The New York herald., 1878-02-24
GERRIT SMITH.
o. b. FRoTHINaHAM PROVES HIS CoMPLIcITY
WITH JOHN BROWN IN THE HARPER's FERRY

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SCHEME.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Tho communication OF t'Querst' in your paper OF
this morning deserves respectful notice. 1t 10 graf
Tying send the response 10 papor that has not
preiudged the case. Two questions are rased-oue
personal aud one historical The first touches the
general controversy only tar as It indicates tho
temper those who assail the biosraphsrs narrative
Of the relations between Gerrt Smith and John
Brown. As intelligent readers must have per-
ce,ved, the controversy presented had It's origin
In family feeling, and an explanation OF this feeling
is partial solution OF the difficulty. The impression,
pretty clearly and widely made that the biography OF
Gerrt Smith was authorized by the family, Or by
some portion OF IL; that it might be expected there
fore, to contain nothing that the family could dsap-
prove, that the offensive matter must have been
foised In at tho moment. when tho 'scensors''
were of their gusrd, is. hope. nothing more than
mistake At all events 1t is an entro misapprehen-
sion.
Tho biography was, no proper scnse OF the term,
.nuthorized." II Is true that the daughter Of Mr..
Smith asked tho author TO write It and
pledged TO the publisher the money neces-
sary to meet the cost of stereotyping and
printing. But there was no contract with the
author, pccuniary literary, there undor
standing in regard to The character or complex
ion OF the book There not
. casual or passing hint Of an expectation
that eulogism, not history was wanted. That
such an expectation may have been entertained al-
pears now the fact that certain members Of the
family do not think 1t possible that history should fail
to glorlfy Mr. smith; but this pecuiiarity was In no.
wise revealed to the biographer. He was simply re-
quested to write q biography. The daughter placed
his hands, without reserve all tho materials AZ her
command, and he entered his task. In the course
| of a n al O
proved Gerrit Smiths completely with John Brown s
matured scheme, aud anxiety TO conceal that COM
plicily. This evidence he took with him to Peterboro
order that he might submit it 10 General Cochrane,
@. d. Miller and otner members of the family whom
he expected meet there and confer with matters
interesting 10 biographer. Neither OF these gen.
tiemen came. No ono came. No seemed 10
take the least concern In the book excep ting the
daughter. VINO was too mach engrossed 10 domestic
cares 10 give the matter attention. Sue was, how
evor, sufficiently aroused al last to suggest thai tho
manuscript should be shown TO General Cochrane be-
tore being sent 10 the PRIMER
Tho REQUEST was puuctuaiy complied with. Early
In september note was addressed to General Coch-
rane telling. hin that the finished manuscript was az
his service and sLoud De seut TO HIM whitnersoevcr
he might direct, be read to him aud talked over at
the writer's residence ~ nour oil any day he woud
appoint. General Cochrane courteousiy decIined to
examiue II, The ground that he knew moth OF his
unce's relations with Brown that had often heard
him deny ali knowledge oil the Harper's Ferry
scheme and that his uncles word would, IN his judg
mcnt, outweigh the word OF another mar.
He would, OF course, read what was writtcn, II the
author wished II; but he could not commit the I'm
propriety OF passing judgment on the record. He
was kind enough 10 add that, as The author had the
evidence before him and could be trusted 10 treat
fairly, he should prefer not TO Interfere. II general
Cochrane kept copy OF this note he Is nv'ted to
proaucs II. The blographer. having informed Mrs.
and, hearing notning iurther, in due tme-six weeks
later-tne copy, as u was, went to The printer.
Had the bographer supposed that his book con-
taiucd matter could give reasonable offence, he
would, IRON courtesy, have insisted on supervision
ocyo o. TINS nature Two weeks elapsed before
the outrage was discovered. 1t then TOO late
VIII be because the writer recedes from his posi-.
ton, because he maintains "; but because the ner
of the plates prefers sacrificing the work 10 yielding
prejudice
Now word on the Other matte. General Cochranc
mis- whole case, does also Frederick Dou
his, on the word Of Gerrt SMITH This compes me TO
say that In this meter Gerrit Smiths word Is
not beyond impeachment Look at the line OF
incidents. Mr. Smith was taken TO the insane asylum
al Utica on November I, 1853. HIS n-law lost no
time and spar cd no trouble in collecting ana destroy.
ing all tho letters OF Mr. Smith touching John drown
aud MS schemes that ne could LAY his hands on, ro
cciving inen from f. B. Sanoorn John Brown. Jr.,
aud others, who checriuiy surrendered the papers,
that the writer vi them might not DO compromised.
On the 10Th oil December Mr. smith lett the asyi
and returned To his homo IN Pclerboro Less than
Two months later, February 13, 1860, the demon
sraton was made against she .'Democra@ic vigilance
Committee" oil New York, which haa denounced
him accouphce OF Brown On May. l,
1860 Mr. smith published an elaborate letter " VIII
Ictter 10 on page -3o VI '"o
biography. Inc nrst hall OF II devoted ton account
Vi 100 causes, treatment ana elect oi his insanity.
The last nall deals IN heated manner win tne
charges Of the "Democratio Vigilance Committee"
In tnis portion OF the letter the writer IN his zeal
to clear himself, ventures on Two astonishing state
ments:-
First--That no meeting OF republicans ever held
sympal h,zipg conference with John Brown beneath
his root.
Sccond--That beside himseIf and lew OF his
nelgnbors, he knew OF who mad aided Jonn
Brown Win money.
II requires the broadcst cloak OF charity to cover
equvocations ike these, MADE IN the lace o evidence
winch he must we known to exist, and whicn he
also have known would, rom loyalty and honor
he Withheld. This letter, may be added, wasshowr
10 Gerrit smiths daughter AZ Peterboro and was BY
gentle" bographer omitted from his history. tn,
private motives for Mr. SmIth's prevarcaton are no
here question. The fact of IL Is estsDiisned iron
his mouth. The biographer Is naturally dispose
to lcccpt tue most generous IN ierpretation o hi
heros Conduct but no sadly conicsses that thvs
whose Judgment less KIND are not without excuse
Forgive me, dear, warm hearted old man, for con
seniing that the literal truth shall 10 extorted Iron