Year: 1873

natl Commercial.


From "reminiscences of Governor Perry.


JUDGE WILLIAM SMITH.


was prejudiced in early life against Judge
Smith, and most earnestly wished his defeat
when Judge Huger opposed him for the Uni
ted States Senate This was before was ad-
mitted to the bar. I was introduced to Judge
Smith in the House of Representatives of this
State whilst the contest was going on between
him and Governor Miller for the Senate. l
was at that time editing the Greenville Noun
taineer, Union paper, and had espoussd the
cause of Judge Smith on account of his oppo-
sition to notification. His hostility to Mr.
Calhoun, and his States rights doctrines,
which had formally prejudiced me against
self. Mr.. Calhoun had jumped over Judge
Smith in the States rights school, and went
far beyond what the judge had ever dreamed
Of in his opposition to natural powers


Judge Smith was very plain, unpretend-
ing man in his appearance and manners: He
was very bitter and vindictive in his feelings.
I never knew man of talent and distinction
more So He hated Calhoun with an intensity
and cordiality seldom felt by any public man
toward his opponent In speaking to Judge
Huger, one day, of Mr.. Calhoun, Judge Smith
said, "Do you know, sir, that Calhoun, on my
return to the Senate of the United States,
treated me with SO much kindness and consid-
Grafton that could not hate him as [ wished
to do" I mentioned this singular expression
to Judge Earle, and he remarked that he had
no doubt Smith hated Calhoun the more for
not being able to hate him !! In other words,
not paradoxical, he hated Calhoun the more
on account of his kindness and cordiality,
which deprived him of one cause for continu-
ing his hatred.


Judge Smith said to Governor Taylor, in
I my prEseure, fUu know, sir, that Calhoun
sold the State twice to advance his claims to
the presidency, once on the tariff, and again
on internal improvements" Judge Smith
was the most consistent and the wisest states
man South Carolina ever produced in my day
and time He early perceived the dangerous
tendency of increasing the powers of the Fed
eral Government by great national bank, a
magnificent system of internal Improvements,
and tariff for the exclusive protection of
Northern manufactures. He saw, too, the
sectional feeling of these measures would be
to concentrate power and wealth at the North,
and weaken and impoverish the South. He
broke ground against these measure, at once,
which were advocated by Mr.. Calhoun and
his friends, in South Carolina; and was turn
ed out of the United States Senate in conse-
quence of his opposition to Mr.. Calhoun and
his policy. In few years the evil conse-
quences of this great American system on the
prosperity of the Southern States were surely
felt in South Carolina, and Judge Smith was
again restored to the United States Senate by
the Legislature. Then Mr.. Calhoun and his
party began their scheme Of notification to
break down and nullify thetariff laws. Judge
Smith Immediately saw the dangerous and
destructive consequence Of this doctrine to all
Federal powers, and opposed it like wise
statesman and patriot, and was again turned
out the Senate. His course was, all the time,
middle one. the course of wisdom and patri-
otism, Ha 4asd1en elected to the State Sen
ate from YSfk District where he continued
Aisoppostion to ol!i6cation and his exertions
ikdsfence of the Ehion. But York District
.fll4f4ly gave in >Xer adhesion to notification,
and he moved to Alabama where he was elec-
ted to the Legislature and afterwards appoin-
ted by General Jackson to q seat on the bench
of the Supreme Court of the United States.
This high and most honorable position the
Judge declined.


In the Senate of the United States Judge
Smith always had great consideration for his
wisdom, integrity and learning South Caro-
lima may well be proud of him as a statesman
and patriot.


Chancellor Job Johnston told me once that
Judge Smith, in early life, had falling out
with one of his brothers, and they did not
speak to each other. After his election to the
bench he went to hold court in one of the
lower districts, and found this brother on the
jury, and by the recommendation Of the clerk
he was appointed foreman, but there was no
recognition of kindred or acquaintance be-
tween them. The whole court passed over
without their speaking to each other, except
officially. Chancellor Johnston was great
friend Of Judge Smith, and took an active
part for him in his election to the Senate when
opposed by Judge Huger. The chancellor
told me another incident connected with Judge
Smith, which was very remarkable. In early
life conversing with the judge about General
Jackson, he said 81 knew General jackson
we'll as boy and man, and / know him to
be hollow hearted scoundrel" Many years
afterwards, in the canvass between Judge
Smith and Judge Huger for the Senate, a
member of the Legislature said to the chan
cellor that he would vote for Judge Smith,
provided he was in favor of the election of
General Jackson to the presidency. This
Chancellor johnson communicated to Judge
Smith, and remembering what the judge had
said in former years, he said to him, "you
need not answer the question if it will preju-
dice you." The judge replied, tell your Sen
ator I would sooner see General Jackson
president than any man in America"


Judge Withers, who was the protege OF
Judge Smith, told me not long before his
death, that he had heard the cause Of Judge
Smiths bitter enmity toward Mr.. Calhoun,
was owing to Mr.. Calhoun's preventing Pres
ident Monroe from appointing him to a for
eign mission. Mr.. Calhoun was, at that time,
amember of Monroe's cabinet, and understood
the president was going to nominate Judge
Smith as Minister to Russia. He interposed
and procured the appointment Of Governor
Middleton, of South Carolina. Judge With