New-York tribune., 1878-02-02

S,r biography of Gerrit Smith would
no iromuee that did embrace those passages Of his
ne which connect bm with John Browns schemes in
hehalf Of The slaves Accordingly his bOgrapheT tie
Rev O. T. rockingham has devoted largo space to the
examination Of his connection with John Browns in
vasiou OF Virginia This by means an ordinary
event Ii was those which unset
dom fracture the thread Of habitua thought, and con-
yplse with excitement the most tranquil lives Such
was the effect OF John Browns descent upon Harl"is
Ferry on the life Of Gcnit Smith Their acquaintance
dated from April, 1s4S, after which there 1atuFeo
between them warm and enduring friendship The
ties which attached them similarity OF oNect
and sympathy of views. Their orbits rcspec''e!'
were influenced by neither, and though inutuaIly
consulting, the action Of the one was lhuepeh-
dent of the other. such was their intercourse
uron slavery subject OF absorbing interest 10 both
They spoke Of and discussed IT, but they planned no
common action The plans of John Brown admitted OF
no participation. They needed assistance, and were
aided by Mr. Smith without inquirng their specific
nature whenever requested by Brown. That such was
Tho confidence OF these two remarkable men in each
other and such the Of their mutual intercourse
is disclosed in Nr. Smiths biography. Gerr Smith says:
oJohn Brown talked TO me-but he never counsecd with
re respecting his plans for freeing the slaves opp 2o3
554 and John Brown says that he had given you Cir
Smith general idea OF his plan Ito 90 TO the mountains
in the slave states and the slaves 10 flee there
and stand for their freedom) but he had not given you
MIR SMITH the full particulars, lest you (Mr SMITH
might turn him visionary and dangerous man
q. 255)
For many years Captain Brown had entertained the
laD Of intrenchnc himself with fugitive slaves, in the
defence of their freedom in the mountains Of some one
Of he slave States Though involving possible boOdshed
and loss Of e MI Smiths "nOn-resstance" principles
were reconcod it, for the reason which he gives (
25D that if blood is she'd in The pursuit OF slave the
whole sin Of it is ON the puISuer; lor lie pene'ed
""' "Theres warrant in that theft
Which steals itself, when there's no mercy left'
TEE QUESTION OF COMPLETELY.
Eventually and sometime in the year 1859, John
Brown abandoned this plan for which contemplated
the invasion Of Virginia. sueh project was irecOn-
cilabe with Mr. Smiths "nOn-resistance scruples IN
conflict with his constitutional aversion 10 bcodshed,
and so abhorrent his soul that the tdncs of its
ton shocked an unusually sensitive conscience, made
morbid by disease to such degree rs to burden the
knowledge he possessed Of John Browns Innocent plan
with the supposon that he responsible for the one
so bloody and horrible 10 his nature Insanity was the
consequence aud for months the intellect OF
Mr.. Smith oppressed, and his reason Oh
scured To the end of his life he vehemeny denounced
the mpuatons OF privity in John Browns
raid Eveu the subject was premOnton of
mental relapse and his latest days witnessed no effort
prompt and emphatic as that which denied the cmCt
est completely with Browns descent upon Harpef's
Ferry But now that his presence has passed from
among men, his biographer, the Rev. o. b. Frch-
that Smith Browns accessory. 1t will be an
Office of no great difficulty restore hedslocsted facts
and reform the authors reasoning II is intended TO
confne the examination in It's first stages TO the terms
simply in which the bOgrapher announces his cOnclu
son and TO the evidence which he advances TO sup
port it.
ARGUMENT AND REBUTTAL.
page 242 tits said The intention 10 enter the
slave States Harpers Ferry known TO but two
three Theodore Parker was perhaps aware OF it.
F. B. sanborn That Gerrit Smith may be con-
joctured from his knowledge OF Browns pres
epce at ChambeTsburg. and from the remark
able language above quoted. On the 7th OF June,
1859, Edwin Morton wrote TO his friend sanborn from
Smiths house at Peerboro': 81 suppose YOU know
the place where this matter is 10 he adjudicated. H. T.
suggested the 4th OF July good time to raise the mill
Is it probable that Morton, living in Mr. Smiths house
and intimate with his thoughts these subjects, knew
what Mr. Smith did not This is possible" Ii will not
fail TO be observed that while the biography claims Ger
tanty the evidence against Sanborn and Norton and
dsmisses completely ofParker with passing doubt,
TO that against Smith, is ascrbCd taau lie ult
mate force OF conjecture and probability. Feeble and
inadequate as must he conceded these arc 10 convict,
what shall be said OF the tribunal that nevertheless con
vics upon them should 1t appear that even these are
not sustained by the evidence adduced 10 support them
This evidence consists of three parts First Smiths
knowledge that Brown at Chambersburg secondly,
the remarkable language OF letter addressed by MN 10
27. 1859: thirdly, the imprObabilty that Smith did
not know what Morton did know.
EirS-As TO the evidence relied upon that smith knew
that Brown was at Chambersburg "A check" says the
biography (p 242), 'for 500 ON the state Bank at
by smith Chambcrsburg at tue suggestion OF hr
which Brown stated his condition, establishes the fact
that there known TO Smith and author
was also known" Undoubtedly had Smith directed the
check Chambersburg where II was received by John
BTowp the presumption would have been violent that
be knew that Brown was there, and the probability
strong that lie OF his Object In such case tie
inference would be unfounded OF Smiths completely
with Browns invasion of Harpers Ferry But the
conclusion falls when the same sent nee whch
Browns presence at Chsmbefaburg reveals that
the information was conveyed TO him ny san-
previous knowledge shat Brown at Chsmbersourg,
but refers 10 the knowledge upon which he sent tho
son OF whom this connection completely is predicabe.
and not Gerrt Smith Especially Is Sanborn exposed
that he knew that Brown was NJ ChamDershuis lhe u
donal fact suTcharged with knowledge, that ne han
received from Brown note describing his cODdltOh
CAambersbug, which he transmitted 10 MI smith ~
PetcrbOTo The contents OF the note are not NOcs2cd
don His intentions therefore are admitted TO rave
part of them and that II SIMPLY Informed OF his
location and bis desItuilUn Is confirmed BY sdOOns
exhoratlon 10 Smith to send him SlOO, ana ny bnts
statement tp 2J4) that Is was about that rre TN
Brown was at Chambersbsrg." srpposng him to be
there FOR the purpose Of carrying out hs plan OF neos
with fugitive slaves 10 the mountaius-a pan with
which bis presence at Chambersburg did not conflict
SfcOndy-Ihe remarkable language OF the letter TO the
is5g In this letter IT, 24o5 Gerr sI6 writes For
many years have feared and published my that
slavery must 20 out III blood" Had this expression
tie first OF its character raceable to hu bio
gaphPrs effort 10 press II into proof or John Browns
Intended Invasion, might have been successful. But
when IL that the opinion las the IL
self asseit had been expressed years before by smith
IN the identical LANGUAGE ard that the author himself
lp 2G9j states that Mr.. smtE had long anticipated and
PREDICTS! hat slavery would come 10 an end III blood,
August 1850 into proof OF The fact that he referred
then 10 John Browne impending INVASION OF virginia.