Collection Search

to Governor Chase, Ohio

Smith writes to Salmon Portland Chase, Governor of Ohio, also an abolitionist. Expresses his disappointment in Chase's Inaugural Address: "The habit of the whole country is to justify the pretensions of slavery, and, therefore, to adopt the...

GLC04717.24

Address reported by Gerrit Smith to the Jerry Rescue Convention, held in Syracuse October 1, 1857.

Regarding William "Jerry" Henry, who had been arrested under the Fugitive Slave Law in Syracuse in 1851, and rescued by local citizens. Smith commends the rescue, claiming no Christian can disapprove of the rescue. Discusses his disappointment in...

GLC04717.26

Personal Liberty Bill

Begins with a list of the foremost duties of the New York Legislature: to close the dramshops, to prevent withholding suffrage from Black men, and to protect the "weary and heart-broken fugitive slaves" within State limits. Includes an excerpt of a...

GLC04717.27

Compensated emancipation: a speech by Gerrit Smith, in the National Compensation Convention, held in Cleveland, Ohio, August 25, 26 and 27, 1857.

Smith declares, "We are here for the purpose of making a public and formal, and, as we hope, an impressive confession, that the North ought to share with the South in the temporary losses that will result from the abolition of Slavery. Indeed, such...

GLC04717.28

to John Thomas, Esq.

Smith declines Thomas's invitation to preside at the anniversary of the Rescue of Jerry, who had been arrested in Syracuse under the Fugitive Slave Law and freed by local citizens in 1851. Informs Thomas, Chairman of Jerry Rescue Committee: "The...

GLC04717.29

To the Liberty Party

Discusses the Liberty Party's objectives, including the foremost goal of overthrowing slavery. Analyzes modification and expansion of party objectives, regarding issues such as banks, tariffs, and association with slaveholders.

GLC04717.30

To the Liberty Party of the County of Madison

Offers encouraging words to the Liberty Party following the recent Canastota Convention: "The New-York State Liberty Car is again upon the track."

GLC04717.31

Letter of Gerrit Smith, to the Liberty Party of New-Hampshire

Criticizes the Liberty Party of New Hampshire for voting for slaveholders. Encourages the state to reconstruct a "true" liberty party, "a Party, which will sooner perish than vote for a proslavery man- and a Party, too, which will practically...

GLC04717.32

Speech of Gerrit Smith, made in the National Liberty Party Convention at Buffalo, September 17th, 1851, when the following Resolutions were under discussion...

(title continues)... 1. Resolved, That righteous civil government is an indispensable agency for blessing and saving the world; and that every political party which does not identify itself, openly and heartily, with such government, is unworthy of...

GLC04717.33

To the Liberty Party of the County of Madison

Smith addresses the Pittsburgh Convention of the Liberty Party. Urges the Convention to organize a permanent party, and to "declare slavery to be utterly incapable of legalization."

GLC04717.34

National Liberty Party: at the National Liberty Party Convention, held in Syracuse September 30th, 1852, the following resolutions reported by Gerrit Smith, as chairman of the Business Committee, were unanimously adopted...

The Convention, held in Syracuse 30 September and 1 October 1852, chose to nominate William Goodell as President and S. M. Bell as Vice President. Includes Gerrit Smith's address to the Party. Lists officers nominated to lead the New York State...

GLC04717.35

To the voters of the Counties of Oswego and Madison

Complains that he was nominated for a Congressional seat, a position he did not seek. Assures he will not resign, but will perform his duty, pursuing abolition from his position. Includes his political creed, asserting that slavery is not in the...

GLC04717.36

Second Letter of Gerrit Smith to the New-York Tribune

Addresses grievances he holds against the Tribune: "The 'error', 'weaknesses', 'eccentricities', 'excessive passion' or 'monomania', which you attribute to me, have, doubtless, had not a little to do in encouraging you to select me as the person, on...

GLC04717.37

to Edward Cornelius Delavan, Esquire

Smith writes to Delavan, a temperance leader. Discusses his views on the government's power to educate the people in relation to slavery and alcohol. Expresses his opinion that the government should regulate alcohol consumption.

GLC04717.38

Gerrit Smith's acceptance

Includes a State Mass Convention's nomination of Smith as a candidate for Governor of New York. Contains Smith's reply, which begins: "My years have been spent in seclusion. My habits are all formed to private life. It is emphatically true that...

GLC04717.39

To the men who put me in nomination!

Discusses meetings he held across the state during his campaign for the position of Governor of New York. Hopes the good accomplished by the meetings is not estimated by the low number of votes he received. Encourages temperance and abolition....

