New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-22
GERRIT SMITHS ACCOUNT or HIS
INSANITY.
EFFECT OF FALSE REPORTS.

Mr.. Smith has addressed a long letter 10 William
Goode editor ofaweekly paper called Ihe Pr'Hcl7a'
which is the first he has written since his release from
the Iunatc Asylum at Utica. He describes the long
and severe abors both in the walks OF business and
benevoence, by which his brain was exhausted; but
the utter prostration of it, which led to his insanity
he charges upon the address of the Democratic Nigi-
lance Committee. Mr.. Smith says:
Forgetting that human powers have limits for
got 10 think that could not do all that wished TO DO
But in world where there is 80 much TO do that lew
are found willing TO do II Is not always easy 10 feslsS
the temptation to overdo
"For a dozen wears before the last bad at times
suffered from dyspepsia, though by ho means iIs Sc
verely as had many persons Of my acquaintance NY
suffering was mainly in quick and strong sympathy OF
nv head with my dyspepic stomach. Vertigo, and
other most III comfortable sensatiOns-now as II my
head were made of lead, and now as II II were made OF
cork-were among the products OF this sympathy.
Never did snfer so much in this wise a. when went
10 Congress , But the dyspepsia, which be-
gan in the Fall of 1853 and continued year was at
tended by none of these sensations and therefore, by
none of the adnonions involved in them Papltation
of the heart of which ] have hitherto experienced
nothing was its incessant companion and chief signal
NV head felt well and my brain worked easy.
''Dr. Gray, the Superintendent Of the Asylum, be,
eves that in the first half OF the year 1879 had
come into that stage character Of insanity called
'exaltaton of the mind i never read studied nor
wrote with more pleasure ! boosted that could DO
than at the age of 40 This beng the condition
of nv BRAIN il is at all strange that, although, as
nv 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 1t should not occur TO me that
so serious an injury the loss of reason would be
the penalty for continuing the customary use OF my
brain. Why the dyspepsia of 1898 and 1913
affected my heart and produced no uncomfortable SEN
cations in my head, am not capable of explaining
." false alarm morning, while 1t did but dis
. h. 9TH members Of I'M family unite
me- The news, few weeks after, of the death OF my
old aud dear friend John Brown, and ms two sons,
was great shock to 1t contributed not little TO
hasten my condition 10 its crisis. Only three weeks
after went down under troop of Authorizations. My
family were reduced to poverty; they were cast OIL by
their friends and the world. Those who had put their
property into NY hands had lost it. was bound In
honor and Justice to 90 10 Virginia and stand by and
suffer with nv unfortunate friend Indeed, ii was
only from believing that was on my way to Virginia
that went 80 willingly 10 Utica. The idea, however,
say nv family, and my own memory says II 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 terrible charges brought against me IN the
manifesto of the NewYor Democratic Nigllant Asso-
citation 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:
" Finally look at the arocity of this manifesto lie
The frenzy of party politics has often driven 10
violate the principles of a sound morality But, when
before was il ever known involve company of 81
men of high standing in the crime Of falling
upon their feow-ctizen and in the face of their
clear convictions of his innocence fastening charges
upon him, which they knew conld not fail to serve
nightly to blast his reputation to expose him 10 the
harassing and endangerng action of the Courts; TO
outlaw him. and invite those whom these lying charges
have filed with rage, 10 assassnate him
perhaps there is thing that is stranger ana
even guer than this crime. 1t ia that they
who committed il yet to show the first sign OF re-
renance for it, But we must not fail recolect tat
repentance is generally fastened by the fear OF punish
ment; and that my thrty-one calnmniatorS prooaply
feel that they are not only rich, but TOO numerous
a band, TO be in great danger OF punishment nus.,
shall he verified which declares though hand JON IN
ak.uA IL. Ill al. N moi be nnnnnlsfled