Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1849-08-02
Truman Smiths Secret Circular.

The Washington Union makes the following Gp-
p~ropriate comments upon the Circular, recently dis
tributed in this State by Truman Smith, the head OF
the Taylor Club at Washington. The Wooden Nut
meg Senator is equally busy in sending other circu-
culars. covered by his frank, to other quarters, SO
framed as to meet. in his virtuous estimation, the
peculiar demands of the locality. He is paid for these
services by a corruption fund raised by the leaders of
the - on-interferen elections" Taylor no. party
party. The Union says
This circular is unique and rich in more respects than one.
II not only is one Of the many proofs OF the fact that the
administrs;inn have a secret club in this city, provided with
ample funds TO operate upon The elections in the several
States, and that Truman Smith, the wooden-nutmeg senator
fom Connecticut, who has never shown a capacity for any
thing else but such low, unpTincipled and shameless in
trigues, is the head Of this club. and the manager of its cor
ruption fund but it also shows that Truman is the principal
counsellor and adviser Of the cabinet in the disposition Of
public Offices. He holds out this very idea to the people Of
Indiana. He tells them, in The most pateTnal tone, that he
has learned that they are dissatisfied because Mr.. Caleb B.
Smith was not appointed Postmaster General; that 1t was
not his fault, for he did every thing he could to accomplish
the object. but for once he failed; and that General Taylor
will yet do justice TO Indiana by giving her wing politicians
more offices. But, says Truman. ] cannot help you " if your
State shall return a delegation mainly hostile TO The nec dd.
miniStrdtion."
Was there ever a more shameful proposition made 10 an
intelligent and patriiic people than this Here is a direct
offer TO bride the people Indiana into a more Jealous and
inscriptions support Of General Taylor's administration by
promising them more off ss. NJ. Smith says, Send more
wing delegates to support the administration, and the admin
istraiiOn will give you more Offices" And who can doubt
that Truman Smith is in the confidence of the cabinet; that
he acts by their suggestion; and that he is authorized by the
cabinet TO submit to the people Of Indiana this base and
shameful proposition for political bribery /! And was ever
such infamous intermeddling with elections before practised
BY an administration ? And what shadow Of apology can be
made for such criminal interference with the freedom and
purity of elections |? When such acts as these are perpe-
tTated, under the cover of secrecy and science, by an admin
istration protesting TO hold its power from the people, and to
be governed by their will fairly expressed by their repre-
sentatives in Congress, through the fundamentally Of its
corrupt, degraded, and base agents, it is time for the people
to take the alarm, and rush to the rescue.
This last disclosure shows that this administration, which
Processes so much regard for the freedom and purity Of cleo
lions, and is every day removing democrats for the alleged
offence of interfering with politics, is guilty of the gIossest
been committed. 1t has set on foot a gigantic scheme to
operate secretly and furively upon the elections in every
State of the Union, promising Offices for political support,
and thus attempting to undermine the integrity and morals
of the people. And Truman Smith, a senator from COnnec-
tcut, Is the degraded and shameless instrument by which
this stupendous system of fraud upon popular sufIage is to
be carried out. What offence is more criminal, what more
reasonable against the very spirit and principles OF our iu-
s,itutions, than this? Strange, indeed, ii will be, If the
United States Senate shall toleI ate among its members a man
who thus unblushingly engages in a criminal and secret con-
spiracy against the freedom and purity of popular elections,
and thus deglades the high character of an American Sena-
tor.
We shall recur TO This subject again but in the meantime
we call upon the patriotic and virtuous people Of all parties
to note the development of these corrupt and shameful pia &C
tees, and 10 Tebuke an administration that dares 10 resort TO
them, by sending members OF Congress 10 Washington who
will, in the name Of the people, hold it accountable for such
misdeeds and crimes against the sscied purity of the ballot
box.