Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-05-22
1ggG@qeGJIM9.
SIGYERS THEDEGLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE.
JAMES SMITH, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

/ James Smith was born in Ireland, and was
quite small child when brought by his faith
I er to this country The date OF his birth
/ is not recorded, and Mr.. Smith himself
/ could never be induced 10 tell It. 1t is sup
posed to be somewhere about 1920. His faith
er. who had numerous family of children,
settled upon the Susguehanna river, in Penn
sylvanla and died there In l76l. James was
I his second son, and. discovering strong in
iellect at an early age, his father determined
/ 10 give him liberal education. For this pur-
pose he placed him under the charge of Rev
erend Doctor Allison, provost Of the college
Z Of Philadelphia. He there acquired Gnowl-
edge of Latin and Greek, and what proved
more useful to him. practical surveying.
After completing his tuition, he began the
study of law in Lancaster, and when admit
4 ted to the bar, be removed westward, and
practised both law and surveying. The place
where he located was very sparsely populated,
and indeed was almost wilderness. The
flourishing town of Shippensburg has since
sprung up there. After short continuance
in his wilderness home, Mr.. Smith moved TO
the fourIshing village Of York, where he
found no business competition for many years
He married Miss Eleanor Amor Of Newcas-
tie, Delaware, and became permanent resi-
dent Of \ ork, where he stood at the head Of
the bar until the opening Of the Revolution
/ Mr.. Smith early perceived the gathering
storm which British expressions were elaboF-
atlng here; and when men began to speak out
fearlessly, he was among the first in Pennsyl-
vania to take sides with the patriots Of Mass
+ achuseus and Virginia. He heartily secon-
ded the proposition for non-importation agree
ments, and for General Congress. He was
a delegate from the county of York to the
/ Pennsylvania convention (Which was styled
/ "Commitree Of Pennsylvania,") whose duty
II was TO ascertain the sentiments OF the peo-
pie, and publish an address. Mr.. Smith was
a member ofthe subcommittee chosen to pre-
pare the address, which was in the form of IN
structlons to the representatives Of the people
in the General Assembly of the state. He
was earnest In endeavorIng 20 arouse the peo-
pie to positive resistance, and as early as l774,
he was in favor Of cutting the bond that held
the colonies to the British throne.
When Congress passed resolution, re-
, commencing the several colonies to "adopt
such governments as in the opinion of the
representatives of the people, might best con-
duce TO the happiness and safety OF their con-
stituents,' the Pennsylvania Assembly was
slow TO act accordingly. IN fact It's lnstruc-
tions to its delegates IN Congress were not
favorable TO independence, and It was not un-
til the people of that state spoke out their SEN
sylvania truly represented there. The
seats Of her delegates, who refused to vote for
the Declaration Of lndepence, and withdrew
from Congress, were filed with bold men, and
one of these was James Smith, who, with
George CIymer and Benjamin Rush, took his
seat some days after that glorious instrument
was adopted. He was there IN time, ho"ev-
er, to place his signature TO the parchment on
the second day Of August ensuing.
,Eazr 1f EN-
tion of Pennsylvania convened to form con-
stitution for the state, after the Declaration of
Independence. There he was very active,
and It was not until October, I776. that he
was a regular attendant III the General Con-
gress. He was soon after appointed one of a
most important committee, whose business was
to aid Washington in opposing the progress
Of General Howe's army. They were lntrus-
ted with almost unlimited discretionary pow
ers, and the scope of their operations Inclu-
ded the whole business of advising and su-
perintending the military movements.
In the spring Of I717, Mr.. Smith declined
a reelection to Congress, and resumed his
professional business at Y ork but the unfor-
tunate defeats of the Americans at the Bran
dywine and at Germantown, and the capture
of Philadelphia by the British. called for hls
valuable presence in the na i0nal council, and
he obeyed the voice of duty. Congress ad-
IOuTned to Lancaster when Howe army loon
Philadelphia, and afterward il adjourned to
y ork, the place of Mr.. Smiths residence
When the battle of Monmouth, IN I778, made
the hope of American triumph beam brightly,
Mr.. Smith retired again from Congress, and
resumed his professional business. In l71S
he was called to a seat in the Legislature OF
Pennsylvania, where he served one term, and
then withdrew. This closed his public car
eer, and he lived in the enjoyment of domes
tic happiness until his death, which occurred
on the elventh day Of July, 1906. He IS sup.
posed 10 have been nearly ninety years oi
age
Mr.. Smith was quite an eccentric man, and
possessed d vein of humor, coupled with
sharp wit, which made him great favorItt
in the social circle IN which he moved. Tie
was always lively in his conversation and
manners. except when religions subjects were
the topics, when he was very grave and never
suffered any in his presence to sneer at ol
speak with levity Of Christianity. Although
not professor Of religion, he was possessol
of religion. and a possessor of many OF It's
su5imcr virtues, and practised its holIest pre-
cepts.
CURE FOR THE ErREsIPELAs fol
lowing recipe for the cure of Erysipelas
was furnished to the editor Of the St 10
seph Valley Register, by a lady who says
1t has never failed, to her knowledge, IN
healing tue disease
Take a quantity of bark from the sas-
safras root-boil it well-add weak lye-
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