The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-11-16
Gerrit Smith in an Insane Asylum

The unwelcome news reaches rs that Ger.
rit Smith has become seriously deranged, in
somueh that he has been taken TO the Insane
Asylum at Utica. New York It is said that
insanity is hereditary in his fathers family
that his father, Peter Smith, was monon'a
niac-ihough man ofimmense wealth. bis
foible was distressing fear of impending,
crushing poverty. The deceased an only
brother, we believe. of Gerrit, Peter Skep
Smith, was, also, deranged. ~ edl 7a3 s-so %
Gerrit Smiths absorbing reformatory pas.
sion, has caused such Irregularities and excen.
trieities in his action. that bis most intimate
friends have, for long time had the most
painful apprehensions in regard to the sound
ness of his intellect. l sg.s ga
Finally the Harper's Ferry disturbance
coupled with the cruel and relentless rumor
in which depraved and INSCRIPTIONS press
heaped upon him the basest sspersions, was
too muoh for his already disordered mind, and
the cossequent extraordinary excitement into
which be was thrown. took the last sustaining
prop away from his massive intellect, and his
condition became at once so unhappy, pitable
and violent that it was necessary to send him
to mad house. 9
The Utica Herald, speaking Of his confine
ment in the IHsane Asylum. at that place. say s:
ave learn that he is very violent, and has
exhibited a disposition TO commit suicide, and
that an attendant keeps constant watch over
him to prevent his LAYING violent hands on
Th;o raot,tt he /, e;hrfad ~ :.
connection of Mr.. Smiths name with the
Hsrper's Ferry affair. though many will regard
it as the consequence of q long-seated and
marked disease"
The Rochester Express says:
"Ever since the denouement of the mad and
foolhardy attempt Of Old Brown at Harper's
Ferry, there have been rumors that Gerrit
Smith was in q most distressing and pitable
state of mind. . f5.,-...
1t is stated that he has been constantly
| wringiDg his hands and bemoaning the fate OF
poor Brown. and accusing himself with having
their present sore troubles. et-s,35s 81
While making brief visit to the neighbor.
hood of Mr.. Smiths residence, few days
since. I'VE learned that his friends were appre.
hensive that his reason would give way under
the load of grief and anxiety the events oI
Harpers Fairy and neighborhood have occa
sioBedu sHl liii9 iaa5isB09 sysF assi iia "a
The Albany atlas says o7f ,l 10 Is1;5gsss
"a gentleman who saw and coDversed with
Gerrit Smith, shortly aften the affair at Har,
pers Ferry told us that he was insane-no,
merely excited by fear and agitated by the
emotions. which bis [alleged] completely in
the affair might produee but mentally derang
ed. His eye was wild and his appearance
haggard, and his motions spasmodic and un
certain, but INCREASINGLY restless.
He was in constant fear of being arrested
and carried to Virginia-and suspected his
friends of an intention to betray him into the
hands of justice. When the cruel electioneer
1 ing hoax was circulated that Gov Wise had
issued a requisition upon Gov. Morgan for him
as . fugitive from justice, he seemed 10 be sc
frantic, that his friends ga no other hope thar
I to send him to an asylum. ' .. go
| We make an extract from private letter
upon this subject. 8iae4 sdt iisl q oiaiis9
rt-aylis rssm UTIcA. Nov. 8, 1882
Ny Dear Sir :-Gerrit Smith VAS brought
to our Asylum yesterday, and is quite derang
ed intellectually as well as moraIly and is also
feeble physically He refused to take an ano'
dyne, alleging that they only wanted to put
| him to sleep for the purpose of boxing him up
| and taking him to Virginia. When Informed
that he mast take it, voluntarily or by com
pulsion. he opened the door and screamed lin
10 the hall) ~ protestp He then took it,
1