by
Fred & Bettie McCaleb
The following letter was written by Enoch Smith (b 21 June
1750,Stafford County, Va) a Revolutionary War soldier and early Kentucky
Surveyor and pioneer, who settled in Montgomery County as early as 1775.
Smith was a son of Henry Smith and Sarah Crosby. According to a history of
Smith who owned 1400 acres in the area, was one of four men who donated
land for the town of
original trustees and helped found
1798. Smith is said to have been a friend of General George Rogers Clark
and Daniel Boone. He was a brother of U.S. Senator Daniel Smith of
married 1.
Fairfax County, Va.) and was the father of by first wife Nancy Smith b 21
Nov 1779,married William Reed, Joseph Smith b 31 May 1781, and married
Margaret Smith, Mary Smith b 18 Mar 1783, m Daniel Smith Lane and Sarah
Smith b 25 May 1786 and had 2 marriages Thomas Jamison and James Hardage
Lane. Children by marriage to Frances Wren were Susan b 1789, d 1848 m
William Ferguson 27 Nov 1807, Anna married Thomas I Garrett,
Sallie Grimes,
Mrs Franklin is a ggggg grand daughter of Enoch Smith. No Changes have been
made to original text, with the exception of the inclusion of modern
punctuation.
(Bettie Cline McCaleb added the Children and marriages Will book c page82,
Montgomery Co Ky).
To my dear children, I am now 61 years old. I never expect to have
another child. Much of my time has been spent studying the nature and order
of things. Permit me therefore to give you council (sic) which perhaps may
be good and profitable to you when I am gone to the dust nevermore having
the opportunity of doing it.
First as you grow up be careful of your moral character, if this is
lost your usefulness and happiness is also lost. Have respect to the
Scriptures, it is the best of books and contains a fund of instruction and
knowledge. And when you read them do it with --attention; not only read but
think; look to Him that can give you the Spirit that dictated them and then
you can more easily understand them. From them I have got my religious and
political sentiments , with the help of Other Men's opinions which I have
been careful to bring to the Standard. And I now take the scriptures of
the old and new Testament for my rule of faith- and practice and lay aside
all Confessions of faith and religious creeds. They are works of Man and
imperfect. They Shakle Men's minds and when they see into inconsistences
they have been Tought (sic) by them, they cannot shake their fetters and
travel in more pure air.
If Soloman made use of the law of nature to find out who was the
mother of the live Child as mentioned in the first book of Kings 3 chapter
25th verse--surely it is good policies for all legislators to make now laws
inconsistent with the laws of nature. If they do, wil (sic) find them hard
to execute; amendments upon amendments follow, a set of Rapacious Lawyers
wil (sic) rise up among them from interested motives and will lead their
clients through laws; the management of the----and the command of the army
(are) two (sic) much power for any human being to possess. Aristocracy
according to the modern definition of the word is a government in the hands
of Nobles. But this government is more ancient than nobility itself. It was
an instinct created in human nature and it was an Aristocracy that Moses
instituted among the children of Isaac and it appears that the number
seventy composed the (sanctum?) of the Jewish nation.
Some politicians have been for choosing a Senate for life to attach
them to the government. Some think it more safe to have transient
elections. Others have thought that it would answer a better to; find the
choice in familys (sic). Others have gloried much in a good constitution
for a basis in government which may answer a valuable purpose to bad powers
of government divided. Those who are legislative to another, those who are
Judicial to another and those who are Executive to another. But I have
extended my ideas still farther and believe that it is a government that
has its existence in human nature and that self love in this body politic
is the Jenius (sic) that supports it in peace and prosperity, and on the
contrary, individual self love though a species of Aristocracy is the
abandon or destroyer of this government.
