The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-07
HON. CERRIT SMITH on THE STUMP.
HIS SPEECH AT THE COOPER INSTITUTE.
Catechism on the Articles Of his P0-
IiticaI Faith,

womcn's rights candidate for the Gosernorshp OF this
staehas been for time the itincracy, advoca,
ing throughout the State his prctensons and claims to the
Office 10 which he aspires last evening Sc, down
his programme for idrcss to the people OF this CITY,
The affair came of in the large hall of the Cooper Institute
The hall half full when he commenced but before
he ended it was pretty well filled. Several members of
- fair sex were numbered among the audience, which
Z included some dozen colorcd brethren.
Mr. Smith is much changed in persona! appearance
since he held in the House of Representatives He
has allowed his beard to grow, and now lis length and
sweep gives him quite patriarchal lcok His figure is
tall and commanding, and he appears in excellent condi
ton Several gentlemen paid their respects to him the
platform before the opening of the meeting.
The meeting organized about half past
O'Clock by the appointment of Mr.. VIM. Goodcll Chair
man. He introduced the Hon Gerrit Smith, who was
received with applause.
CANDIDATES TO CONE BEFORE TIE PEOPLE
Mr.. SMITH said nc was not here for the purpose OF
making Speech but Of answering questions This
his would at least introduce desirable feature in
politics, and that that all candidates for Office should
! come before the people and declare their views. He
would have the candidate for the Presidency
form to this II his dignity great not TO
allow him to do So then let his excessive dignity keep him
GU, Of Office (appause Many OF them recocc,ed the trick
played Of on the American people 1910, when General
Harrison candidate Tor the Presidency committee
questions him. In this way the old gentleman saved
his reputation and secured his election lie well rccol
ccicd how his credulous abolonst brethren
| caught with the cry Of
Tippccsnoe and Tyler too,
And with them II beat little Van.
but the abolonss found that they deceived and
that they could not have had enemy than General
Harrison So Mr Buchanan got into Office by show ing two
faces and marching under two banners. Had he been
compelled to come forward before the people, he would
have had TO commit himself either the North the
South lie hoped that the Of this city would refuse
to vote for any man for Office who did not to come
hagor them IN bp To
him. And now he here to subject himself to the most
sitting questions. He hoped his friends might not be
alarmed lest by his he might damage the prospect
Of his election. lie wished republicans and democrats
and Native Americans to ntcrrosae him in regard TO
Of intoxicating drinks slavery anything lying
in the whole range Of civil government that might be
thought pertinent TO the occasion.
| TiE CANALS AND THE NATURALIZATION LAWS.
gentleman in the hall would be pleased If Mr. Smith
present term a the naturalization laws and what changes
| he would recommend.
In. CBArAcEy, gentleman the PLATFORM asked at
1 the time his views in regard to the canals.
Mr. SMITH answered 10 the latter question, that he would
have the government Of the state borrow money to com
plete the canals and they should be completed
possible. lie would not have these moneys repaid by
taxes levied the State at large for he did not think
charge those who derived advantage from them
He would have these moneys paid out OF the Of
the canals and the canals completed he
would have the government sell them (Applarse) lie
| also asked what he thought Of the naturalization
| laws lie could refer to his antcccdcnts TO shield
him from the suspicion Of trunpng up answers to
suit the present occasion When Congress he opposed
the Kansas Nebraska bin because 1t limited the right
Of suffrage to those who had acquired citizenship
lie read a extract from speech he made in Congress on
that point When an cmigrant was here long enough To
give satisfactory evidence that he intended make his
home he equally entitled with the American born
citizen to exercise the right Of suffrage Applause, and
cries Of BravorD lie next read from speech made by
him the subject in Albany in 1856 and also from
address delivered by him in Milwaukee in june 1857.
| Government could no more make voter than make
man. (Appausc.) All 1t could do was TO recognise the
right Of to vote in the locality where he lives. Zap
| plauso) so much for that question.
| woxISs
AyoIcr-Dccs the right to vote inhero in women we'll
| rs in menS
According to his view Of civil government had
right to vote except for the purpose q promoting the
hsd a right 10 Ie d her person sns
| property and hence II followed by irresistible logic
that wemcn had the same right 10 vote men had.
Mr. sMla was willing to abide by what was the public
sense Of the true line between maturity and immaiurity
Another inquired his views In regard TO prohibitory
| law in this State
MIR. SMITH held that the province Of civil government
exceedingly Its whole Office In his cstma
ton to protect and propcrtto hold shield
merely awach dog the door OF the house OF the
people, and that dog should never be allowed 10 60 inside
The house OF 10 mix in the affairs Of IT, He
no better ideal Of civil government than that which was
revealed 10 the Psalmsts prophetic vision when he was
shall judge the poor the people children
Of the needy and shall break in pieces the
He bad better ideal OF Governor than that which
| David had when he said
lie who rue,h must be just ruling In the fear OF
And than that description given by the apostle when he
that the ruler II tho minister Of God He admitted
that the shutting up OF the dram shops would bring i'm
mense incidental aid 10 the q temperance; but
would he merely Incidental He held that the
Of the State not entitled ~ be considered civil 60
long left the dram shops in full blast
| (Appiause) He alluded the cases Of murders
pcrcratcd in his locality, under the influence II
So far from the government fulfilling this Office OF pro-
,eTs persons and III. the person, and
i Hence he held that no men should be elected TO
The Tiswn. Saa inquired what could he DO for Sc cause
OF prohibition 80 long the Court Of Appeals declared
prohibory liquor Law unconstitutional lie was surprised
at such question from that paper II he were Governor
81 this State hc could least cinbody recommendation
in hs message in favor Of prohibition and strong pro
aware that the Court OF Appeals would necessarily do
clare sucha law unconstitutional But suppose Il would;
| there remedy Certainly. Their good constfu-
ton provided that any Judge Of the Court Of Appeals
Judge of the supreme Court could be removed BY con
current vote Of both bodies q the legislature simple
majority being all that Is needed in the upper house and
two thirds IN the lower house and they might be sure he
would appoint anti-prohibton Judge to oil the
vacancy Qaugh,er) Then bare majority q the up
per hose could the recommendation Of the Governor
remove any Judge below the position Of record Judge
|
Another GENTLEMAN inquired whether Mr. Smith was in
| favor Of tic abolition Of capital punishment
Mr.. SMITH said hc had peculiar on that subject
lie held that the murderer had forfeited his life 10 tho
human brotherhood. (Applausc) lie held was at
tried u perpetual imprisonment IN lieu Of the gal
lows uiisses.) Bot " the experiment did net succeed
he would have tho experiment abandoned and the gaows
rcurned for his sympahics with the innccent not
with the guilty. he had any philanthropy he bcggcd 10
assure them i was not Of the rose water Kind. Gap
/ pausc)
|
GENTLEMAN in the body % the hall asked Mr. Smith
whether the clause OF the constitution the removal Of
Judge did not apply only 10 cases q malieasanccg
Mr. swim answered that il no, restricted 70 any
particular class OF offence
1 FOREIGN
GENTLEMAN took exception 70 remark about naiu-
| ralizcd voters.
| vorcK-Iles afraid many foreigners would come
| here TO upset the government.
i
Another asked Mr.. Smith hc in favor Of registry
4 law
Mr. ssru answered that at that point his symla,hies