Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-01-17
Nathaniel Bafratt SmithsFs
Dead.

Nathaniel Barratt Smithers. of
Dover, died at 2 o'clock yesterday,
Thursday morning, of Bright's
disease of the kidneys. The funeral
will be held on Saturday at p. m.
SKETCH OF MR. sMITHERs.
Nathaniel Barrett Smithers was
born Ontober 8, 1918, in Dover, and
was a sop of Nathaniel Smithers and
Susan Fisher Barrett. His father
held the offices of pIOthonotary and
register in chancery of Kent county.
His ancestors were all Of an old and
distinguished Delaware family. The
first school he attended in youth was
at Dover, taught by Ezra Scovell.
When IL years old his father moved
to Bnhemia Manor, Cecil county,
MARYLAND, and aiterward attended
the academy at West Nottingham.
In 1884 he entered the junior class
at Lafayette College, then in its in
fancy, and was graduated with hon
Ors in 1886. Mr.. Smithers was the
second oldest alumnus of the college.
he afterward attended the law school
1t Dickinson College, and after spend
ing q year in teaching he was admit
ted to the bar of Cumberland county,
Pa, in 1910. The following year Mr..
Smithers returned to Dover, where
he practiced his profession and soon
rose to prominence. He sided with
the Wing party. His ancestors were
Federalists and Wings,
In 1874, three years after his return
to Dover. Mr.. Smithers was offered
the Wing nomination for Congress,
but declined. In lS45 he was elected
clerk of the state House of Represen-
tatives, which place he held for two
sessions. He was a delegate to the
Wing National convention it Phila-
delphia IN ls4S, and voted for Scott
and Fillmore. Again in state con-
vention he was rendered the con-
gressional nomination and declined.
HIS BREAK WITH THE PARTY.
About this time Mr.. Smithers took
his position on the temperance ques-
ton, which caused break between
him and his party.
AT the session of the Delaware
General Assembly in l847 two meas
ures were proposed that had Mr..
Smithers's support. One was for the
gradual abolition of slavery in Della.
ware and the other providing for the
submitting of the question of grant
ing liquor licenses to the people of
the eounty-a local opinion bill. The
slavery measure passed the House,
but was defeated in the Senate by
the vote of the Speaker.
The local option bill became a law,
and at an election held in the state
New Castle county voted for no Ii !
oense. while the two lower counties
went for license. The validity Ofthis
act was assailed in the courts. Mr.
Smithers was one of the counsel de-
Tending the law, but the Court of Err
rors and Appeals decided it was a
delegation of legislative powers and
therefore unconstitutional.
The Wings carried the next state
election as usual and the Legislature
refused to consider the two questions.
This Legislature also passed acts
furthur restricting the rights of the
negroes and peTemptorily refused to
leeislate even in restricting the liquos
traffic. Mr.. Smithers and some
others revolted from the Wings and
organized an independent party,
which at the next election caused the
defeat of the Wings who had been
in control of Delaware for twenty
wears. The Wing party was now in
a state of collapse. Mr.. Smithers
declined to join the know Nothing, /.
although he affiliated with the
American party. In 1854 he took
an active part in the canvass in Del
aware, and the American carried the
state in 1854 a prohibitory law
drafted by Mr.. Smithers was passed,
and after fight in courts in New
Castle county it was declared consti-
tutional. II
AT THE LINCOLN CONVENTION
Mr.. Smithers next appeared in po-
litical life as a delegate to the Chi
oago Convention he voted for :
4 Abraham Lincoln, and promised c
Nat the Republican party would Il
ooll 1900 votes III Delaware. 1t got L
900. The largest gains were in ii
< emf and Sussex counties. Ex- p
Tndge Fisher at that election re- g
,eived the support OF the Bell and tt
lincoln voters and was chosen to Ell
ngress. 7
lillian Cannon was elected gov c;
Delaware in 1862, and Mr.. D,
was his secretary of state. Ii.
traits that year, however, r
m Temple representa- r.
Is Mr.. Temple died u
seat. A special :,
IS was chosen ~
member of y
rs and the Pr
'ruction
The all
rep ae
d ga
lini