New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-18

needy ofany class has been UNDECIDED by him,
The writer we'll remembers how many years
ago when there occurred a severe..winter, and
there was a prospect ofmuch suffering among
the poor, Mr.. Semith sent to a judicious friend
in a CITY, some scnrcs of miles from his
home $1,000 with the request that he
would distribute it, as his knowledge and
Judgment should dictate, among the poor
sewing women of the city; thus numbers who
would otherwise have been compelled to sing
Hoods doleful "Song of the Shirt" were
enabled to enjoy some rays of sunshine
Frightening their dark pathway.
Mr. Smith has never been prominent as an
aspirant for political Office. He was. however,
elected to Congress in 1852 from the district
comprised of Oswego and Madison counties,
n V, and at once took a prominent part as
worker and debater. 1t was not a congo
NAL life to him and he resigned his seat after
serving through the first session of the term
for which his was elected. A few years later
he ran as an independent candidate Tor
governor, and stumped the State in his own
behalf. His speeches in this personal can
vass were weighly and full of wisdom and he
Invariably invited any one in his audience to
interrupt him with questions at any point, an
invitation which was very freely accepted, and
upon all such occasions his replies and eXpla-
nations were prompt and clear. Being
thoroughly honest and sincere in his convic-
tiOns he never restored to the lodges and
evasons which are too often the staple OF
political speech-makers. 1t Is not probable
that he had any hope Of being elected, run
ming, as he did, independent of the two great
political parties!whO had their own candidates
in the field, but that he undertook the ar
duOus campaign at his own expense for the
|
and arOusing the public conscience In respect
to the great wrongs and coruptiOns which
prevailed so generally in the political world.
| Mr.. Smith has been an industrious student
all his life. and although he has not regularly
studied or adopted any profession, he Is well
| read in law and theology, and was in 1858,
when sc year of age, admitted to practice in
the state and federal courts in New York,
| and has participated in several important
cases. He has also for many years olliclated
as a preacher, and delivered many able ser
mons which gave evidence OF theology, ana
| some of his sermons have been publishedn
volume issued in 1861, entitled "sermons and
Speeches by Gerrit Smith. He has been
voluminous writer upon social, religious and
political topics, and his productions give evil
dence of close study, careful research, great
originality and libcrality. He subscribes to no
cree d acknowledges no allegiance to any sect,
and no representative man of his fame has
more wholly ignored the bondage ofthe sects,
creeds, and dogmas Of the past than MIR.
Smith, sincere aud intense lover OF Ii
berty for ALL socially and politically, he has
advocated the same liberty in matters of reli-
gious faith. Forms and ceremonials as eX-
pressions Of religious sentiment he esteems
as Of little value, and yet he is a devout
worshipper of Deity, and through his long
and useful life has acted upon the conviction
that, as God is the Father of all mankind, his
| children compose q universal brotherhood,
and that man best shows his love for the Fa-
| ther by acts of love and benevOlcnce towards
his children.
Upon the breaking out of the war in 1861,
Mr.. Smith, although a lover and advocate OF
peace, spoke and wrote in behalf of vigOr-
Gus prosecution of the war, and contributed
| literally to the same end, probably discern
ing that only through that dread alternative
could the great object Of his life (emancipa-
tom be accomplished. But when the war
was over he was one of the foremost advO-
Gates for lenency toward the yanluished
Like Horace Greeley, he was in favor of un!-
versal amnesty, together with universal sut-
frage, and, as has been stated in a previous
sketch, he, with Mr.. Greeley, signed the
bail-bond Of Jefferson Davis, the conquered
and imprs' ned chief of the Confederacy.
| i HIS ACT ol MT. SllllLu was cuaIdCleTlSlC duu
perfectly consistent with his previous life.
For many years Mr.. Smiths home in Pc
terboro has been a sort of Mecca for reform
ers and the friends of progress, and he has
there dispensed generous but simple and
uno. tentatious hospitality. Of late he has
not been much in public, but is occasionally
heard from through the press, principally
upon educational topics, in which he has
ever manifested lively and substantial in
terest.
In person Mr.. Smith is massive and grand,
his physique in its proportions harmonizing
with his largeness of heart and mental cali
bre. AS public speaker he is very impress
sive, his voice heavy and sonorous, his enun-
citation clear and distinct. He deserves a
high rank among the real orators of his times.
1t is not probable that his voice will again
be heard in public assemblies, as his adj
vanced age will not permit it but those who
have heard him when he was in his prime
will never forget his earnest eloquence.
| The lesson of such life as that of Gerrit
Smith is one that those who have great riches
can ponder with profit. Inheriting immense
wealth, and with refined and scholarly tastes.
he might have spent his life and his income
in personal qualification, taking little or no
heed the poor and down. trodden. He could
have spent years in travel, and tens of thous-
ands OF dollars in the purchase of rare books
and works of art he could have laid under
contribution everything that could add to the
qualification of a luxurious taste and yet,
for more than fifty years, he has devoted the
greater part of his time and large portion
OF his wealth to the service of the poor and
.lowly; and whatever opinions some may
entertain regarding his political, social, or
religious views, no one can fail to see in his
life grand illustration of unselfish philan-
thropy.
| From the Pittsburg Evening ieader.l