My dear Children: Washington, D. C., June 11, 1868. Heretofore I have relied on your sister to keep you advised of our whereabouts; now that I have left her, I must attend to that duty myself. I reached here this evening from Philadelphia, where I spent two nights and a day with Mr. Clement and his family [relatives of the lad Spencer, who, in 1857, had run off with some of General Smith's slaves]. They were very kind and hospitable. It is pleasant to meet such generous, cordial hospitality. They have five children, two of them. daughters. The oldest of the family is a daughter, who spent last year in Europe. Her father made her read me some of her letters home; they were equal, if, indeed, they did not surpass anything I have ever seen. She is highly educated, but-like all the ladies I have seen in this country-not handsome. I shall leave for home next Monday; will stop a day in St. Louis, and if I have good luck will be at home Friday or Saturday following. Write to me at St. Louis, directing to the care of B. F. Hickman, Esq. Your sister thought she was improving. Farewell. G. R. SMITH. From 1865 to 1870 the Republican party was in control of the State, largely by virtue of the disfranchising clauses in the Constitution of 1865. As disorder and war hatreds died down, an agitation arose for universal amnesty and the repeal of the "iron-clad" oath for voters, jurymen, ministers, lawyers, teachers, etc. The result was a division of the party into two opposing factions, the Radicals and the Liberals. The Democrats, because of disfranchisement, were in a hopeless minority at the STATE POLITICS 377 polls; they thought it the part of wisdom, in the election of November, 1870, to refrain from nominations of their own, and to support the Liberal ticket. The combination was successful, B. Gratz Brown being elected Governor over Joseph W. McClurg, who was candidate for re-election on the Radical ticket. At the same time the disfranchising clauses of the Constitution were repealed by a majority of 111,000 votes,—the Liberal party having "declared unequivocally" in favor of repeal, and the Radicals, "concurring in the propriety" of the submission of the question to the people, having recognized "the right of any member of the party to vote his honest convictions." In spite of the enfranchisement of the negro by the Fifteenth Amendment, proclaimed in March of the same year, this put the control of the State completely into the hands of the Democratic party, a control which was cemented by a revision of the Constitution in 1875. During these years General Smith took but little part in politics, as compared with his former activity. He was now getting along in years; and his business interests made constantly enlarged demands upon his attention. It was impossible, however, for him to lose his interest in political matters, or to refrain wholly from participation. Upon the incorporation of Sedalia in 1864, he was named in the charter as its first mayor, serving until the election in April, 1864. In 1868, his name was mentioned for the governorship. At this time he was still a thorough-going Radical. In national politics, in common with many Republicans of the day, he ascribed "the failure to kick Johnson out of the Presidency" on impeachment, to "the treachery of a few bought-up Senators;" and upon J. B. Henderson, Senator from Missouri, who was one of the five Republicans whose votes acquitted the President, he wished to see visited "the infamy he so richly deserves" for his independent course. have never had any faith in him," he wrote Mrs. Cotton, May 28, 1868, "and I hope no honest Radical will ever trust him again." "I In 1870 General Smith joined the Liberal Republican movement; and after the windrawal of Colonel E. S. King, of Jefferson City, he entered the contest with S. S. Burdett, the regular Republican nominee, for Congress. The latter was ranked as one of the best orators of the West, and General Smith began his canvass, as in 1858, only a few weeks before the election. He made an able campaign, but was defeated by a small majority, carrying his own county by 250 votes. Soon after this, he returned to the regular branch of the Republican party. In 1872 he was nominated as candidate for the legislature, but made little effort to secure an election, and was again defeated. In 1874, and in 1875, he was elected alderman of Sedalia, seeking the office with a view to exposing what he conceived to be frauds in the tax assessments. Except for this service, he may be considered to have retired from politics after the campaign of 1872. He was now upwards of sixty-eight years of age, and in he t can' for an in I ing t i public, as ct. , to the treacle ***, wao was one or ," be wote Mrs. I hope n honest wed the Liberal R or the wind: awa fron City, he entere S., the regular Repu "ator The latter was rank the West, and Gene Anva is in 1858, only a to enetia. He made an able ca: ated by a small majority, carr by 250 votes. Soon after this, regular branch of the Republi72 he was nominated as candidate but made little effort to secure as again defeated. In 1874, an! eted alderman of Sedalia, seek a view to exposing what he con ds in the tax assessments. Excep སཐཱ ོ ce, he may be considered to have re Dlitics after the campaign of 1872. He wards of sixty-eight years of age, and |