GLC04717.40

Letter from Gerrit Smith to Rev. Dr. John Marsh; Letter from Gerrit Smith to Joshua R. Giddings.

Smith responds to an editorial published by Marsh, editor of Journal and Prohibitionist, New York. Marsh accused Smith of being "unsound on Temperance." Also replies to a published letter from Giddings, in which Giddings sought to defend the...

GLC04717.41

An appeal for the Sabbath.

Smith declares, "the spirit of the age and the tide of our prosperity threaten to wrest from us this most precious institution of the Creator of the world." Includes a printed patterned border.

GLC04717.42

An address, reported by Gerrit Smith to the 'Christian Union Convention' held in Syracuse, August 21st, 1838.

Smith begins, "No person, acquainted with the words and the heart of Jesus Christ, believes, that it is His choice to have His disciples separated from each other by party lines- wearing the badges, and contending with each other about the...

GLC04717.43

Union of Christians: at a large meeting, held in Peterboro', January 29th, 1841, to promote the union of Christians, the following resolutions were passed...

Focuses on the formation of a common Church.

GLC04717.44

To the Christians of Peterboro and its vicinity

Smith disagrees with removing a Baptist Church in Peterboro and building a Methodist Church. Argues against sectarianism. Contains cloth tape along left edge.

GLC04717.45

Church of Peterboro

Includes a creed and resolutions of the Church of Peterboro. Resolutions name an elder for the church, cite the church's opposition to sectarianism and slavery, and cover other pertinent issues.

GLC04717.46

To those ministers in the county of Madison, who refuse to preach politics

Believes that the continued enslavement of millions of citizens results from religious leaders' refusal to preach politics. Emphasizes the duty of religious leaders to preach against slavery.

GLC04717.47

to President Green, Whitesboro

Addresses a chief difference: "You have none, whilst I have the utmost confidence, in the capabilities of the masses to take care of themselves."

GLC04717.48

[Resolutions passed unanimously by the Church of Peterboro]

Resolutions open fellowship to "christians of every name and type," uphold the Sabbath, etc.

GLC04717.49

At the meeting of the "Church of Peterboro," held July 7th, 1849, the following Resolutions were passed, without a dissenting voice...

Accuses a clerk and store owner who sell liquor as being "out of...place" for preaching the gospel. A second resolution attests that no members of the Church of Peterboro are guilty of voting for anti-abolitionists or drinking intoxicating liquors....

GLC04717.50

To the Church of Peterboro

Uses an allegory of a tea, coffee, and liquor merchant to illustrate that "the wickedness in one branch... taints with wickedness every other branch..."

GLC04717.51

to Hiram P. Crozier, New York

Defends the Resolutions of the Church of Peterboro, which Crozier criticized. Chastises Crozier for running a store that sells liquor, declaring "iniquity, permitted in one of the branches of the store, stamps the whole store with iniquity."...

GLC04717.52

Proceedings of the Church of Peterboro, at their meeting held Nov. 27, 1849.

The Church of Peterboro substitutes several resolutions for one previously set forth. Resolutions regarding those who, though they do not consider themselves Christians, voted on the continuance of Hiram P. Crozier's pastorship.

GLC04717.53

[Hymns to be sung in connection with Gerrit Smith's discourse]

Smith will deliver the discourse 23 January at the Presbyterian Church of Peterboro, on the topic of the "New Religion." Contains four hymns. Includes a pencil note at the top of the page.

GLC04717.54

Gerrit Smith to Susan B. Anthony

Smith writes to Anthony, the legendary activist and reformer: "Why men have the ballot and women hav'nt it, and why they have so much else in which they refuse to let women share, originates in the simple fact, that the superior physical strength is...

GLC04717.55

Woman suffrage above human law. Letter from Gerrit Smith.

Smith writes to Anthony, the legendary activist and reformer, discussing women's right to vote. Sends Anthony money to pay a fine, and declares that if she chooses not to pay the fine, she should use the money at her discretion "to promote the cause...

GLC04717.56

To John Curtis, Preston Armour, Asahel C. Stone, and Geo. W. Ellinwood, Esquires, commissioners of excise of the town of Smithfield, County of Madison, and State of New York.

"Your petitioners implore your honorable body, in the name of the drunkard, his wife, and his children- in the name, too, of the sober, who, whilst tavern licences are granted, are exposed to become drunkards- to refuse to grant such licences. They...

GLC04717.57

To the people of the town of Smithfield

Smith writes "At the recent Town Meeting, you again refused to elect men for Commissioners of Excise, who are willing to license dram-selling. You did right... dram-drinking is morally wrong."

