Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-08-30
Working Men and AbOlitiOniStS,

Several letters have passed between Gerrit
Smith and the editor of the Workingman's AdvO-
cate recently, upon the subject of the public lands
The editor accused Mr.. Smith and the abolition
lists OF manlfestng an undue sympathy with the
slave, while they neglected to consider the wrongs
of the free laborer. Mr.. Smith makes reply
worthy of his large heart. We quote a portion
of it:
81 beg you to extend your acquaintance with
the aboitionists. Yon can teach them good things.
The 'Agrarians and 'AboltiOnists have both got
friehtlul names: but they need not, therefore, be
afraid of each other. | think that little time
will prove that there are not few points OF Atm
tysbetween them. You can entghten abolition
lists by intoxicating upon them the great TRUTH that
men have natural right to the soil. (WOuld that
they might all he allowed to exercise that rightly
And when you tell abotionists that the order of
doing is, first to those you, and then to those
afar off; they will, for your instruction, tell you,
that an infinitely more important order of benevo-
ence is, first to labor for the total reputation of
the Reconsideration idea of property in man,
and for the establishment of his right to that
which, by Heavens ordination, is the subject of
property. They may, possibly, too, convince you
that when this great center-right of self owner
ship, which the STAKEHOLDER has cloven down, is
re-establshed, the recognition of other rights will
be very likely to follow They will tell you, when
you talk about poverty'S making man a slave,
that he who duly appreciates the dignity of UNI
bought manhood, would rather die in freedom
than live in savery-wOuld rather starve free
man than live pampered slave.
You can teach abotonists that it was truth for
which Mr.. Dorr contended-truth which the char
ter party should have embraced. But they can
teach you that he greatly erred, when he brought
violence to the help Of that truth. They can teach
you that Daniel O'Conne, whom they love, is
right in saying that the best political revolution
ever achieved is not worth the shedding of ont
, drop of blood
Oh, that this new Agrarian party might prove
itself to be a law-abdng and peace lnaintanin!
party! wish to love it? but cannot, if it tram
pie on law, and besmear its elf with blood. wisI
it to become a successful party; but it can becom
that only by abjuring lawlossness and violence
, thank you for your touching allusion to you
} own experience ofthe trials of poverty. AS hav
never been poor, am in the more need of hearing
what it is, to be poor If did not hear it fire
9 quentIy, and listen with my heart, as we'll as m
ear, should quickly lose all sympathy with tn
poor. AS this draught which you have made up
on your personal experience is profitable to me, s
desire that you may be profted by listening t
the experience OF some one who has been sfi
e greater sufferer than yourself. | suggest there
fore, that you get Rev. 7. S. Wright, or 9th
Z er cOlored gentleman of your city, to intrOduc
you to one who has fled from southern bondage
= Let me assure you, that the first FIVE minutes o
e your interview with the fugitve-especially if b
shall, in that time, have alluded to the sale of hi
: wife and cldren-will suffice to make you asha
t med that you ever have mentioned, on the sam
day, your trials and those of the southern slaves
y will suffice to make you ashamed that you coul
ever have believed that the horrors and essence Q
o slavery were to be found in any, even the mo:
= unfavorable condition of a freeman.