If true it would be prudent in the choice of senators to consider
how much property they possess of what kind it is, and what kind of manners
they have. For great men are not always wise, though they have more to
attach them to government than the poor. But if the poor are justly dealt
with they may be divulged on by government. Also for the aristocratical
beast must resemble the face of a calf--a clean beast that chews the cud
with every member of the body--receives nourishment and strength by which
every member is protected and guarded with care. Even as in a natural
Aristocracy every body receives nourishment and strength, every member is
treated with care----his natural rights such as life, liberty and property.
A maze of expense delays and disappointments; and take it for
general rule, Nation that has two (sic) much law,has two (sic) much
property, held by the laws of society, and that nature or natures God
neaver (sic) designed should be so. Instance the
Slave law.
I believe there are four kinds of government, three of which have
their existence in human nature and one Divine government that rules and
over rules all things which four governments proclaim the Almighty to be a
holy Lord (See Revelations the 4 chapter 7&8 verses. Ezekiel the first
chapter. Zachariah the 6th chapter 5 verse).
As the first government Parential appears to be the Senior
golvernment and the jenius (Sic) that supports it is natural affection,
like that of a father to his children. If this is lost the foundation is
destroyed and the structure will fall to the ground and through the
Legislature, Executive and Judiciary powers of government are lodged in the
hands of the parent, which makes him resemble the face of a Lyon (sic),
that is, fear. It is right as should be so. As those that are to be
governed are not capable of exercising in their Infantile years their
reason and therefore it is the best government they can conceive.
The parents wish is the best of law to them until they are capable
of a better government and there is not much dainger (sic) of the Parent
abusing his power as long as he has natural affection for his offspring.
If government is executed by one void of natural affection he soon
degenerates into despotism. Power intoxicates him and makes him forget what
manner of man he is.
Though Kingly government has been much practiced, it has no
foundation in nature. Ignorance and wickedness have a natural tendency
when they cohabit together to beget Kings a mongril (sic) offspring, who by
their craft and cunning by which they derive their name, deprive their
subjects of their natural rights and plain diffinition (sic) of Monarchy
seem to be that of a state in which a single person by whatever name he may
be distinguished,is intrusted with the execution of the opportunity of
acquiring the property that is essential in a natural Aristocracy that is
better basis and---to attach and bind Mankind faster to government than
consolidation, metamorphising, altering the nature--thereof can do ;which
wil (sic) find (?)it on a foundation that is not to be found in nature.
Democracy and government in the hands of the people and by some
politicians held up with contempt to the world as having a natural tendency
to disunion and faction. Perhaps this is a natural consequence that flows
from their not being qualified to receive this government as being ignorant
and wicked for knowledge and virtue are the pillars of a Democracy and
whatsoever is reasonable is right in this government. Hence it is a
Democratic heart has the face of man and the jenius (sic) that supports its
reason; therefore in this government every citizen ought to be a well
informed virtuous man and then they may enjoy the government by Christ
himself is appointed(sic) for the Church. (See Matthew the 18 chapter).
Theocracy is a government superintended by God himself,which many
philosophers of Old believed in and the Scriptures abundantly testify of
it--Read Moses' Song, Deutronomy Chapter 22 which is a wonderful effect of
Inspiration no human being could have such exhalted ideas of God without
the assistance of his Spirit.
The man of God describes the dealings of God, providence to that
nation in language wonderfully striking as an Eagle. It stirreth up her
nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth (abroad?) her wings. So the lord
did lead him and there was no strange God with Him, which makes me believe
this Government has the aspect of an Eagle which flies high and by some
called the Heaven (circles?) sometimes out of our sight. So is providence
of Almighty God.
Now dear children, I know now how better to conclude than in the
words of the wise Man Solomon, let us hear the conclusion of the whole
matter. Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of
man his whole interest his whole honor his whole happiness in short his
all. May God bless you all is the prayers of your affectionate Father.
Enoch Smith
Read this book and the book of Nature and become wise.
The way to greatness ought in a natural Aristocracy ought to be kept open
and as plain as the way to market.
No comments:
Post a Comment