The New York herald., 1874-12-29


at Utica for the purpose OF forming state Anti
slavery society. II was attended 6y all the prom,
was also present, bus only as specta-
tor. The Convention was broken up by
mob, and this clrcumst stance so lncensed Mr. smith
that he at once invited the members 10 Peterooro.
where he welcomed them IN OF the best speeches
OF his life. The next year he puDhcly Abandoned
the colonization scheme and ever afterwafd acted
with the American Anti slavery society until It's
dissolution consequent upon the adoption OF the
fifteenth amendment In 1885 ne was deputed by
the society. together with William Jay, To cate
cblse the candidates for Governor and Lieutenant
Governor Governor on tne slavery question generally ana
render fugitive slaves. William l.. Marcy and John
Tracy. the democratic candidates, made no re-
sponse. william II. seward who mad oeen noIni-
mated by the wings, wrote an evasive reply. while
Luther Bradsn, the wing candidate for Lieutenant
Governor, gave an entirely satisfactory answer.
In consequence Mr. Bradlsh led his distinguished
associate on the ticket several thousand votes.
About this time Mr.. smith contributed $4,000 10
the iunds OF the society. and wrote much III expo
slton OF his views on the subject OF abolition. be-
sides speaking frequently on the same subject
Mr.. SMITH AS A PHILANIHRoPIsT.
Among all the distinguished aDoutionists which
this country has produced Mr.. Smith was per-
haps, the most practical, and certainly the most
boldly No sooner hau his worldly fortune been
retrieved than he began TO give 1t away, ana IN
the course OF his lie ne gave much 100000
acres OF land as gifts to poor white ana black men.
The famous Jonn Brown tract was cut up into
or while other parts OF his estate were alienated
in the same manner. No runaway slave ever
wnIle the poor and the needy all had claim upon
him which was fully recognized. Indeed, his pala-
tial residence at Peterooro was not only the
the Very s'' temple 81 social as We as po M
cay equality Among ms fashionable guests
was almost always a sD.inkifng Of negroes
from the sunny south, who were equally welcome
with the more refined visitors. But MIR. smiths
benefacCions were not confined TO mere charities
During the present year he gave $20,0 200 TO Hami
ton College and some time ago he presented Cor.
a " n Nos nf
recipients > Of Of his Soun,y was was John 'DB Brown w.
ton against Harper's Ferry Mr. Smith con-
trlouted a considerable sum Of money. This gift
led 70 many bitter charges and hard words. Even
alter the war, when 1t was announced tnat
together with Horace Greeley and other persons,
he had gone on Jef Davis bail BOND. the Chicago
Tribune published an article more bitter than any
thing urged against him by the shareholders while
aDoitIonlsm was held in the tercest detesLation.
AS that article is now something OF curiosity we
reprint It's opening paragraph as an lustra ilon OF
the blind hate which sometimes guides the pen.
1t was as foliows:-
Gerrit Smith indebted his sire for feeble
intellect and Large fortune, BY dInt OF liberal
penditare Of his large fortune in putting and advertising
places himse on par with those who are inyersely en-
Smiths led bis His
Is his lack Of ortude; He has Of the stun Of
se s I @ he
his life sooner than use force or shed drop Of Sood to
gam his freedom. lie a6ohuonst, and YET When
Vote asans! the Nebraskn Bill nss being I his hour tor
ana helped him literally while shere1psrhaps also at
marpers Ferry s hoasa the natter latter has never been
barron became insane from o. Buenanan
took refuge in lunauc asylum. and remained thers
until Lincoln was inangurated He then came forth
eaged IN publishing at his own exDense ana circulating
%ho ns s
ing both the abolition Of slavery out OF tenderness for the
whites ''''' A'''''
Yet few men did more real good in their day
than Gerrit Smith, and we have only to recall the
esteem In when he was held by some OF the bit
terest Of his political opponents TO appreciate the
injustice Of this attack. once IN mis- life Mr..
