, 1860-05-24

Gcrr1t Smiths Account or his Insanity.
Mr.. Smith has addressed long letter to VIM.
Goodeu, editor of weekly paper called tho
Principle, which il the first be has written since
his release from the Lunatic Asylum at Utica
He describes the long and severe 1abors, both in
the walks Of business aud benevolence. By
which his brain Was exhausted; but the utter
prostration Of it, which led to his insanity, be
charges upon the address Of the Democratic
Vigilance Committee. Mr. Smith says:
"Fo1getting that human powers have liuits.
forgot to think that could not do all that
wished to do. But in world whore there is SO
much to do that few are found willing to do. it
IS not always easy to resist the temptation to
overdo.
For dozen years before the last had at
times suffered from dyspepsia, though BY no
acquaintance. Ny suffering was mainly
in the quick and strong sympathy Of my head
With my dyspeptic stomach. Vertigo and other
most uncomfortable sensatons-now as if my
head we're made Of lead, and now as it it were
made Of cotk-"ere among the products Of the
sympathy. Never did | suffer SO much in this
wise as when I Iwent to Congress.
But the dyspepsia which began in the fall Of
1858 aud continued Il year, was attended By
noue OF these sensations, and therefore by none
Of the admonitions involved in them. Palpita-
ton Of the heart, Of which had hitherto e1pe-
rieneed nothing. Was its incessant companion
and chief signal. Ny hrad felt we'll and mr.
brain worked easy. Dr.: GraJ, the Superintend-
ent Of the Asylum, believes that even in thu
first hslf Of the year 1861 had come into that
stage or character Of insanity called +exaltatiou
OF the mind: never read, studied nor wrote
with more pleasure. boosted that could do
more than Ut the aye Of forty. This being the
condition OF ny brain, 1t il not at all strange
that, although, a. my nurse believes, slept bat
na three .s hours night duriDg most Of thas year
less than an average Ct one hour night during
the LAST three weeks before l was removed to
the ,AsyIum,) it should not occur to me that 10
serious an injury az the loss Of my reason
would he tue penalty for continuing the use Of
my brain; Why the dyspepsia Of '5s
comfortable sensations in my head. l am not
capable Of explaiaing.
~ false alarm, one morning, whilst it did
but disquiet the other members Of nv family,
quite oFercaule me. The news. few weeks
alter, Of the death Of rny old and dear friend,
John Brown, and his two sons, was great
shock to u1e. It contributed not q little 10 has,
ten MY condition to ia crisis. Only three
weeks alter, went don under troop cf bnl-
1ucinations- Ny fAmil, we're reduced 10 power
II. TheT were cast OF ~ their friends and the
world. Those who tao put their property into
my hands lad lost it. I WA bound iu honor
and justice to 60 to Viz s:nia and stand by and
suffer with my un.orts sate friend. Indeed it
WIS only fronl belierit. that ras On my way,
to Virginia that VET 50 willingly to Ut,ca.
The idea, however, say uy family, and my own
memory says it also, " .i.h most baunted and
distressed me, was th- my friends and re1a-
tires in the South bell, sd that had plotted
their murder. No out <ow doubts that / gotit
irsm the terrible chara = brought against me
il the manifesto OF thi Sew York Democratic
Vigilance Association. For rit.turus out, though
Of course l hare no ssilct rsco lection Of 1t.
that continued until thin very few days Of
my gong to the Asylu.- so look over the news
papers-"
Mr.. Smith proceeds r unfold The nature Of
the attack made upon Arl by the Vigilance
Committee, and adds:
T. :. '.Fioaily; look at ths .>:ocity Of this Mani
festo lie. Tie frenzy oarty politics has otte n
driven men to violate II = principles Of sound
morality. But when l. tore was It ever known
to involve company thirty one men Of high
standing IN the enorm&-.s crime Of falling upon
their fello".c'tizen, j in the face Of their
oxn clear convictions v + his Innocence, fasten-
ing charges upon him, shicb they knew could
not fail to serve sht1 to blast his reputation;
to expose h1m to the L.rrassing and endauger-
ing action Of the Court to outlaw him, aud H.
Vlte those, whom these Jlng charges hare filled
with rage, to assassinati him?
Perhaps there is or. thing that is stranger
aud eyen gutter than t. Is enormous crime. 1t
il that they who comuii:ted it are ret to show
the first sign Of repentance for it. But We must
not fail to recolect that repentance is generally
hastened By the fear Of punishment; und that
my thirty. one calumniators probably feel that
they aEa not only too rich, but too numerous a
baud, 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
hi. nrnuui4haHsr