New-York tribune., 1878-02-02

completely with John Browns invasion. But the eetails
In fact without suson to that subject, we're the details
simply OF his insane rnvngs, then first revealed 70 nm
241, that ssnb.rn, stearns, Higgtnson, Howe and
GcTit smith aud others. who had been long in the Sc
scheme foot that would oonvulse the copntrye
n o w @ Rs 81 az @
known 10 but two or three men -Sanborp, Morton ana
Gerrit Smith.
THE CHARGE OF DCPIIcTTY.
Upon suci brittle structure does his biographer re-
pose his Judgment OF Mr. Smiths offence. IL 10 not
singular that his belief should have accorded with his
version Of the facts, nor that it should have prompted
the most serious reflections upon tie character OF As
subject Accordingly at page 251, Is coupled with the
statement of MI Smiths admissi Of % the existence OF
facts that he anxious TO have concealed the charge
that "he determined to conceal them II lie could
At page 26l, with statement that Horace White had
investigated Mr. Smiths connection with John Brown
is interviewer the statement which the author could mol
have known, that they were " facts " when Horace
White cleaned and "facts," too which " Nr. Smith HIM
self had been anxious conceal" At page 2G5, upon
cOnectural motives. the charge is repeated OF bis COM
pcty with Brown and the cOnceament of it. It not
difficult to extract their meaning from these passages
The gravamcn of the offence is completely with Joih
Browns invasion OF Virginia, ana the bOgrapher not
only charges that, TO escape CONVICTION, te accuseu
praoticed to suppress the truth, but with Gerr Smiths
detailed account OF his truc connection with Jobn
Brown before MN kp 2J-), charges also thut he
wrOngfuy suggested "a falseLOOd. At page 2tS II Is
said Had John Brown succeeded in gaining foothoid
Virginia. in making n stand and inaugurating his pro-
cc il is probable that his ally AZ Peterboro would have
remained constant, for he coward. and the prac
teal demonstration Of the herOs shrewdncss would have
laid to rest the cavlnGs " ms judgment But the en-
terprse disastrously failed that is when stripped OF
s euphemsm; had the scheme been successful, Gefrlt
Smith would have been his coadutors but having
failed he drew neck from the Treachery and
fasehood The code Of ethics that oleratos them has
not vet had It's imprint and the world Is thought to have
stamped ,hem with baseucss But the biography is OF
opposite opinion. II considers them venal offences
foihles and blenishes II aye page 2G5 that the con-
ceamont Of his completely with the martyr whose blood
was the seed Of the Union not dsgraceful to his
character. and should not iuiure his fame II a
weakness, but IT was not q baseness n fault, but
neither crime guilt" Unfortunately for
Mr. Smiths memory, the prospect is that the
present general opinion of deceit and men
dacty will stand, notwithstanding the elegance
the gloss And yet, bcnecent is the compaecncc
with which this sOlaCc is extended, the critical soul Will
nevertheless suspect the justice, which, at PAGE 30
nIputos To tbc memory Of man faults ard wcakncsHs
winch arc confessed nj page 2Gi 10 have been
factorily proved II L. needless Ia pursue the inquiry
.ciied aud proclaimed on tie reputation OF Ar. Smith
(pace oC5l visible through The medium Of the cy.
the penal Instincts shall De credited 10 iunocence
Offers this instance obstacle 10 tne verdict The
tons coufessedy not proved to the sa,..,ae;
To the penalties of conviction. HIS fun state
mcnt Of ms relations with John Brown, wherein
he in'eposs detailed plea " MS Encounters
pressed IN IT that was true, or anything suggested by
that iasea sceptcism aggravated by the admitted
possibility OF lie injustice only through the supposed
access Of an insanity whose impossiiity Is affirmed
Whether GeITit Smith really did think that MS
statement would bc satisfactory 10 Edwin Morton and
+. Il. SanbOrn and Dr.. Howe and other fi'nds OF the
Is bV hc
another answer Is at hand II appear, as mas bcrn
s1S% the other friends Of ine maryere enoaai
Of John r PrGTG. & @a99 6 10 eeSd c TPSa HS Fsr
have been difficult fOr them 10 believe.
sANBoRN AND MORTON.
1t s now. then ut the last TO be seen hoN he ease
stands with sanoorn and Morton the only two persons
remaining whose satisfaction submitted the test OF
Gent smiths truth As has been elsewhere shown, ths
author q. 242 confines the knowledge Of John
Browns intention the Slave states at IIarpers
Ferry, to ''but two three men" Two OF them are
designated as sruboru and Morton; and upon their
representation of the discussion and adoption OF the
plan al Peerboro in February Of 1859 IS rested the
implication Of GeTrit Smith. Now. II having been
proved 10y Douglass aud confirmed by the acts al
Brown his determination To invade Harper's Ferry
was only formed by him at Chambersbnrg some four
weeks before he executed IT, neither stnDorn nor Nor
ton could have known NJ Pet.rb0ro' m February Of
1sr4 the plan which Brown dil not himself know TIL
the Fill OF the next year These gentlemen, having
been thus shown by the against Mr.. Smith Ia have
conounded the old plan OF making head In
the nountains-fle plan actually canvasscd at
Pcleiboro', with the plan ~ attacking Harpers
Fcrry-thc plan which originated nj Chambers
burg Gcrrit Smith stands untouched by their testimony.
Il will not however. be uuntercsting 10 account FOR
their mistake. Having He'd il fear for their lives,
they returned from exile 10 find the fancied cause Of
their alarm. actual cause OF congratnaton As the au-
.T,n .rr1v stafeg uqpp fpgprg
fashion people 10 call themselves Abuitloui.'s Old
rro-s!aycry Democrats were singing Glory Iiacluah,
and copously volunteering the information that The soul
Of John BrOwn WAS marching on The Hero would
have received ovation ia Wall IT.. Aud these two
gentlemen no hed lest remaining they might De held
guilty may be patdJncd II submissive TO an impeach-
ncnt which they found 20 BE- crowned with glory,
and not punished with stripes. But how wns
II with Gcrr!t Smith says his biOgTapher: Gcrnt
smith takes this time to disclim knowledge OF
hi. Cro xu'.) plans" He made OF the martyrs
los 10 remain nor donncd the tnse OF guilt when the
guilt became popular. The man stood stcadfdbt In
truth. uuchauceable and enduring ~ his own native
hills OF Nrv-York II 10 II sound legal maxim mat, III
the estimation OF evidence. Witnesses are Naluod ~
their weight aud not by Their numbers II Il true that
T. b. sai60rn aud EdW Morton TO Gcrrt smith IA
two tO one but knows little OF the Of tiuc
who does not know that, ON The queston-Which pre-
varcacs i-the word of Gcrrt smith ont clgs the word
Of Sanhurn and Morton. JOHS CDCnKASk.
Nei- I0rk, Jan 10, 1879.
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NDTrR lND THE JREE FAITH