
selves, with the full assurance that a tru
! recital of Mr.. Smith 5 whole course. SUI
J. famed by such evidence as none dare
:, controvert, in relation to slavery, will col
o vince them that he has been most uniustl
. censored.
? When Florida applied for admissio
u into the Union, an effor; was made, b
those who desired 20 increase the repre-
: sentation Of the slave States to form NV
/ such States out of that territory. NJ
/ Smith voted against it, The Constitutio
/: Of Florida not only established SLAYER,
5 but precludes the Legislature of that Stat
e from legislating on the subject of il
h emancipation. Against the admission
/ Florida. with such Constitution, NJ
# Smith voted. The annexation of Texa.
a slaNn STATE ,s.;,ich aonnr1;. q. .s.< Am,