Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-05-26
osrrIt smIlhIs Aeeeans- n ti1 maud,


0errlt ssnitkis AceeuRt Of bis Insanity.
Mr.. Smith has addressed long letter to
William Goodell, editor of weekly paper
called the Principia1 which is the FIRST be has
written since his release from the Lunatic
Asylum al Utica. he describes the long and
severe labors, both in the walks Of business
and benevolence, by which his brain was ex-
hausted but the utter prostration Of it. which
led to his insanity, he charges upon the ad-
dress Of the Democratic Vigilance Committee
Mr.. Smith says
Forgetting that human powers have linn
its, forgot to think that ] could not do all
that wished to do. But in world where
there Is 80 mucn to do that few are found will
ling to do, 1t is not always easy to resist the
temptation to overdo.
rFor dozen years before the last had
at times suffered from dyspepsia, though by
no means as severely as had many persons Of
my Acquaintance. Ny suffering was mainly
in the quick and strong sympathy Of my head
with my dyspeptic stomache. Vertigo and
other most uncomfortable sensations-now as
if my head were made Of lead, and now as if
il were made Of cork-were among the pro-
ducts Of this sympathy. Never did suffer so
much in this wise as when ! went to Con-
which began in the fall 1883, and continued
year, was attended by none Of these sensa-
tons, and therefore by none Of the admoni-
tions involved in them. Palpitation Of the
heart, Of which had hitherto experienced
nothing, was its incessant companion and
chief signal. My bead felt we'll, and my brain
worked easy. Dr.Grsy, the Superintendent of
the Asylum, believes that even in the first half
Of the year 1859 had come into that stage
or character Of insanity called exaltatiOn of
the mind never read, studied or wrote
with more pleasure. | boasted that could
do more than at the age of forty. This being
the condition of my brain, it is not at all
strange that although, as my nurse believes
slept but three hours night during most of
that year (less than an average Of one hour
night during the last three weeks before was
removed to the Asylum it should not occur
to me that so serious an injury as the loss of
my reason would be the penalty for continu-
ing the customary use Of my brain.
Why the dyspepsia of 1858 and 1859 affected
my heart and produced no uncomfortable
sensations in my head, l am not capable Of
explaining.
"a false alarm, one morning, whilst it did
but disquiet the other members of my family
quite overcame me. The inews few weeks
after, of the death Of my old and dear friend,
John Brown and his two sons was a great
shock to me. II contributed not little to
hasten my condition to its crisis Only three
weeks after, | went down under troop of
hallucinations. Ny family were reduced to
poverty. They were cast off by their friends
and the world. Those who had put theirprop-
erty into my hands had lost it. was bound
in honor and justice to go to Virginia and
stand by and suffer with my unfortunate
friend. Indeed it was only from believing
that | was on my way to Virginia, that went
so willingly to Utica The idea, however,
say my family, and my own memory says it
also, which most haunted and distressed me,
was that my friends and relatives in the South
believed that had plotted their murder. No
one now doubts that got it from the terri
bic charges brought against me in the mani
festo Of the New York Democratic Vigilant
Association. For it turns out, though of
course have no distinct recollection of it,
that continued until within a very few days
of my going to the Asylum, to look over the
newspapers"
Mr.. Smith proceeds to unfold the nature of
the attack made upon him by the Vigilance
Committee, and adds:
"FinaIly, look at the atrocity of this Man
ifesto lie. The frenzy of party politics has
often driven men to violate the principles Of
sound morality. ButWhen before was it ever
known 70 involve company of thirty-one
men of high standing in the enormous crime
of falling upon their iellow-citizen, and in the
face of their own clear convictions of his in
nocence, which they knew could not fail 10
blast his reputation, to expose him to the
harrassing and endangering action of the
Courts; to outlaw him and invite those, whom
these lying charges have filled with rage, to
assassinate him2 .-.-.-. .sG
perhaps there is enc thing that IS stranger
and even guiltier than this enormous crime.
Il is that they who committed it are yet to
show the first sign of repentance for it. But
we must recollect that repentance is generally
fastened by the fear of punishment; and that
my thirty-one calumniators probably feel that
they are not only too rich, but too numerous
band to be in great danger of punishment,
trust, however, that even in their case, also
the Scripture shall be verified which declares:
" "Though hand join in hand the wicked shall
not be unpunished."
1880