New-York daily tribune., 1858-07-16
JUDGE SMITH OF WISCONSIN.

letter from Wisconsin to THE TRIBUNE with refer
epce to the Land.G Grant revelations of last Winter
spoke disparagipgly of the Hon. AbIam o. Smith OF
that State Another corespor dent repes the inPuta
ton at great length and with much spirit. His letter
is so long that We must omit the earlier half of 1t, re-
tsinrg all that is relevant to the case in hand s
ss follows:
AT the time Of Judge Smiths election, be had long
been the legal counsel of the La Crosse Company.
In common with al the citizens Of Milwaukee, he felt
a deep abiding interest In the completion OF this
most important thorOughfare, and on al proper occs,
sons had lent his il uence in that behalf He received
nothing for his services nor did he expect other re-
munerston than what would accrue to him as resi-
dent and property holder at Milwaukee. IL at any
time he had received $40 600 in bonds or cash from
to secure the early construction of the rosd, and his
position lawyer, would have deemed tina. 1t was
more than was his due.
SIce his accession to the Bench no man has more
scrupulously avoided DingDg in the conflicts OF par
ties or kept more alOof from the political and per
Sol al controversies that have arisen No Judge ever
met his judicial obligations or fulfilled his high mis-
sion with unswervDg integrity tnsn Judge
Smith. The breath Of suspicion never rested upon
him. of aitblessness dshonor in the exercise Of his
judicial functions.
Your correspondent seems willing-nsy, anxious
to establish The inference that he was among the per-
SOILS charged with bribery ard corruption 10 contec
ton with the disposition Of the LspdGrant He gra-
ciously wishes you detract nothing from the merit
of his judicial opinions 10 sequence OF personal dis
honesty and unitness for the Bench more un'
founded, base and infamous impu,aton was never ut
tered than that contained in the above extract, as
every person acquainted with Judge smith weli
knows and Of this fact the writer himself am per-
suaded, was not ignorant. A more honest man, IN
private life pubic position, never lived than Judge
s. and one possessing fully the confidence Of the
people CT this State cannot be found. man comoin-
ing Of the attributes and quafc ations Tor ngh
JUDICIAL pcstoR never received the sacred enine. In
pr,yste life be is one of the most amiabe OF men
LIBERAL large hearted magnsnimous, gueless, gener-
Gus and unsu,pectipg. To him money has no charms,
wealth no atlroCtons avarce and cupidty never ex-
ute him. nor was he believed susceptible of ve-
paty or corruption. The parties 10 Court never
claim bis attention but he addresses himself to the
case and no man, not even your correspondent ABOVE
quoted would hesitate TO trust case IN his hands
through fear Of personal, political or pecuniTy bias
1t 10 not denied tbs. ten bonds Of the Is Crosse
Company claI destinely placed upon the table OF
his private resdencehe did not conceal the fact nor
ATTEMPT discovery of the source whence they came
He put them in charge of his bsnker and there they
rest subject to the order of the person who trans
mitted them to him. Barstow would be glad to make
it appear that he had respect able and virtuous men
as Judge Smith in his company, and some OF the
many disappointed political aspirahts would be glad to
destroy public confidence in his integrity, IN order
that their way may be clear to the Supreme Bench
end the United States Sspate There are a. least swo
rompal Repu blicsns-one OF which believes IN ac-
quiescipg in the Fugitive Slave law-who are anx-
lously waiting for Judge Smiths Judicial mantle.
There are at least two more VINO cooperate Win toe
in the hope of getting them out of their own way to
position in the United States Senate. While these
men believe in Judge Smiths integrity and honesty,
and copcede his ability and qualifications, they are
willing to see him over.hIown and the cause OF Free
dom irjuIed in oIder to their own success aud az.
grandizen Tae Democrats, Of course, desire, OF
all things to him disgraced because he more than
any other nan in this Sate, has, by his Judicial opin-
ops shown up the difference between true and false
democracy and vindicated the rights of the citizen
against official oppression and usurpason. De, more
goeues and educated the people in the knowledge OF
their rights and privileges as freemen.
In conclusion, allow me to remark that pure and
upright judicial officer i, as defenseless as viruous
womsn-neither can enter the TO retute false ac
cusaops and therefore the necessity Of the poltcs al
pless being careful in becoming vehicles OF slsnder for
the designing and ambitious. JrsrITIA.