The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-14
For the National Era.
GERRIT EMITH-WHAT WILL HE DO

For the National Era.
GERRIT sNITH-wHAT WILL HE DOI
Many papers, since the election, are labor
ing with this question. For the most part,
they have noticed the fact of the election of
Gerrit Smith TO Congress with the most evident
satisfaction. Old partisan papers, always pu-
ritancally orthodox until now, have broken
out in terms of absolute laudation and exulta-
ton over not only the distinguished member
elect" but also over the chiyarous district
which has elected him; and this not in our
own State merely but over the Green Mount
aims and beyond the Mississippi.
| Occasionally, however, a paper has spoken of
the event in different spirit. The Albany
Register, for instance shows daggers and ex-
claims " Gerrit Smith prince of fanatics is
elected to Congress :" Appalling announce
mentl And when it is recolected that the
cold Twenty second" is the district lately rep
resented by William Duer, prime minister of
Fillmore, and high priest of the Fugitive Slave
Law, and is that which has now fallen into
the hands of the "Prince of Fanatics" it is
all accounted for that the Register looks black
in the face, as it breaks the sad tidings to its
Silver Gray friends throughout the State
The New York Times, also is greatly dis
trsssed that we should have elected man of
no influence" to Congress. Ii mourns the loss
the State will sustain from the practical va
cancy in thus district. Perhaps the Times in
its COMMUNICATION OF our condition. will con-
sent to send us from New York some of those
eminent men" who have and are so greatly
to distinguish that city by their benign infu-
ence in legislative capacity, both at the State
and at the National Capitol. The Times has
the following:
{" But what impression can he Smith make
upon Congress! His first speech will be heard
with some curiosity, and perhaps with sort of
admiration but he will be set down at once a.
incurably crazy-as a man to be pited, but
not reasoned with, and after litth time only
to be listened to as a necessity involved il 1lis
position. He proposes to argne Congress into
believing that there is no such thing as slavery
that the prevalent notions upon that subject
are delusive, and that those gentlemen who
come from Southern States with the notion
that slavery is recognised by their State laws
and that the Federal Constitution protects il
from being interfercd with by other authorities
are under Misrepresentation. He might just u,
well devote himself to proving that every mar
really stands on his head, or that it is n mis-
take to suppose that the sun shines in the day
time He would be listened to with Just a,
much respect and would make just as mucl
impression.
"And it is not only upon these topics tina
he will sink into position Of utter insignif
canoe. But no one will have the slightest con
/ fdence in his opinion or his judgment upon any
subject. He will not be able to render his con
: sttuents or the country the slightest service il
any way, or in regard to any interest"
= AS other papers are not quite 80 confident Il,
the Tunes that Mr. Smith can have no infu
ence at Washington, and can therefore do
, nothing" they are, rs VIC havo said, just now
4. laboring with the question, What will he do
. And outside of the papers, too, tho public curl
{ osity hereabouts is greatly in toll about this
matter BY the way, is it not little strange
that man of no influence mere fanatic
/. should become all ut once the subject of Sc
n many anxious inquiries Why need the Time
a mourn or the Register swear about him II,
a can surely do no harm; and if these dear
A friends would bat bottle their tears, and scolC
o softly about it MIR. Smith might drop so gently
A into his position of utter insignifcance,' that
0 the country should never know he had beer
4 elected to Congress We commend to them
!. most atfectonatey, DR.. Parkers panacea 70,
!. these cvils--to always remember and neve,
. forget that "Abolitionists amt nothing to no
!. body" But, to other good people who are ask
ing, What will Mr., Smith do? we venture (upor
a our personal knowledge of the man, and SOM
of the circumstances attending his election) t,
, make a short answer.
= And, in the first place Gerrit Smith in Con
Z gress will faithfully attend to all the duties an,
, details greater and lesser, of legislation N,
q bill will be introduced 80 elaborate or learned
so cunning or politically profound, that he vii
!. not find time to fully disentangle and analyze
e to its simplest clements and, on the othe
a hand, no act will pass, Of such minor import
ance that he shall not perfectly understand il
full force and effect" A barrieade of word
= will always invite his attention to the citade
= they defend while n proposed law, concealin,
o VOLTS teeth and heart, will never deceiy
him by presenting the gentle front of the lamb
8 But Mr. Smith will not be prompted to thi
:, from tho impulses of jealous or suspicion
= nature. No man is more generous in his i'm
pulses than he. For this let his fame answer
. Credulity is with him almost fault. Nom
think him suspicious here. But he would d,
o this because it belongs to his ideal of a states
J. man it enters the list of duties which in hi
& estimate devolve upon one charged with thu
Z interests of others--not his own And VIVA
with him is duty is also the lac of his action
: la the second place, Mr. Smith will freel,
>. express his opinion and views upon any and al
x questions which may come before Congress
J. upon which no has any views or opinions which
a he deems it OF Importance to express, This il
3, not remarkable. Weak lungs are not Con
1t gressional malady The point however, give
$ me occasion'to say-and perhaps the fears O
n some may bo quoted thereby-that MIR. Smith
does not talk ncedlessly. He will never tall
y for the mere purpose of talking, or being writ
IS ten down by the reporters in speech, MIR
}. Smith is not that man.
Il But in the third place, Mr. Smith will on al
8 proper occasions-he will never seek an i'm
o proper one to do it-boldly and fearessly, and
e with all his great ability, utter his sentiments
: peculiar or commonplace upon the great DO
, ltical questions Of the day. All, here's the rub
, To what monstrositics will he not give birth, in
the shape of sentiments" before that angus,
! bodyi Win not the country be outraged
Win not his constituents feel ashamed We