1 January 1845

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: to William H. Seward

Informs Seward why he did not support Henry Clay, the Whig Candidate, in the Presidential election of 1844. Presents an argument as to why the Liberty Party did not support Clay: "Mr. Clay would not have been defeated, had he done his duty. If he had, as soon as he learned that he was put in nomination, publicly washed his hands of the blood of duelling and slavery, he would have been elected." In the Presidential election of 1844, opponents of slavery were faced with a dilemma: whether to vote for Whig candidate Henry Clay, or support Liberty party candidate James G. Birney, and…

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23 August 1847

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: To the Editors of the Emancipator, Boston

Discusses an extract of a letter he wrote in 1843 printed in a recent issue of the Emancipator. Pertains to Smith's views of the Liberty Party.

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15 August 1848

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: To J. K. Ingalls, editor of the Landmark, New-York

Smith writes, "I hardly need say, that I am deeply interested in the present movement against the extension of slavery; and that I infinitely prefer the election of the candidates, who are identified with it, to the election of the Whig and Democratic candidates. Gen. Taylor and Gen. Cass are proslavery candidates. Mr. Van Buren and Mr. Adams are antislavery candidates. The former are the shameless tools of the slave-power. The latter bravely resist it."

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25 August 1849

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: to Chancellor Walworth

Smith responds to a paper Walworth signed as chairman of an unspecified committee. Attacks Walworth's claim "that democracy and slavery may be in full fellowship with each other." Reuben Hyde Walworth served as Chancellor of the State of New York from 1828-1848.

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9 January 1851

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: Anti-Fugitive Slave Law Meeting. At a large meeting of persons from various parts of the State of New York, held in the City of Syracuse...

(title continues)... January 9th 1851, and of which Frederick Douglass was President, the following resolutions and address were unanimously adopted. The address is the same, and, with an inconsiderable exception, the Resolutions are the same, as those, which were reported by Gerrit Smith to the State Convention held in said City, January 7th, 8th, 9th, 1851.

GLC04717.16

13 March 1846

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: Gerrit Smith's reply to the colored citizens of Albany.

Smith writes: "Would, gentlemen, that the following mottos, which antislavery Conventions, in different parts of the State, are cordially adopting, were engraven on every heart: 'No slaveholder for civil office; and no person, who thinks a slaveholder fit for it.' 'No man for civil office, but a republican; and no slaveholder, and no person, who thinks a slaveholder fit for civil office, is a republican.' "

GLC04717.17

25 May 1852

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: to Frederick Douglass

Smith offers his opinions on Lajos Kossuth, the Hungarian revolutionary hero. Writes, "I have not seen Kossuth:- but I have read his Speeches. The impression they have made upon me is, that he is not only transcendently eloquent- especially when his country, his deeply wronged country, is his theme- but that he is a man of extraordinary judgment, discernment, skill, tact: and that he is, moreover, eminently unselfish..." Praises the growth of good principles that result from revolution. Includes a handwritten correction on page three.

GLC04717.18

18 October 1854

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: to Greene C. Bronson

Retaliates against Bronson, former chief justice of the Supreme Court, who depicted Smith as an example of misconduct in a letter to Mr. Delevan. Discusses the political opinions of Myron Holley Clark, a candidate for Governor (Clark was Governor of New York 1855-1857). Contains a handwritten correction (possibly in Smith's hand) on page one, and cloth tape along crease.

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1 November 1854

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: to William Goodell

Expresses his opinion that the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 will benefit the Whig party.

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13 March 1855

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: to William Henry Seward

Smith writes to Seward, a United States Senator from New York. Praises Seward's intellectualism and philanthropic spirit. Notes that Seward's recent speech on the Fugitive Slave Act "does not, in all respects, come up to my expectation of what would fall from you on such as occasion." Questions Seward's dedication to abolition. In closing, writes "I own, that you stand, as an antislavery man, very far above most of our statesmen. But I would have you stand still farther above them."

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28 June 1855

Radical Political Abolitionists Convention

Printed document

Title: Abolition documents. Number one. Principles and measures.

Created at the convention from 26-28 June in Syracuse. The abolitionists declare, "We...maintain that there can be no legitimate civil government, rightfully claiming support and allegiance as such, that is not authorized, nay, that is not morally and politically bound, to prohibit and suppress slaveholding."

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17 July 1855

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: To the New York Tribune

Smith discusses the Tribune's former claim that he was absent from the House of Representatives on the night of the Kansas-Nebraska Act's passage in 1854. Thanks the Tribune for finally admitting he was present in the House, and voted against the Bill. Wishes the Tribune would also acknowledge that he also made a speech against the Bill. Includes his argument against the Bill.

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January 30, 1856

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: 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 slaveholders' interpretations of the Constitution:- and even Salmon P. Chase is so enslaved to this miserable and guilty habit, as to lack courage and energy to break out of it."

GLC04717.24

1 October 1857

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: 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 the Republican party's lack of adherence to abolition. Asks "whether we all recognize the obligation to rescue every Jerry."

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March 1859

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: 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 speech by Smith, arguing that the Constitution of the United States should not be interpreted as a pro-slavery document: "The Constitution is not for Slavery unless they who adopted it meant it to be for Slavery. But there can be no evidence that they so meant, unless there is evidence that they saw Slavery in the Constitution."

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27 August 1857

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: 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 are our relations to the South in the matter of Slavery, that, on the score of simple honesty, we are bound to share in these losses."

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27 August 1859

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: 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 Rescue of Jerry was a great and glorious event... But those who achieved it, and I include in this number all who cheered it on and rejoiced in every step of its progress, have, with few exception, proved themselves unworthy of the work of their own hands." Worn through in the upper left corner.

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7 May 1846

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: 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.

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15 September 1846

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: 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

18 March 1848

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: 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 recognize the doctrine of the equal rights of all men."

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17 September 1851

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: 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 confidence and support. 2. Resolved, That righteous civil government is impartial towards all its subjects, and redress all the wrongs within its reach; and that, hence, it disowns the policy of removing one evil and neglecting another...

GLC04717.33

13 August 1852

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: 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

October 1852

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: 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 Liberty Party Convention.

GLC04717.35

5 November 1852

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: 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 Federal Constitution, that free trade is the necessary outgrowth of human brotherhood, and that political rights encompass all persons, among other beliefs. Contains a pencil note at the top.

GLC04717.36

31 July 1855

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: 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 whom to vent your ill humors, and practice your weapons of ridicule and detraction." Smith's feud with the Tribune was ongoing throughout his political career.

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