The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-09
From the Nsw York Sunday Despatch.
Gerrlt Smith. ..a -

Gefrlt smith, =
The most singular feature in the recent canvass
s,he election of Gerrit Smith, the Abolitonist, to
Congress in the twenty second Congressional dis
trict--composed of Madison and Oswego counties.
MIR. Smith ran as a stump candidate, and we have
no doubt his unexpected election surprised himself
as much as it did his constituents and the State d.
large Many voted for him out Of joke; but it
unfortunately was carried far that it has intro.
duced Smith to the portals of Congress. Some ycars
ago the Bostonians, from fun, came within close
shave OF electing the notorious George Washington
Dixon to the mayoralty. The city fortunately, for
s future reputation, had Just grave citizens enough
in the canvass to save it from ludicrous political
position. The twenty second district was not 30
fortunnte-it has too many iokers-and unhappily
not only arc Madison and Oswego counties, but the
State Of New York disgraced. Gerrt Smith is an
able man run crazy. He has dwell 30 long on the
impossible ideas Of amalgamaion and disunon
that we should not be surprised il he taking his
seat, should bring in bills for the dissolution of the
Confederacy, and making it felony hereafter for
| a white man TO marry any but u negroes, or ne
gro man other than u Caucasian miss. Mr.. Smith
believes in variety Ct colcr. He thinks it repug
ia mt to nature and common that there should
be extremes in races. The contrast-black and
whtc-is too startling to his too sensitive ma
ture. A dirty brown is more agreeable to him,
| and not 90 dazzling 10 the optics. Notwithstand-
ing the vagaries and waking dreams which Mr..
Smith INDUCES, in the msin, we believe him to be
| D GOOD nc has Ills ~ 10 tIuc
ecccnricities which, in the eyes of the world, do
not compensate for his philanthropies. Perhaps
sin gle session of Congress will knock the "higher
law idea out Of his head. Once that is gotten rid
of, Mr. Smith will be ornament to the district
which he 30 unexpectedly is called upon to repre-
| sent. ..
Il s well to state in this connexion, for fear our
| readers may msunder stand his character, that
| the Congressman from the twenty second dis
trict ia not like the majority of the Abolitonists in
our community preaching one thing and prac
| tcing another, Gerrt Smith believes in the ee
| walton of the white as well as the negro When
Mr.. Smiths father died, he bequeathed to HE son
some five hundred thousand acres Of wild land In
| this State. The estate was deeply indebted for
taxes These Mr.. Smith paid off, and then gave
his inheritance away to actual settlers in fifty acre
| farm lots. Much fault, however. was found by
| disinterested people with MIR Smith in thus die
posing Of his propcrty-not exactly for giving it
| negro as well as the white. Gerrit 10 now eaid to
be poor He lately stated that his entire property
| would not rent for SIS year This speaks well
for his sincerity; but for his wisdom, TO most poo
pie, ii tells different tale As Gerrit fortunately
will be the only negro Representative in Congress
| from this State, we do not know that much harm
ia done, unless IL be to the unfortunate African,
| whose guardian le has constituted himself
| Mr.. Smith is a land reformer; but as IL Is pro-
bable the great measure OF the National Reiormers
| will not become law OF the next Congress, hs be
| lief in the soundness Of the measure will not hurt
| the doctrine. - .
There is this 10 be said for Mr. Smith, apart from
bis political phaniasies: he is an able man, an clio
| quent speaker, and his honesty, we believe, has
never been publicly questioned. III m