The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-06-12
LETTER FROM AMOS SMITH.
LAMBERrv1rLE, New Jersey, June Z, 1877

LAMBERryIILE New Jersey, June Z, 1877.
j. B, Danforth, Jr., Esq.
/ have been handed letter by our
postmaster here, the tenor of which IS OF
such nature that am confident the sig
nature to this, its answer, will be a sur
prise. In that letter the postmaster Is
requested to furnish, or to cause TO be
furnished, some particulars OF the life OF
the person who established the first news
paper in Moline, ILL.,, and whom it is in
dicated, is supposed to have died in this
town some years ago. The postmaster
has handed the letter to me, as being the
proper person to reply, and probably he is
correct-for l am the very man about
whom the inquiry is made; not having, as
yet, been obliged to transfer my residence
to the land from whence there are no re-
turning emigrants.
have also received copy OF HE
Rock ISLAND ARGUS, addressed to my
heirs, which may, perhaps, become theirs
some day, but at Epresent remains IN my
charge.
In compliance with request herewith
are briefly furnished the particulars OF my
life, in offering which simply wish to re-
mark that whatever may have been my
faults or my shortcomings in other re-
spects, have endeavored to make 1t one
OF honesty and morality. And if, In the
course OF the narrative. you find the per-
sonal pronoun used in an extremely LAVISH
manner, please excuse, aud attribute 1t TO
the necessities of the case, or to anything
excepting that kind of egotism which you
Democrats charged upon a famous Wing
general "once upon a time, when, as you
may remember his remarkable speeches,
delivered during the presidential cam
paign, made the compositors hunt for
sorts"
was born in Lambertville, n. j., Jan.
9, 1880, in the very house in which / am
now residing My father lived for many
years in the place, of which he was one OF
the earliest residents, but ours is Penn
sylvania family, and almost all Of my rel
Htives are PennsylvaniAns, mostly residents
of Bucks county which lies directly oppo-
site here. across the Delaware. We came Of
Quaker ancestry and are mostly members
OF the Society of Friends, the family run
ming back in that direction to some Of the
worthless who came over with WilliaI
Penn. Imonlion this simply to show tina
the anti'slavery sentiments attributed tC
me by THE Rock ISLAND ARGUS, were
fairly inherited. For it is my opinion that
political principles, like many other things
are in a great measure a matter OF educa'
ton and inheritance. And yet, though
always anti-slavery, never was an abolI
ZIONIST, until by the blow struck at Sumter
the institution of slavery forfeited every
right the nation was bound to respect
Time Is rapidly effacing the distinction
here made between anti-slavery and abol
itionism. Aye, already has effaced it fol
all practical purposes. But to one wht
would rightly understand the politics o
25 years ago, it is living and vital dis
tinction ever to be borne in mind, Blu
you arc not asking for political disquisi
ton and l will not attempt one here.
In fact, although entertaining anti
slavery sentiments, and although the mem
bers of the Society of Friends were gen
orally Wings, my father and all of hi
brothers were ardent Democrats. The
remained such throughout their lives, N
father alone excepted. He became dis
satisfied with the administration of Jack
son and the course pursued in crushing tn
United States bank; thereafter he acte
with the Wings, soon becoming as arden
on that side as he had formerly been o
the other. Yet, like other men unde
similar circumstances, he always insiste
that he had not changed his views part
Gle; that he had not left the Democrat
party-but the Democratic party left hin
Be that as it may, 1t was from my fatht
| imbibed Wing principles in my boyhooC
and | adhered to the party with the Ell
thusiasm Of youth, until it went to piece
with the defeat of Scott. Then III
natural place was in the Republican rank
Such education as | possess, which W;
not attained in printing Office, was a
quired in the common schools of Lamber
vile, and at the age of fifteen the prin
ing business became my choice. TT
Telegraph, tho first newspaper publisht
in Lambertville was just being establish
ed. l learned to set type on the fir
number, pushed the rollers for the fir
issue, which was worked on an old Ramaj
hand press, and delivered the papers
the subscribers. John r. Swallow, ESQ
the publisher, is now resident of Topek
Kansas. The Office changed hands Sc
eral times, and in the course of fe
years l had worked in Pennington. Ire
ton and Camden, il New Jersey, WI
mington, Del, and Doylestown and w
kesbarre, in Pennsylvania, but the great
part Of the time was employed IN Lar
bertville.
At length leaving home on q ple4su
trip, one fine morning, was in the ci
Of Albany, New York, having gone l
the Hudson the day before, on the stear
boat Henry Clay, my object being simp
TO see the far famed beauties Of Il
stream, and its villa dotted shores.
remember we'll that the entire distan
the boat was racing with the 'Allida
one Of rival line And the race was
very close one. The bosts were at Il
respective landings almost together. III
hustle, confusion, frantic haste we
astonishing, and the passengers were Gag
with enthusiasm. Of course l was
wild as anybody for our boat to beat, al
beat we did. left my hotel il Albany ne
morning, valise 10 hand, fully intendil
to return to New York, and to take pa
sage once more on the bully boat" d
Henry Clay. Why / did not do so
scarcely know to this day. My program
had been an immediate return to Ne
York, thus gaining another look at stl
Hudson, and thence a trip through Lol
Island Sound, and on to Boston Col
down to the wharf, there were the boa
in all the hustle of immediate departur
am not sure the boat of the rival Iii
was the "Allida" this timc, but it W
we'll understood there was to be q rae
and eager for the fun, WAS just goil
on board, when the thought struck m
why not see Niagara" Niagara, Il
world famed And whilst | stood he's
tating in my choice between Niagara
the one hand, and the Boston trip, wi
the immediate fun OF the race on the Othe
the question was decided for me-tl
OnnO mink was drawn IN hoord tba bo