New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-05
A MAN OF EXPERIENCE.
Someihing About One Of the Members Z
Abe Hewitt,s' Returning Board.

Someihinx About One Of the Members of
Abe Hewitt's ReturniBg Board.
Mr.. George 3. Smith, one of the "five
late in the affairs of Louisiana, seems to
have made record before his advent here.
The editor of the Petersburg West Viz
ginia) State Journal seems to be we'll ac-
quainted with him, and adds to the compli-
mentary notice Of the Times a few com
ments in the issue of November 30:
The Hon. George B. Smith, of Wisconsin,
will be an admirable member of commit
tee to which general attention is directed at
this time. He has the highest character for
integrity and patriotism. with q very large
experience in public affairs. He has ma
tional reputation as a esgaciOus and far
sighted political manager. In the North
west, where Mr.. Smith is best known, any
statement he can make in regard to the
case which has now become such an ina
'pOctant one will be accepted without ques-
ton by the leaders of both the great
political parties.-Ne,o Orleans Times.
The Times should post itself before in
dulging in excessive panegyric. We happen
to be familiar with and were personally
cognizant of bit OF the early history of
the Hon. George B. Smith, when he was
Democratic Attorney General of Wisconsin,
twenty years ago, and as such Cfiicer, q
member of the State board Of canyassers.
The contest for Governor that year was
close between BashfOrd, Republican, and
Barstow, Democrat. BashfOrd was fairly
elected by the people, but the day before
the State board was to meet Complementary
returns, unsubstantiated by either law or
facts, were received from Bridge Creek and
town seven, range ten, uninhabited and un-
inhabitable regions in the pineries of
North Wisconsin. Those supplemental
returns, which were afterward ascer-
tanned to have been manufactured by
the then assistant Secretary Of State,
DR.. Hunt. gave large msjorities for
Barstow. The State board awarded
him the certificate. Bashford appealed to
the Supreme Court, when the fraudulent
character of the supplemental returns was
clearly proven, and Bashford was declared
entitled TO the ctfice by the mandate Of the
court. BarstOw, being Governor at the
time, aud acting under the advice of his
Attorney General, the Hon. George b.
Smith, resisted, and called out the militia
of the State, which Immediately swarmed
the Capitol park and building. Bashford's
friends gathered around him as q posse
cOmitstus of the court, armed themselves
and commenced drilling. A conflict seemed
imminent. Bsrstow intrenched himself in
the Capitol, receiving his meals and sleep
ing there, q Ia Stanton during the johnson
regime. But just before Inauguration day
Barstow yielded, disbanded his militia and
gave up the Office to Bsshford, who was
inaugurated. Ever since that day the
Democratic managers of that time have
been denomi GATED and known as the
Forty Thieves" and George 3. Smith
has ALWAYS been recognized as the
Boss" His questionable transactions in
the school and swamp lands OF Wisconsin
will also be remembered as not exactly the
kind of reputation man of sterling integ-
rity would desire to arm himself with. As
"counter," George B. js a success, and
Tild,n could not nave intrusted his in
| terests in safer hands. But if he is now
recognized as standard of political honor
| in Wisconsin, then his reformation since
| 1856 has been marked and extraordinary
one. Every prominent citizen of Wjsc0n-
Sin will verify this biography.
If q COL fl ct occurs between tbs Return
| ing Board and Supreme Court of Louisiana,
we ehall be anxious to learn if Mr.. Smith,
as one of the legal antagonists of the Board,
will cite the precedent of Bashford vs.
Barstow, in which he was one Of the legal
advisers and cOunseled resistance to the
mandates of the Supreme Court of Wis
copsiD