The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-02
How does your .ownsman, ssrri, Smith, feel aoou.


l.. wen he's quite excited and uneasy. He seems to
@ 10 you suppose Il warrant should come along for
bis arrest he w0ul1 b. taken away without dicultyY
l. No, sir He would bot BIZ taken away all, unless
those arrestiDg him had guns than in
town.
Have you reason 70 suppose he would himself
l. He would If his friends wish tina. be should
z. Would they counsel resistance by force2
l. think they would now, because OF the declaration
OF Governor Vice. that be wished mob would take Cor
r NTH TO Virginia, and his threat against him II he
caught Linn there. Otherwse think much would have
delenced on the manner Of the arrest
O. That is, suppose, II Governor Morgan should de-
eide TO yield HIM up on reqniston from Virginia, and
he authority Of the officer was undispu.ed there would
L. wel, if single officer came here with a warrant
from Governor M3rgaD, and Mr. Smith desired 70 60
quietly, the people might consent 70 have him taken But
even then think there would be difficulty, for he has
fri nds here and all over the county who opposed TO
his going any way.
O. rohncal Fl lends, do you meana
L. Oh, no. There are many Of his best friends who
would never support him politically; but almost all the
plain and SO simple IN his way Of living for mao OF
h~ means. He employs large number Of people, too
about his premises, ndepedent Of hts barge chari,ies
Talking about his charities, suppose he is preyed
upon good aeal by the desgnugr
l. Yes, great deal, by people from all parts, who
len sx and 70 S, wn nd ~ s u a.
ways moved by tale Of DISTRESS that others tor
have a chance of making money out Of him out Of all
inquired of the landlord which Mr. Smiths resi-
dence, and II was pointed out ~ me rom my bedroom
sniow II stands on the north side Of the green, the
tbird building from the west The premises have
frontage OF about hundred and fifty ieet enclosed
by beat iron railing, with carriage entrance at each
I'D ana ga way for foot passengers in the centre The
house stands back from the road eighty hun
cred feet and ls well shaded by trees in front Is
square two story half wooden house, with high
s,oop and lofty portco, supported by all white p!ars
reaching TO the top of tho second story windows TIE
body Of The house rs painted light yeowish brown, but
lha half NJ tha tu uult,f Nd ntlu
AN addition TO he old house. A lining Of brick
has recently been given 70 the house. The door
steps At the east side Of the house, leading
from the principal paror handsome conservatory well
filled with choice plants On the west side of the grounds
the sabng, built sodly Of brick, and the side
a prettiy ornameDted fJwer garden Several summer
houses scattered the grounds at tho back and
Of the house. and every thing beokens the residence
of a country gentleman OF taste and refinement. Tue
house furnished substantially and comfortably, but by
no means extensively: There Is everything for use
nothing apparently for luxury.
II would probably asonsh some Of ultra Southern
brethren to See the residence OF Gerrit Smith. just
unlike conspirators castle, insurrectionsts
fort or negro steaers depot, as can well b. imagined
NJ black muzzled muskets--nO bristiDg bayonets or
Bowie kpiv,s-no revovers-not even one of old
Browns pixies, can be anywhere about
the premises. There two three coorei servants
work the premiees, but they look little posi-
BILE like savage runaway slaves ready TO burn aud ravsh
and murder. looked over towards the house. and
fire little boy about eight ten years Of age, romping
on the stoop with dogs Even the animals failed to
suggest thing Of ncendiry desperate character
my mind. They were handsome, useful wachdogs, gen
tie lambs with their youthful paymai and just such
well 10 do farmer might lovo 10 possess. And here
let FAY that Mr. smith cutvaes forty acros Of
ground adjoining his residence for his family
very little inquiry amongst such citizens chanced
convinced me that the here has been
nense and the interest deep seated in all that relates
the Harper's Ferry affair Wherever ! asked the ques
lion found but one apswer-e men Of Perboro ,oouid
nerer consert that Go7it .Smifh should be taken
Virginia They ,could resit the oDcc,s Of the ld,c first
the eent Of poer But most absurd ideas pre-
L hons
watched by volunteers every night in the that
Southern mob might carry him of in the night, after
the fashion Of Kansas border ruanism in the days OF
