5 84 APPENDIX. 



M'here he continued to reside until the year 1837, when he was ap- 

 pointed Commissioner of the United States, in conjunction with Gov- 

 ernor Henry Dodge, to treat with the Chippewa Indians for the purchase 

 of their pineries on the Mississippi river and its tributaries. The journey 

 into the Northwest, in the fulfdment of this trust, forms an important 

 epoch in the life of General Smith. The wonderful resources of the 

 country in all that makes a nation happy, rich and great, impressed him 

 profoundly as a statesman; with prophetic vision he saw the sceptre 

 of Empire passing from the East to settle firmly in the grasp of the 

 Mighty West ; instantly he resolved to be one of those earnest pioneers 

 Avho turned heroically from the attractions of Eastern life to devote 

 their lives to the work of formulating the legislation and shaping the 

 destiny of these States of glorious promise. His letters to his brother, 

 Richard Penn Smith, afterwards published in Philadelphia, under the 

 title of "Observations on Wisconsin Territory," are filled with glowing 

 descriptions of this paradise for farmers. That the magic beauty of the 

 scenery deeply touched his poetic nature may be witnessed by the fol- 

 lowing lines dashed off in a moment of tender recollection : 



All hail, Wisconsin ! Prairie land, 



In summer decked with flowers, 

 As scattered by some fairy hand 



'Midst sylvan shades and bowers. 



Thy soil abundant harvests yields, 



Thy rocks give mineral wealth; 

 And every breeze that sweeps thy fields 



Comes redolent of health. 



Perennial springs and inland seas 



Give other beauties zest; 

 Long may thy dwellers live in ease, 



Gem of the fertile West ! 



Returning to Pennsylvania, General Smith, in 1838, removed his 

 family to Wisconsin and settled in Iowa county, at Mineral Point. In 

 1839 he was appointed Adjutant General of the Territory of Wisconsin, 

 by Governor Dodge, which office he continued to fill, under successive 

 administrations, for more than twelve years. He also received from 

 Governor Dodge the civil appointment of District Attorney of Iowa 

 county, retaining this office also for many years. In 1840 he was called 

 to preside over the first Democratic convention that assembled at the 

 seat of government of Wisconsin Territory, and he drafted the address 

 sent forth by that body to the people. He was elected Secretary of the 

 Legislative Council of Wisconsin, and in 1846 was elected delegate to 



