Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

The case truly stated.

Those who are obstinately determined to stick to Mr. Madison at all hazards, and to justify his doings, however mean, low, or corrupt, raise a mighty clamor against Mr. Smith for his late publication. They pour out chapters of lamentations for his having divulged some of the secrets of the cabinet. "The secretary," says one of them, "by the very meaning of the word, is the keeper of the President's secrets." This is a new definition, and most happily accommodated to the present times of base intrigue and villainous corruption. Again, they represent the ex-secretary as not only perfidious, but incompetent to the duties of the office which he held, as alike destitute both of honor and talents. All this is nothing but low craft. Its design is to divert the attention of the public from the only thing in point. It is acting like the cuttle-fish, which, when hard pursued, emits a quantity of black liquor that darkens the waters, and so escapes the sight of the pursuer.

The question is not whether Mr. Smith be a real or pseudo patriot; it is not whether he be a man of superior talents, or of narrow intellect; it is not whether he has done right, or wrong, in making his communication to the public. Mr. Smith is now a private citizen; and whether he be good, bad, or indifferent, is not of very great moment to the nation.

The true question lies in a narrow compass: it is this. --Has Mr. Smith related the truth, and nothing but the truth? If his statement be willfully false, let disgrace overwhelm him --On the other hand, if he has stated facts correctly, it will be impossible for Mr. Madison to surmount the weight of ignominy that is cast upon himself. For he is shown to be, what no man of honesty, truth and honor can be. He is shown to be as destitute of honor and probity, as of prudent policy. He is shown to be a prevaricator, a betrayer of the interests of his country, a Frenchman in heart and deed.

If the eleven particulars in Smith's publication --(more especially the fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and eleventh,) do not fully amount to all this, we shall be ready to acknowledge our lamentable want of discernment. --Conn. Courant.