GLC04717.58

to Edward C. Delavan

Smith, active in the temperance movement, declines Delavan's invitation to attend an approaching meeting of the New York State Temperance Society. Delavan was a leader in the temperance movement.

GLC04717.59

Letter from Gerrit Smith on temperance. To the thoughful and candid of the County of Madison.

Discusses a local election, which was won by the Anti-dramshop ticket. Still feels despondent, writing: "Nothing, however, at the present time, stands so much in the way of the success of the cause of temperance as the fear cherished by tens of...

GLC04717.60

Gerrit Smith to the Anti-Dramshop Party. A mutual disappointment!

Smith, active in the temperance movement, discusses the Republican, Democratic, Anti-Dramshop, and Prohibition political parties.

GLC04717.61

A letter from the Hon. Gerrit Smith, to the Cuban Anti-Slavery Committee, New York.

Smith writes, "As I view it, our Government should, long ago, have conceded belligerent rights to the Cubans struggling for freedom from the yoke of Spain and from the yoke of Slavery... The world is too far advanced in a rational civilization and in...

GLC04717.62

Let crushed Cuba arise! Substance of the speech of Gerrit Smith, in Syracuse, July 4th 1873.

Smith writes, "In our Fourth of July celebrations there are two events, which, far above all other events, we come together to celebrate. One of these is the deliverance of our country, nearly a century ago, from political despotism, and the other...

GLC04717.63

to John Cochran, Isaac T. Hopper, Daniel C. Eaton, George H. Evans, and William Kemeys

Smith writes to prominent men he chose to designate the distribution of gifts of land and money among five hundred males and females from New York. Notes that he will not give the females land, but will instead bestow $50 upon each of them....

GLC04717.65

The West Point mob.

Smith discusses recent mob activity at West Point, New York: "Nothing else is so frightful as a mob- that many-headed monster, whose every head refuses to be controlled. Mobs and their dramshop inspiration threaten the ruin of our country. Ours is...

GLC04717.66

Hon. H. C. Goodwin, M.C.

Smith writes, "I am happy to see, in the proceedings of the House of Representatives, the proposition to take up the Bill for the relief of the sufferers by French spoliations... We must remember the condition of our country in 1778, in order to...

GLC04717.67

Hon. F. Whittlesey of Rochester

Criticizes Whittlesey for advocating a plan for higher rates of toll on the Oswego River than on the western part of the Erie Canal. Smith calls it "discrimination in tolls." Whittlesey served as a United States Representative from New York 1831...

GLC04717.68

To the persons who derive title from myself or my late father to land in Charlotte River and Byrne's Tracts, in the Counties of Delaware, Otsego, and Schoharie

Discusses the authenticity of land titles, possibly for land he previously gifted to African Americans in need. Suspects that Native Americans told residents that the land titles were inauthentic in order to obtain timber from the property.

GLC04717.69

Speech of Gerrit Smith (to his neighbors) in Peterboro, N.Y., June 22d 1872.

Smith writes "The Democratic Party is my dread. The Republican Party is my hope... I need not say that it is not the original Democratic Party- the party of my childhood and youth... But this modern Democratic party- this degenerate Democratic party...

GLC04717.71

to Horace Greeley

Mentions Greeley's run for the Presidency, noting "It is surely not for me to question the propriety of your being upon an electioneering tour." Agrees with Greeley that the reconciliation of the North and South should be the focus of the campaign...

GLC04717.72

[Anti-Slavery Society resolution approving of the principles and practice of Gerrit Smith]

Circa date based on GLC06593.09. Praised by the abolitionists in Madison and Onondaga County, New York.

GLC06593.10

to Gerrit Smith [incomplete]

Discusses the upcoming Friends of Liberty Convention, with Smith, a New York abolitionist. Notes that one object of the Convention is to extend circulation of anti-slavery material to the abolitionists of Madison and Onondaga County, New York....

GLC06593.17

[Union autograph and sentiment album]

Includes thirty-five autographed quotations and sentiments, and ten signatures. This collection was possibly prepared for sale by the United States Sanitary Commission at the April 1864 Metropolitan Fair, held in New York City. The sentiments and...

GLC06620

[Check to Salmon P. Chase for $1000 for Howard University]

On verso, endorsed by Salmon P. Chase with a note to pay O. O. Howard on order. Also endorsed by Oliver O. Howard, H. Huntington and A. Van Allen (both bank cashiers), and several others. Contains several bank stamps. Tipped in measurement is 9.3...

GLC00723.01