The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-11-17
Gerrit Smith.


There is no longer any room to doubt that
this gentleman, so widely known for his
large-hearted philanthropy and for his un-
selfish sympathy with the enslaved race in
this country, has become the inmate Of q lu-
matte asyl I'm, and that his fine intellect, en-
largcd and cultivated by liberal studies, has
fallen into hopeless ruin. Mr.. Smiths radi-
cal notions on the slavery question, his Pc
cuiiar construction of the federal Constitu-
ton with respect to that institution-hold-
ing that instead Of recognizing its validity in
The States where it exists, it is in fact anti
slavery in letter and spirit, and that itwouid
warrant the Acknowledgement OF every slave
in the South undera legitimate use of the
writ of habeas cnrpus-his frequent lavish
gifts Of lands and Of money to free people of
color and escaped fugitives, his strong reli
gious turn of mind, accompanied with the
utmost intolerance of the various religious Or
CARNATIONS, all of which he regarded as in
league with slave .holders-all these pcculi-
arities had for years impressed many Of Mr.
Smiths friends with the belief that he had
become nonomaniac. The tenor of our
advices, this morning, would indicate that
excitement of mind occasioned by the late
lamentable affair at Harper's Ferry and the
connection of Mr. Smiths name with it, has
CHANGED he ch ,racter Of his mental ailment
from monomania to violent insanity. The
intelligence of so d a calamity-a calamity
compared with which death would be bless
ing-will fall sadly upon his personal friends
and political sympathisers, aud even his
most violent political adversaries will deplore
it deeply For. Mr.. Smith was so unselfish
in his nature. so lavish in his charities, so
pure AMI upright in his ,SGiyate life, and so
firm, bold and consistent in advancing and
unfolding his political theories as to compel
the admiration and win the confidence Of
those with whom he differed the most widely
While member Of Congress, the most fiery
of the fire-eaters were ainong his best friends
and most intimate associates. Their love and
admiration for the man, for his open, sincere
manner, his genial nature, his cultivated
taste. his store Of varied knowledge, his bon
hommie and his good cheer, overcame their
hatred Of his anti-slavery sentiments, and
we have been informed that they constituted
his most frequent as well rs his most highly
delighted guests.
! = 49, -. h i.
Early in life. Mr. Smith was a clergyman
ofthe Congrec at ma chu CT; he snbseq lent
" withdrew from its communion for the
reason above stated; although h. never en-
tirely gave up preaching. He also, to a lin
tied extent. engaged in the practice of law.
His gifts as an orator were Of the highest
order rs had an unlimited command of
language, fertile Imagination, a voice Of
great compass, purity and sweetness of tone,
all Of which, adi,l to most commanding
presence, never failed to attract large au-
dience whenever he appeared in public. Mr..
Smith had no sympathy with the Republi-
can party. He became candidate last year
for Governor of New York, with the sole
view Of 4 'featirlg the Republican and .lect
ing the Democratic nominee for that Office.
The same mental obliqnity which led him
into the adoption of his theory of the federal
Constitution, also caused him to regard the
policy Of the Republican party as peculiarly
hostile to the anti-slayery cause Direct
W 'rupon the institution could alone satisfy
him. For anything short Of this he had less
tolerance than for the upholdeps Of slavery
itself.-Press and Iri5nne