Smith consented to sit IN Congress from 1853 to
1855. Speaking OF his short service IN Congress
the New Orleans Plcayu,se ABOUT the same time
that the Chicago Tribune was thus beratlng hun,
gave Mr.. smith this excellent character:-"At
Washington his accomplished manners, enter
tanning conversation and liberal hospitality at
tracted notice by contrast with the lower grade
OF black republican members. He was mucn
teemed by some southern members ior his purity
OF character ana ms accomplishments as a scholar
and an orator, and they doubtless believed that he
would have been great man except IOr the Purl-
tame lniatmat,on OF abolitlonsm. ne ne soon re-
below his level IN learning and morals
Gerrt Smith was entirely pnilanthropic IN
disposition, and might have accomplished great
works oil real benevoence but for lhe mania
for negro emancipation nich possessed him. He
was also wholly sincere and honest His letter TO
cipatlon accomplished has realized the dream of
his HfeIlme. satisfied with the result OF the war,
he PLEADS eloquently Tor fair dealing, charity and
magnaIimlty toward the conquered. Had all
abontlonlsts been like him the matter would have
been settled without blOodshed.
saG GhsIs e pH 8a2%H 2Ht M as Tyng m 70 wa as
becouded Tor time. and the accusations OF his
enemles will be forgotten while the remembrance
OF his virtues continue to be cherished. IL Is also
noteworthy IN this connection that one of the
capJors OF Cook, one OF the John Brown party,
was Clageett Fltzhugh, nephew OF MT. smith,
and this TACT also could not lall 10 weigh heavily
upon HIS mind.
NR. SMITH IN CONGRESS AND AT THE BAR.
When Mr. smith was candidate for Congress
In 1852 ne received very large majority; and IN
the town OF Smilhfed, where he resided. he OBJ
tanned unanms vote wae a IN ne HOUSE ne
which were aiterward gathered into volume
and published. But he soon tired OF the routine
his first session. His experience at the Bar was
not unlike his career in Congress- Late III LIE Mr..
legal studies, applied for admission to the Bar.
that he might defend poor and friendless Ger
man IN Madison county, VINO had oeen lnaicted
Supreme Court and defended his poor client with
great ability, securing his acqultta. Once after
ward Mr. Smith appeared at The Bar-tnts time
10 secure the discharge OF a recaprured runaway: !:
but In this he was unsuccessful, as were many
greater lawyers VINO made the ike attempt
MR.. SMITH AND THE REBELLION.
Though Mr.. Smith was member OF the Peace
Society," and had always opposed resort TO arms
broke out none were more Outspoken In favor OF
vigorous prosecution Of the war. Too oid 10 go
into the army himself he sent his only son, Greene
Smith who did good service in the field, and bore
a perous part in the storming OF one or the forts
before Petersburg. AS soon as the war was over
however, Mr.. Smith became an advocate Of con-
Citation In speech at The cooper lnStlt1te in
1865, he declared the punishment OF treason to be
the meanest crime OF the age. The next year he
went Jeff Davis bail bond. During the first
years OF reconstruction he was very active IN ad-
vocating clemency toward the Southern people,
but ne aid not sympathize with the Greeley move
ment IN 1872 ana to emphasize his dissent rom
the liberal policy, OF which his nephew. General
John Cocnrane, was the leader in this state, he
even consented 10 become a delegate TO the Phila-
delpnia Convention, which renomnated Grant.
Snce'the he seldom appeared In public, and now
his work is ended forever.
MIR. SMITHS FAMILY.
Mr.. Smith was twice married. His nrSt VIE
was a daughter OF the Rev. Dr., Backus, then Pres
ldent ol Union College, Dut she lived only year
aier their marriage and died without children.
subsequently he married daughter OF Colonel
Fltznugn, OF Livingston county, who survives
Hp cnillren--ffrpone Smi H..