National Republican., 1880-11-06
Position of a Concressmnn-E Elect.

The Rev. j. Hyatt Smith, who has boon
elected 10 congress in the third district in
Brook lyn over s. B. Chittenden, said yester.
day that he had always been republican and
had always voted with the republican party
on national questions. He still considers
himself republican-an independent repub-
licln-and is not a greenbackor, having
always been in accord with the principles
embodied in the resumption act. lie is In
favor Of n strong protective tariff.
Mr.. Smith is the son of yankee school
master. His fathers sister, while a school.
mistress at Litchfeld Mass, taught Henry
Ward Beecher to read. He was born at Sara.
toga, N. Y. in 1924. At ten years of age he
became mn errand boy for doctor in Albany.
lie broke away from this employment soon
after and went to Michigan, where he got a
corkship in a store In Detroit. Anson Bur.
lingame was then boy in the same town, aud
he and Hyatt Smith became fast friends. The
hearts of both were filled with air-castlos.
They took long walks and discussed tho fu.
turo. One day, carrying bible, they went
far into the woods, aud placing their hands
upon the book soemnly swore that they
would some day become members Of congress.
Mr.. Buringame was elected to congress by
tho republicans of the fifth district of AIassa.
chusetts IN 1854, in 1856 and again In 1858.
He subsequently was appointed minister to
China, and then he became ambassador from
tulut 10 Jne OHlItu ObhJeS, ana Drought uDOuI
| the famous Burlingame treaty, under which
| the Chinese began to pour into this country.
Zacharah Chandler took q deep interest in
young Smith and volunteered to pay the ex-
penses of his education for the ministry.
Chandler was unable to keep his promise, but
| Mr. Smith having determined TO become q
| preacher, returned to Albany, went back to
| tho doctors office and began to study. He
| found more remuneratiye position in tho
| commercial bank of Albany, aud after five
| years of study and work he was licensed to
preach by the Pearl street baptist church in
| New York in 1S43. He went first TO Pough-
keepsic, then to Cleveland, TO uffalo, and to
Philadelphia, where his church, during the
war, was known as the Headquarters
| Of tho army" Under the auspices of
tho Christian commission lie went TO
| the battlcGelds of Gettysburg and Fred
| ericlsburg to care for the union sol
| dieIs. General Grant personally acknowledged
bis services, saying that Mr. Smith was one Of
| those who fought tho battles of liberty at
| honl, while he lOnght thom upon the battle
| field Mr.. Smith became pastor Of the Leo
| avenue baptist church, Brooklyn, IA years ago.
| lie has enjoyed much popularity since. A
chance sermon in opposition to the system Of
| prison labor attracted the attention of the
| hatters, whose trade suffered by the system,
| and he became their candidate for state sena-
| tor last fall in the second district, but he
withdrew from the race. The matters put
| him in the field for congress this fall and the
| Independent republicans and the regular
| democrats indorsed his nomination. Mr..
| Smith Is a conservative republican, and will
| probably act Independently in congress. He
| is u hard money man and n Thorough patriot