Old Ossawatomie Brown. BY others was seriously in
formed that The apprehension not so much that Ger
mated by gone emissaIy Of Gov. Wise Mr.. Smth
D-ghbors evidently believe ha. zoo soaheruers regart
Only looked upon by every sensible man as
crazy, but honest abolition fanatic
| soon discovered that poor MT. smith Is abou
| as excited and as mistaken his friends. In
deed am quite convinced that the agitation conscquen
VI the Virginia outbreak has not only impaired biz
heanh but likely to seriously affect his excabe and
1 lily balanced mind He is pey different man eo-da,
jrsnt phat he tuee months His calm dgnihed
impressive bearing has given place to a hasty nervous
tiiioD, though great fear tanty be-
for. his Imagination. His boodshot and
that OF startled horse He has lost flesh, and his face
looks red and rough though he had returned
from one Of old Brown Kansas raids. II may be that
be cbafes and res at the silence and inactivity imposed
upon Linn by his rieDds rather than breads any rcspon
tibi'y for the past; but however this may be, he ap
pears altered man, and his friends must deeply
Mr.. Smiths views to the Sabbath as peculiar as
his political He follows rather the Jewish
doctrine and makes Saturday his day of He there
ore. always visible and ready for business the Sab
bath Having been apprised OF this iact sought in
tery.w with him on Sunday, armed with letter from
near relative found this unnecessary however as Mr.
Smith once recognized former slight personal ac
qantahce. his family proper consists at this time only
Of himself, his WIFE, and son about twenty years old
His daughter the wife Of Colonel Miller, lives the op-
Iose side Of the green however, and is constant visit
with some OF her interesting children. at her father
house There is also just considerable commotion
about the premises, ana constant food Of visiters-
lawyers, relatives, advisers and mysterious in.
dviduals-who come and go on business known only TO
III, mseves. Mr. Chas B. SedgwcA and Mr. Timothy Jen-
kins-Mr Smiths legal advisers in this afairtogether
with Mr. Ftzhugh Of 0sweeo Mrs. Smiths brother, and
several Others ladies' and gentlemen guests at tho
house yesterday. The former gentlemen have been
constant vters at Peerboro since the date OF the
break at Harper's Ferry.
few words suflced TO convince me that any attempt
TO obtain from Mr. Smith any information the actors
in the Virginia invasion. hs connection there WITH
upon that subject Sir said Mr. Smith, starting like
frightened deer ~ can't speak word with you that
most intimate friends" "But, argued, ~ do not, Of
course desire any disclosures any word from you that
could mplcate or injure any one.'
"Ican't speak about at dtl, replied Mr. s., Tam 90
ing be indicted any the Un,on IS sake Il ,VU
te me II would not be proper to say word about It,
ought not to one word am advised not to approach
the subject at all dm going 10 BE- indcd SIR indicted
You must not talk 10 about IT,"
dropped the subject matter Of course. 1t is evil
in constant state Of agation for when approached the
house, stranger to them, approhonsiona dread pain
ul to seewas evdep IN the countenances Of his
wife and daughter who were on the piazza at the moment
Of my call.
subsequently conversed with relative and close
adviser Of Mr.. Smith, and expressed to him desire to
obtain statement that, while doing injury to none,
might, on the other hand, remove erroneus
impressions and lay facts before the public.
sSir' he said Mr.. Smith does desire TO make such
statement himself, and scarcely be restrained from
doing But If he should, he would do il In his own
manner and strike the thing square in the face let who
might be injured. He is, however, strongly advised not
do in the present position of affairs, and has agreed
abide by the Judgment OF his counsel When he does
til has story, ,oiu be found thot many noc only partially
suspected implicated than he himself Is. But at
present he will say word to any person."
made some inquiries about Captain Brown, and found
that here last spring for several weeks guest at
Gerr Smiths house, and that while here number Of the
s,0t prominent leading reputicdas risscd him, and
for days in constellation ,tith him.
AS / viewed Gerrit Smith, tho man OF sturdy
frame and large heart, could not resist
drawing a contrast in my own mind between
him, with his earnest, disnterestsd. but misii-
rec,ed philanthropy and his willy, Calculating, selfish
aborer William H. Seward; the honest abolition.