The Irish standard., 1901-10-19
Story of John Smith of Ohio as Related
by Him Before a Committee
OF investigation.
He Narrowly Escaped Expulsion and After
the Expiration of His Term
Was Cast Adrift.

hOuOidUlo JOuu HuluCy AudmS,
Chairman. and the Rest of the Com
mittee Appointed to Inquire Into My
Conduct-Gentlemen l received with
that pleasure that can only be known
to conscious innocence, and to a mind
deeply wounded by unworthy suspl-
cions, your list Of questions. 10 these
accusations l hasten to reply. I do not
ask acquittal-I ask more-n restora-
tion of that confidence which l have
never justly forfeited by word Or
deed"
Thus wrote John Smith, Of Clncln-
natl, in December, 1907. John Smith
was then United States senator--one
OF the first two Ohioans chosen when
the state was admitted to the Union
in 1903. He had been an important
man in local affairs, having in earlier
life enjoyed considerable reputation
for pulpit eloqucncc as a Baptist cler-
gyman. He had also kept a general
store which prospered to such an ex-
tent that 1t was his donation that In
1890 enabled the building Of the Bap-
tist church in Columbia that was the
first of it's denomination in Ohio. In
1898 he had been leading member
of the first territorial legislature Of
Ohio. Besides other interests he also
held valuable contracts for provisioning
the army at the western posts, one of
which was the old barracks at New
port, then known as 1T. Hustis.
This man of many affairs. an emil
nently respected citizen. had got into
trouble. Successful though he had
been In business, politics and the pull
pit, he in common with all who came
into contact with Aaron Burr. suffered
from tho association. He was sus-
pected-in fact, arrested and indicted
in the United States court for COM
plicity in the treason of Burr-the at
tempt to form in the recently acquired
Louisiana Purchase government that
would not only assert its independence
Of the United States, but seize and
hold much of it's territory. When the
government failed to convict Burr him
self on any charge, It was thought
useless to undertake the prosecution
of his supposed confederates, and so
the Indictment against Senator Smith
was "nolled." The senate, however
not so readily satisfied, appointed an
investigating committee, Of which John
Quincy Adams, afterward president
was the chairman. This committee
Immediately called upon Senator Smith
for such reasons, IL any, he could give
why he should not be expelled from
the senate, and to their pointed ques
tions he began his reply in the words
quoted above, says the Cincinnati En-
quirer.
| Senator Smiths task, however, was
not so easy as imagined, for his case
is a remarkable instance lin which un-
toward circumstances cast suspicion
which the absence Of any motive, the
high character he bore in the estima-
ton Of his fellow citizens, and strict
accounting for all his movements were
not enough to remove all doubt, and,
as he demanded, restore the confidence
he had not justly forfeited.
| Burr visited Cincinnati. .len 4 town
Of about 1000 persons, Il number OF
| times prior 10 his arrest, and, as he
was vice president of the United States
at the time Smith took his seat in the
senate, and therefore presiding officer
Of that body, lie became the Cincinnati
senator's guest while 4he was here and
| was by his host introduced to the lead
ing citizens Of the town. Messengers
| from Blcnncrhassett to Burr were in
| strnctcd TO inquire for the latter at
Smiths home before looking elsewhere,
and when the conspiracy was discOv-
cred what made their association the
more suspicious was the fact that upon