New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-18
4 DONATION AND 4 CERTIFICATE.

Mr.. II. Boardman Smith of Elmira, member
of the last Congress and reelected to the next,
is a man of persistent purpose and great
presence of mind. Having in his possession
little matter of $1,000 belonging of right to the
United States Government, but coming to MN
in the course of Il distribution of " loot" by the
last Congress, Mr.. Smith remarked long time
ago, with emphasis, that popular clamor couid
not influence him that he came honestly Dy
the money, and was not going to reflect upon
the motives of his colleagues who drew their
back pay and kept it, by returning his to
the Treasury or any such nonsense. Smith
did not want the money. Perish the thought.
But ne did want to stand by his colleagues,
aud not reflect upon their motives. Ii was
chivalry impelled him, not lucre. num-
Der Of Congressman, it Will be remem-
bered, took precisely that view OF it, 1t was
a very rare spectacle of disnterestedness. NOT
one of them wanted the money. To most OF
them it was a burden. They had no use for
it. and as a matter Of sentiment they despised
it. History furnishes no record of an instance
where so large a sum of money was held In such
hearty contempt by so many people at the
same time. But these gentlemen said, with the
spirit of self-sacrifce so common In the Amerl-
can Congressman, and to which we are in
debted for so many great enterprises of
internal Improvement, "There' 3 no Use In
"being mean about this. We don't want
this money, but other members do. Not to
"draw it will be reflection upon those who
"dO. SO we W II do the manly and chivalrOus
ching, take up this cross and, for the sake
"of our poor and deserving associates, bear it
"meekly.n So, in this grand, heroic way,
they drew the $4,000, and held on to
it just as though they wanted it and did not
despise it from the bottoms of their hearts.
They counterfeited earnestness, and pretended
to be mercenary and not high-toned-with
such success that the country was unable to
distinguish between those who took back pay
with intention and purpose, like Mr.. Butler,
and those who took it only to save the feel
ings of their friends, like Mr.. Shellabarger.
There has been no such excellent acting for
long time.
OF this chivarous circle Of mutual admirers,
Mr. H. Boardman Smith Of the XXVIlth Dis
trict OF this State is one, and not by any
means an insignificant one. Mr.. Smith has
carried around his $1,000 till it became more
than burden it was hot in his pocket and
too heavy to carry. And so Smith, having
done all that could be asked even of his
chivaIrous nature, proceeded to empty his
pockets into an Orphans Home at Elmira.
The ladies who manage the Home accepted
tho donation and acknowledged the same in
letter, in which they take OccasiOn-some-
what unnecessarily, as it seems to us
to pass judgment upon MIR. Smiths
motives. They say: "To question or doubt
"the motives of such an act on the part of
Zone who has, as our honOred Representa-
"tive in Congress, made 80 serviceable record
"as yours, or stoop to the point of imputing
to one whom we know to be infinitely above
call such considerations any political and
selfish designs, would, we think, i'll become
the citizens of this or any other district
where you are known; much less would it
become us, who are the representative re-
"cipients of this magnificent donation"
The ladies meant well, no doubt. But
upon the whole it is q queer response to
donation of $4,000. 1t assumes a questionable
motive on Smiths part in order to deny it.
Most men would feel just trihe uncomforta-
BILE if an Orphan Asylum which they had just
presented with $4,000 should turn it over
thoughtfully between thumb and finger and
say: 1t would ill become anybody to say
"this money was stolen much less would it
"becOme us, who are the representative re-
"cpients of this magnificent donation" But
Mr. Smith may feel differently. He has got
lid of the plumber, and the ladies say they
think his intentions are honorable.
Wall call tho