Smyrna times., 1896-01-22
SKETCH OF MIR. sM1rHERs.

| ed.
SKETCH OF MR.. sMITHERs.
Nathaniel Barrett Smithers was born
| October 8. 1918, in Dover, and was a
son of Nathaniel Smithers and Susan
Fisher Barratt. His father held the
offices of prothonotary and register in
chancery of Kent county. His ances-
tors were all of an old and distinguish
! ed Delaware family. The first school
he attended in youth was at Dover.
taught by Ezra Scovell. When II wears
old his father moved to Bohemia
Manor, Cecil county, Maryland, and
afterward attended the academy at West
Nottingham. In 1884 he entered the
Junior class at Lafayette College, then
IN its infancy, and was graduated with
honors in 1886. Mr.. Smithers was the
second oldest alumnus of the college
lie afterward attended the law school
at Dickinson College, and after spend
ing year In teaching he was admitted
to the bar of Cumberland county, Pa.
in 1910. The following year Mr..
Smlthers returned to Dover, where he
practlced his profession and soon rose
to prominence. He sided with the
Wing party. His ancestors were Fed
eralists and Wings.
In 1874, three years after his return
70 Dover, Mr.. Smithers was offered
the Wing nomination for Congress,
but declined. In 1S45 he was elected
clerk of the state House of Representa-
tlves, which place he held for two ses-
slons. He was a delegate to the Whig
National convention at Philadelphia in
lo4S, and voted for Scott and Fillmore.
AGAIN IN state convention he was ten
dered the congressional nomination
and declined
HIS BREAK WITH THE PARTY.
About this time Mr.. Smithers took
his position on the temperance ques-
tlon, which caused break between
him and his party.
At the session of the Delaware Gen
eral Assembly in 1S47 two measures
were proposed that had Mr.. Smithers
support. One was for the gradual
abolition OF slavery in Delaware and
the other providing for the submitting
OF the question of granting liquor lic-
enses to the people of the countv-a
local option bill. The slavery meas
ure passed the House, but was defeated
IN the Senate by the vote of the speak
er.
The local option bill became a law.
and at an election held in the state
New Castle county voted for no license.
The validity of this act was assailed in
the courts. Mr.. Smithers was one of
the counsel defending the law. but the |
Court of Errors and Appeals decided It |
was delegation of Legislative powers
back to the people and therefore uncon-
The Wings carried the next state |
election as usual and the Legislature |
refused to consider the two questions. |
Inns Legislature also passed acts |
tuther restricting the rights of the |
negroes and peremptorily refused to |
iegaslate even in restricting the liquor /
tfalhc. Mr.. Smithers and some others |
revolted hom 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
Tor twenty years. The Whig party was
aow in state of collapse. Mr..
Smithers declined to Join the know
\ Nothing, although he affiliated with
The American party. In 1854 a nrohi-
oltory law drafted by Mr.. Smithers
was passed, and after fight in courts
n New Castle county it was declared
AT THE LINCOLN CONVENTION.
Mr: Snithers next appeared in polit-
cal life as a delegate to the Chicago
convention; he voted for Abraham
lincoln, and promised that the Repub-
lcan lean party would poll 1900 votes in
1elsware. 1t got 1000 The largest
rams were In Kent and Sussex eoun-
les. Ex-Judge Fisher at the election
eceiVsd the supportSof the Bell and
lincoln voters and-was chosen to Con-
,ress.
William Cann0n was elected Cover
Tor OF Delaware in 1862, and Mr..
"a SFas his secretary of state.
Inc !, psnocrats that year, however,
'lecteg William Temple representative +
n CBngress Mr.. Temple died before
akHlg his seat. A special election fol-
Ntn 1868 Mr.. Smithers was chosen to
3engress. He was a member of the