Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-22
Alefanoria Q6ax&tte
FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY %.
JOHN Brown AND GERRIr SMGTH,-A
writer In the New York Herald says:

JOHN Brown AND GERRrr SM1TH,-A
writer in the New York Herald says:
John Browns raid at Harper's Ferry and
death by hanging in December, 1859, are suot
striking incidents in the later history OF the
United States that q disclosure OF his accom-
plices is not too trivial matter Tor notice,
even at this distant day. :,
The recently published biography OF Gerrlt
Smith by the Rev. 0. B. rockingham con-
prIscs facts and documents cuoug h not to b''
suppressed by any honest biographer to con
vince the sagaolous reader that the armed In
vasion Of Virginia, in which John brown Iost
his life, was known to and furthered by Gerrli
Smith, who escaped by the public belief 10 the
truth of his persistent denial OF such completely.
These, however arc but, part OF the evidence
Horace White, the former editor OF tho
Chicago Tribune. during Gerrt Smiths lifo.
time, published in that journal his possession
of information enabling him to prove that
"Gerrit Smith was FULLY advised OF John
| Browns purpose to mako an armed Invasion or
raid upon Virginia for long time prior to such
| invasion or raid; that the said Gerrit Smith as
sented to and CO co.operated in such Invasion or
raid With advice, money and COUNSEL
| that the plan contemplated not merely method
| of running off slaves but military occupation
of the country aud general lnsurrectIon OF
slaves, accompanied by violence and bloodshed,
and that Gerrit Smith knew it, assented to it
and furnished money to carry 1t forward.
Gerrit Smith took great pains to pretend. but,
in fact, to avoid, controversy with MIR. White
and his proofs"
MIR. 0. B. rockingham. not denying Gerrlt
Smiths completely with John Browns raid,
and admitting his professed peace principles
and bis public persistent denial atterward OF
| such completely, attempts. nevertheless, TO res:
cue his hero from general contempt as coward
! and liar by masterpiece of Ingenious psyoho-
ogieal analysis and invention, OF which, 1t is
enough to say, the skill confcsses tho necessity.
1.-The near relatives Of Gerrit Smith," as
Horace White writes to his blOgrapher IN
| published letter, SHOULD have had enough
! common sense to let tho matter rest where you
(Mr. Frothipeham) left it.
But, with unrivalled tatuiy, Mr.. John Coch-
| rano has lately come before the public posturlDg
! as q sincere defender Of Gerrit Smiths iano.
cence both of the completely and the falsehood.
He selects for attack tho suficlency OF evidence
contained 10 the reluctant admissions OF bog
| raphcr's theory organized TO acqult, as II to
blind the public to the significance OF bis prayer
| to Horace White not 10 confront him With
proofs organized to convict. In ono letter be-
| iaboring the gentle and charitable bographer
| for the renewal Of the charge" which, 10 fact,
he did but cxtenusto too lar and too skilltully;
| in another letter this pious defender OF Gerrlt
Smiths memory turns to him who mado the
charge and who still offers to prove it at the
| summons of General Cochrane or any author.
lied person" and says, blandIy, "As l have no
| controversy with Mr. White shall not pre-
| sumo to trouble him for his evidence.
Mr.. Cochrane, like Gerrit Smith, ohslousr
breads nothing 40 much as the production OF
Horace Whites sworn testimony. That they
never have dared him to tho proof is admission
not only that Gerrlt Smith was an acoomplico OF
John Brown, though he denied it, but Is adms'
sion also that his family and MIR. Cochrauc knew
the fact to be such. The same admission was
implied at tho time, when they made away
with the documents" That Mr.. White docs
not now publish his proofs and defend Gerrit
Smiths biogrspher from the poaturng pretences
of General Cochrsne is inexpllca6le, unless
pledge of reserve, which would be another su-
perfous admission that Garrit Smith was An ac-
compice of John Brown, but denied it in order
TO hide the fact and escape its consequences.
Another point Of some public interest ls ra''
ed by Mr.. Uochranes last letter. Ho charges
that Mr.. rockingham. having "uso OF material
for the charge against Garrit Smith. and hav.
| ing correspondence with its possessors," IN
Cured this guit-to wit, tho failure Of tho
| biographor TO communicate it to the person VIII"
had employed him to write tho life of her father,
and with whom he had previously consulted
But how, if this biography were authorized
| by Mr.. Smiths daughter or family. or by Mt.
Cochrane, as Mr.. Smith relative and detender,
comoo it to contain statements which they CON
cur in disappearing? Is it credible that gentle
| man Of Mr.. Frothinghams omnence and pure
character could violate trust? What were the
terms of tho understanding had between tho
bograpner and the family Did the familyro
quest silence from tho biographer respecting
| character TO which the biographer consented TO-
consent or refused to consent? Ono chapter OF
| the book answers mo- to tho first question.
| The publication of tho book with tho presumable
| assent of tho family answers mo to tho second
question Yet how is The assault of tho family
uron tho royalty Of tho biogrspher TO be other
| wise explained? Did they suppose man OF let
| ters like Mr.. rockingham, an author OF distnc-
F! ton, the biogrsphor of Theodore Parker, would
consent to be selected by the family OF Garrt
Smith as his biographor and to write his life and
| then refrain from telling the truth OF history
Mr.. Cochrane's imputation implies eIthcr TINS
absurd expectation or else the belief that they
| as Gsrrit Smiths family could and would sup
| press the truth Of history. But then how, came
an 'suthorzed' biogrsphyto be published at all
| if the latter be the case?
| PoE's "STYLUs." Writing, in Scribner for
March, Of the Last Days Of Poe, " Mrs. Susan
Archer Weiss speaks as follows Of the poets
great literary project, tho "Stylus" -
Among other things, Poo spoke to me frot-
| " of his future plans and prospects. lie was
at this time absorbed in his cherished scheme
of establishing his projected journal. the "Sty.
lus." Nearly oil his old friends in Virginia
had promised to aid him with the necessary
funds, and he was saneuine of success. lie ln-
tended to spare no palns no effort, to establish
this as tho leading literary journal OF the ooun
try. The plan oft, which he explained 10 de
tail. but Of which | retain little recollection,
was to be something entirely original; and the
highest ''genius, distinctive from talent" OF