New-York tribune., 1874-12-29


plowshares and their spears INTO pruning hooks: ns
tOn shall lift up sword against nation, neither shas
Sixta That the province Of Government is bnt r
protect 10 protect persons and property and that re
and churches fall entirely outside OF its limits and OK
cusveIy within the range OF "he voluntary principle
Narrow however, these limits. every duty wsn.
we'll for instance the duty the part Of the Federal
tire OF psupers and madmen IN the Guy or wa'hihg
ton as the duty on le part Of the State G0vernment'
Seren0 That 80 far a. practicable. every ofhcer.
from the bghest to the lowest including especially the
President and Postmaster should oe eiecteu urcry "
need not extend any further the enumeration OF tho
features OF my peculiar political creed, and need
not enlarge upon the reason. which give, why mnst
not and cannot rss1l the office Thrh you nave , r"n
whole heart is moved to gratu 10 0y your bestow-
ment OF ~ ana tha, Goa 70 hsnS p M nr ~ v
Peierboro. Nov. 6, 1854 GERKIr SMITH.
In Congress Mr.. Smith drew around him In social
intercourse both Shareholders and AbOIitiOnists-a
fact which gave ofense to tho latter. His speeches
in Congress were on his favorite topics. and bo
found in the Kozta and the Nebraska bill op-
pOrtunites to proclaim his love for liberty, and IN
speeches on war, hOmesteads the Reciprocity
Treaty and the sale of liquors in tho District hs
upheld his wel-knOwn views by arguments that con-
tnually appealed to the higher motives and better
nature of bis hearers lie served only one session.
himself more directly to the cause Of human free
dom by pen and deed. He was vOluminOus writer
on political and social questions and published his
speeches in Congress in book form though his works
took principally the form of contributions to tho
newspapers he also wrote several theological essays
During tho war Mr. Smith reiterated his Opinions
upon national questions at every favorable opportI
nifty. and zealously aided the Republican party IN
this State by his pen as we'll by bis personal in
huence. During the period Of reconstruction he
pleaded earnestly for reconciliation, but evinced
distrust of the Southern politicians, and was un
compromising in his demands for the civi.equality
of the cOlored race. But for the people OF the
South he felt no hatred. His heart warmed with
kindly feeling even for his late opponents. and hs
Joined with Horace Greeley in signing Jefer-
son Davs's bail-bond. In the campaign OF 1879
he opposed the Liberals, stating as his reason that
tho of that party would place the Democrats
in power and nperil the results of tho war. In the
recent controversy regarding Bible reading in the
public schools he sided to some extent with the
Roman Catholics; his letters on the subject wers
largely published in their papers. and secured him
some degree of popularity with tho members OF that
denomination. But neither popular favor nor oppo-
stion ever influenced his sentiments in the smallest
degree. An honest, sturdy thinker no formed MS
own creed abode by it, and sought to impress 1t Oh
others with the zeal and something OF the power OF
the early RefOrmers.
Mr. Smiths hospitality at PeterbOrO was literally
barOnial A score Of guests was not unusual at ms
table aud every room in his house was filled for
weeks at a time by persons not connected with hm
by blood or marriage, o majority Of them SELF
invited. The black man and the white were equal
guests OF his board, and their Waits were never
shortened or hurried by the generous host Bnt the
highest honors of hospitality which belong to tho
homestead at Peterboro, and will be forever asso-
ciated with its generous owner are it's uses as an
asylum and hiding place for the frightened fug-
tive. When the escaping slave had reached Dir.
Smiths manson. his safety was secure, and kind
friends and liberal assistance soon conveyed hlIa
beyond the st. Lawrence.
REMINLSCENCES OF MR.. THURLOw WEED.
Mr. Weed was much shocked to hear that bis old
friend was In precarous condition. he said that no
had received letter from Mr.. Smith only few days
ago. asking him to come up and pay him visit Mr.
Weed gave the following facts from memory: He had
known Gerrit Smth for sixty yeas. He had first made
his acquaintance In 1874 when he attending Hamil
ton College. He was then fine, talented. handsome
young fellow attractive and enthusiastica OF Peter
Smith Of PeterborO wealthy man, whose wealth
consisted largely OF land purchased at controllers tax
saes very low figures aud which Increased largely
in value In few years after Its purchase.
Early in Ire derflt marrlcu uapk"och W
the Rev. Aze Baokus, President Of Hamilton Col
lege at Clinton, Oneida County. He fret ap-
peared actively in political life antAIason during
the campaign Of 1921 and two years later ran for state
Senator as anMasonic candidate and was defeated
Soon aferward he entered with all the enthusiasm OF hh
nature into the anti-Slavery movement and several
years afterward embarked with the same zeal in tho
temperance cause. For many years he was wholly alb
sorbed by these two questions holding the most ad.
yanced and ultra views. He not only abstained wholly
and entirely from the Of wines and liquors. but for
many years refused to allow sugar to be used In his
household because 1t the produce OF slave Labor IL
was said that he carried these views so far as se-
riousy to affect his health and for time fears were
entertained for his sanity o elected TO Congress
as an AboitOnist from the District Comprising tue
Counties OF Madison and Oswcgo. While n Congress
he generally acted with the Wbigs with whom he
naturally affiliated but he romised his anti
Slavery convictions He took an active part 10 ths
Presidential campaign OF 1884, supporting the Abolition
ist candidate, James q. Brney, against Henry Olay
Blrney and he were brothersin-law the wife OF the
former being sister OF Mr. smiths second wife. 10
not certain that Smith would have taken active part
IN the Abolition had 1t not been for Clay letter
on tho annexation Of Texa. That stirred w
tho Abolition cleaiont, and they went into tho
nsht with spirit. IIo was accused OF
having contributed money toward the Harprr's Ferry
exped,ion OF old John Brown, but tn charge was never
proved He was a most warn'heafCed. ReuerouS'sauo
impulsive man. touched by every appeal made 10 bm
by any in distress: entirely conscientious 10 al
matters political and otherwise. He gavs away larg'
amounts OF money for charitable purposes e furnished
great deal Of money toward what was known 10 the
days before the war the Underground Railroad"
which comprised tho system for eDabug escaped slaves
10 reach Canada where they were free from pursuit.
When the Constitutional Amendments were adopted
allowing each colored man possessing freehold
mad
number OF cOlored with freebOlds ~ this amount
,bus ershe them To vote On ali important political