New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-11
Gerrit Smiths Platform.

Tohe DofOg Of the COunfie. = OsVrg3 and Mofi
You nominated me for a seat in Congress,
notwithstanding besought you not 10 do Ia vain
my resistance to your persevering and unrelentng
purpose
/ had reached old age. ! had never held office;
Nothing was more foreign 70 my expectations, ana
nothing foreign to my wisbes than the holding
Of Office My multiplied and extensive affairs gave me
full employment My habits, all formed IN private me-
all shrank from public life Ny plans OF usefulness and
happiness could be carried out only in the secuOh IN
which my years had been spent .
Ny nomination. a. supposed il would has resuted IN
my election-and that, too. by very large majority
And now wish that | could resign the office, which
your partiality has accorded 70 me But must mol
cannot TO resign il would be a most uugrteiul anu
offensive requita Of the generosity, which broke
through your strong attachments party and bestowed
your votes me, the pccuarities OF whose political
creed leHvc him without party. Very rare, indeed,
is the generosity, which was not 10 be rcpeicd ny
political creed among the pecuiarities OF which are
let That it acknowledges no law, and knows no law,
for Slavery That not only Is Slavery not IN The ed'
era Constitution but that by possibility, cou1 It be
brought either into the Federal or into state Con
stitutiOn.
Cd That the Right 70 the Soil is natural absolute
md eounl at the right to the H. ht and the air.
3d. That political right are not conventional put
naturenherng in all persons the black "s well as the
white, the female as well az the male.
4h That the doctrine Of Free Trade Is the necessary
outcrowth of the doctrine Of the human brotherhood
and that 10 impose restrictions on commerce Is 70 Omld
up unnatural and sinful barriers across that brother
hood.
5th That the national as brutal, borbarous,
and unnecessary, the violence and bO0ished 10
which misguided and frenzicd individuals areprompei
and that our country should, by her own heavenrust
ing and beautiful example, hasten the day when the
naiions Of the earth sha beat their swords into plow
shares and their spears into pruning hooks nation shall
not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn
any more
9th That the province of Government il but to pro-
tect-to protect persons and property and that the
building Of railroads and canals and the care OF schools
and churches fall entirely cut of it, limits, and excu
sively within the range OF "thc voluntary principle
Narrow however a. these mits, every duty within
them IL to be promptly, faithfully, fully performed as
well for instance the duty tue part OF the Federal
Government 10 put end to the dranshop manuiac
re of paupers and madnen in the City OF Washington
as the duty the part of the State Government TO put
an end 10 II in the State
7th That, far practicable, every officer from
the highest the lowest including especially the Pre-
dent and Postmaster should be elected directly by the
people.
need not extend any further the enumeration Of tho
features of my peculiar political creed and need not
enlarge upon the reason, which gave why must not,
and cannot resign the Office which you have conferred
upon me- | will only add, that | accept it that my
whole heart is moved TO gratitude by your bcstowucnt
of it, and that cd helping me, will discharge Is
duties az neither TO dishonor myself nor you.
GKRRT SMITH
Pefrrboro'. Nov ., 1850.