(MERIWETHER SMITH) (1730 - 1794) Virginia statesman, a drafter of the Virgina Declaration of Rights, and member of the Continental Congress. Rare Broadside, 2pp. folio, [Williamsburg?, c.1776-77] entitled "TO THE PUBLICK " in which Meriwether defends his conduct against "...a scandalous and secret representation of my conduct as a Privy Counsellor... " A fascinating and previously unknown and unpublished broadside in which Smith takes issue with political attacks made against him and charges his accusers with disloyalty to the revolutionary cause. His polemic reads in some part: "...The reluctance with which I accepted of my appointment ought to have convinced every gentleman that it was unnecessary to use any secret machinations to remove me from office...A very accomplished courtier in Britain, who had a thorough knowledge of mankind, has warned me of the imprudence of discovering an unfriendly opinion to an enemy without being sure of the power to crush him. If I designed to carry my resentment so far, I probably ought to consider his advice and pursue it...A country that is blessed with the greatest share of liberty is ever most subject to civil dissentions. Every man is apt to become a politician, and to be warmly attached to the interest of his party. the opposite views and interest of parties make altercation endless; and the victory over an antagonist is generally the aim, whilst the investigation of truth only ought to be the real end..." Smith continues noting specific accusations against him: "...I have been accused of having illiberally censured the inhabitants of this country that are settled upon the south side of James river, for their disaffection to the common cause of American liberty, and of having indiscriminately opposed to erecting magazines in that part of Virginia for the reception of arms and ammunition, From a persuasion that the people could not safely be instructed with them. The accusation is scandalous and unjust. It was scandalous, because, admitting that I had entertained an opinion unfavourable to the political sentiments of those people, if I conceived such an opinion was founded in reason, and therefore opposed the measure, I discharged the trust reposed in me; and no member of the Board ought either have mentioned the opposition or the reasons for it. But such an opposition for such reason, never existed; and therefore, the accusation was unjust. It is not to be wondered at the resentment of gentlemen whose characters were affected by such illiberal reflections, should be kindled against me, upon a report propagated under such authority; yet I shall suppose but little thought was requisite to convince gentlemen that the very absurdity of such an opinion could never have fallen from a man of common sense, or from a person who might be supposed to know any thing of the disposition of the people in this country... " Smith is likely referring to a controversy over militia service that betrayed the deep class divisions in Virginia and according to historian Michael McDonnell in a 1998 article in the Journal of American History . McDonnell noted a resistance upon the part of the upper classes in Virginia to arm common men in minute companies that actually handicapped Virginia's ability to arm men to resist British authority. Smith may have held these same prejudices in light of his high station in Virginia Society. Smith was also something of a blowhard, at least according to Richard Henry Lee, who, observing his behavior in the Continental Congress remarked that Smith "has been famous here for being a very vain and a very troublesome man" He garnered several nicknames among his colleagues in Congress including "the Oddity of Virginia," "Fiddle," "Fiddlehead," "Base Viol," and "Ugly Instrument." Indeed, the end of this broadside reveals some of that ugliness: "There are two ways of discovering the enemies of American freedom. They are to be known by the uniformity of their conduct in opposition to the cause, and by the inconsistence of their political character....They will form a thousands schemes, without properly digesting one; and whilst they find themselves disappointed in the execution of them, they will not know the principle on which they were formed. I am a real friend to the country. " An important broadside worthy of further research to ascertain the exact date. Not found in Evans. Originally discovered in a bound set of the Virginia Gazette dating between 1776 and 1777. Margins a bit irregular, small loss at bottom margin not affecting text, moderate toning, otherwise very good condition. $800-1,200