The Portland daily press., 1868-02-18
Political Opinions ora ve.srnn Observer.

POiiricaI Opinions of a Eessran Observer.
We are permitted to published the follow
Ing extract rom private letter by Hon.
Gamaliel E. Smith, of Newfeld. Mr. Smith
is now nearly Il years Of age, and during his
long and industrious lie has always taken
Z patriotic interest In the conduct OF public
affairs and has repeatedly been called upon
to represent bis friends and neighbors IN the
State Legislature. He was a Representative
in the Massachusetts Legislature from the
District of Maine, and before he was 30 years
old had served in the same capacity during
eight legislative sessions. The TIVE books
which he mentions as constituting his pc
ftlcal ibrafy, are books which no man
could read without arriving at very clear opin-
ions on the subject of State rights But the
best point in Mr. Smiths letter is not drawn
from his reading but from his own acute OBJ
servation. We have nowhere seen the diff
erence between the two great parties, which
under different names have so long contend
ed, set forth so tersely and sharply as in Dir.
Smiths own language: "One c lsss is willing
10 be led by denasogues and the other not
Perhaps Mr.. Smith does some Injustice TO
Jefferson, though it must be confessed that
the resolutions OF '9S, written BIZ Jeffer-
sons hand as it turned out twenty wears la
ter,contain the germs of notification secession
and civil war; Mr.. Smith writes as follows:
My parents were emigrants from New
Hampshire and settled on the spot where |
now reside, about six years before 1 was
born. was the youngest OF four children.
My parents were not affiuent, and had to
meet all tIe incidents of new country.
The result was, had none OF the present
advantages OF schools. My mother taught
me to read, and when had arrived at the
age OF dozen years l had read The ceogra-
ply OF the times, with the history Of the dis
coyery OF America and such books as we're
in use and within my reach.
My lather attended to farming in a small
way, intermixed with numbering, which car
ried me on the teaming road much of the
time. read the papers when / could PRO
cure them, but could not understand how i,
should happen that two men should serve in
the army ot the Revolution with equal zeal
and honesty. and one should be Federalist,
and the other Democrat. These were nv
queries when L was about fifteen Years od
At that time my relations in New Hamp
shire were aldent Jefiersonians, and so were
my nearer relations; but none of them conId
unravel the mystery. Itso happened that |
was cal!ed upon 10 tend mason who was
in addition to his laboring character. n nom
ular teacher of vocal music and a Banfist
minister. Finding him a man ofa stronn
mind and well read Istated to him NV Que.
rles. lie declined answering nv questions
Tor certain reasons, but told me if | coulJ pro-
cure tr0 books and read them, and read them
as carefully as had those that had fallen in
to my hands, should never be at a loss how
to act on all political questions. The two
DOCKS We're Mlnots History of the msurrec-
ton IN Massachusetts under Daniel Sbavs
and the Journal of the proceedings of fine
| Convention OF Massachusetts on the Adop
| ton OF the Constitution of the United States.
| The pains that l took and the manner in
which procured those books would be too te-
| dious TO describe at length. II is enough IN
| state that procured them and read tbem.
| and found that my adviser had given me The
| right direction. have never been at a loss
how TO act on great national questions.
| Thus it was, that when | became voter
was satisfied that the Constitution under
which we lise is the same in principle with
the model laid down by Washington in his
| circular addressed TO the Governors of the
| several States before he left the army. Then
the question is, where Is the difference he
tween the parties? 1t is simply this-The
| great oody OF the people are honest and pat-
| riotie but one class is ,ciliinq 10 be led by
demdgOgues and The other not Washington
was a practical statesman and wanted a GOV
eminent strong enough to protect the honest
masses in their pursuits and control those
| who oppose wholesome laws, Jefferson was
| philosophical statesman-Ieavins things at
loose ends with every one 20 take care of him
self Washington wanted a government
strong enough to sustain itself and maintain
| its ground against foreign inroads and domes-
| tic violence. Jefferson was for pacitying for
eign intruders by soft words, and domestic as
pirants by plausible comments on estate
| Rights
1t was the slavery element that had crept
into the constitution that brought Mr. Jefier-
son into power, although he has SO often been
proclaimed the apostle of Democracy. Burr
| was Democrat IL, full. II he could not gain
over by a popular election he would fight
Tor it. fE
We are now experiencing all the evils of
the JeieTsonian policy of Estate Rights"
Where it will end God only knows. From an
amaleamation OF Northern Democratic spec
ulators and Southern rebels who bred the
war to perpetuate slavery we have nothing to
hope. Whether those who will attend the
convention at Chicago 10 nominate candi-
dates Tor President and Vice President will
learn wisdom from the last convention re-
mains to be seen.