The telegraph manual: a complete history and description of the semaphoric, electric and magnetic telegraphs of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, ancient and modern.

814 APPENDIX.
of articles, to gradually approximate to an open advocacy of General
Jackson for the Presidency.
This second series was in due time commenced, under the title of
HICKORY No. 1, and with the motto. " Strike, but hear me!"
From the fact, that the active political and officeholding men in this
State, and the masses also, had been, and were still the supporters of Mr.
Adams, after the withdrawal of Mr. Crawford from the canvass, it can
easily be conceived, that the title chosen by Mr. Smith for this series of
articles, was indicative of a revolutionary movement in politics, while
the motto bespoke a consciousness of presumption, but fortified by the
right.
These articles began far back in the history of parties, and of opinions
and men connected with the federal government, and approached slowly and
temperately to the intended issues. Being written with studied candor,
yet with pointed energy and decision, they soon awakened the listless, and
startled the timid among politicians, both in and out of the State. They
were copied far and wide, entire or in portions, in many of the States,
and acquired a circulation more extended than any other articles written
during that memorable political canvass of Jackson against the Adams
administration. And this fact testifies to the influence they exerted upon
the public mind of the Nation.
As a necessary consequence, these articles shortly began to draw down
upon the author, especially in Maine, a full share of commendations on
one side, and condemnations on the other, leading him deeper and deeper
into the wranglings of the party organizations that were generated. IIe
soon became, by other arrangements, but without any pecuniary compensation whatever, the principal editor of the Argus, and through that
paper imparted the tone and energy of his own mind and preferences to
all who had either democratic or Jackson proclivities in the State. As an
inevitable consequence, he made many strong and chivalrous friends, and
correspondingly determined opponents. IHe had nothing of the craven
spirit in him, toward either supporters or opponents.
What marked historically and with emphasis the extent and energy of
Mr. Smith's labors at this period, while yet so young and inexperienced,
was the fact, that the county of Cumberland, which had been the stronghold of Mr. Adams in the State, fiom the withdrawal of Mr. Crawford, up
to the hour when Mr. Smith unmasked the Eastern Argus in support of
General Jackson's election, was the only district in New England which
at the ensuing election in 1828 gave General Jackson a majority, and
elected the only elector from whom he received a vote in the electoral
colleges, north and east of New York! This gave this District the distinguishing sobriquet among politicians, of THE STAR IN THE EAST! All
concurred in awarding to Mr. Smith pre-eminent credit for this result.
The biography of Mr. Smith, from the year 1828 to 1840, enters so
largely into the political history of the State of Maine, that to do justice
to the one it is quite indispensable to go into the other-which would
extend far beyond the limits contemplated by the present notice. We
must content ourselves, therefore, with the remark, that in 1828 he wrote
a very triumphant pamphlet, entitled " Vindication of the Land Agent
and Relfutation of Anonymous Remarks; addressed to the Governor,
Council, and Legislature of the State of Maine. By Honestus."
This was published in pamphlet, and was successful in protecting the
land agent of the State against a powerful and influential essay for his
displacement from office.
In 1830 he wrote "A History of the Proceedings and Extraordinary
Measures of the Legislature of Maine, forthe year 1830," which was at
the time conceded to have secured the triumph of the Democratic party