5 January 1855

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: 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 estimate rightly the value to her of the Treaties, which she made with France, in that year..." Henry Charles Goodwin served as a United States Representative from New York 1853-1854 and 1857-1858.

GLC04717.67

February 1, 1845

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: 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 1831-1834, and as a justice of the State supreme court in 1847 and 1848.

GLC04717.68

24 May 1844

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: 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

21 December 1857

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: From the New York Tribune. Mr. Gerrit Smith on the President's message. The currency and the hard times.

Smith writes, "There is nothing in the nature of civil government, and there is nothing in the Constitution, to justify the Federal Government in banking, or in undertaking to authorize it in others." Also criticizes economists' reference to slavery as an institution, or "an essential part of the basis of public and national credit."

GLC04717.70

22 June 1872

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: 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- is very unlike the original Democratic party." Defends President Ulysses S. Grant against criticism. Mentions United States Senator Charles Sumner's speech against Grant, accusing Grant of insulting Frederick Douglass. In closing asks, "Is there a black man either at the North or at the South, who is inclined to vote the Democratic ticket?…

GLC04717.71

1 October 1872

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: 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, but disagrees with Greeley's "mode of treating" the topic. Criticizes the Democratic Party, declaring that "Kukluxism and Democracy are one."

GLC04717.72

6 April 1854

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: No slavery in Nebraska: no slavery in the nation: slavery an outlaw. Speech of Gerrit Smith, on the Nebraska Bill.

Representative Smith states, "I am opposed to the bill for organizing the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas, which has come to us from the Senate, because, in the first place, it insults colored men, and the Maker of all men, by limiting suffrage to white men... in the second place, it limits suffrage to persons, who have acquired citizenship... in the third place, because, it is so drawn, as to convey the deceptive idea... that the bill recognizes the doctrine of non-intervention."

GLC05116.06

5 September 1868

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Document signed

Title: [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 x 21.5 cm. Smith, a politician from New York, served as a U.S. Representative from 1853-1854. He was a noted philanthropist and social reformer active in anti-slavery campaigns and women's rights, among various other issues. Chase was a U.S. Senator from Ohio 1849-1854 and 1861-1862, Secretary of the Treasury during the Civil War, and Chief…

GLC00723.01

4 November 1874

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C.H. Howard

To C. H. Howard, an editor/publisher in Chicago, acknowledging receipt of six copies of a "little Letter" he had written. "I very rarely write anything for a newspaper. Almost all my articles appear first in Circulars." He cannot promise to write any further articles; Smith died less than two months later.

GLC09329.01

5 November 1852

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Broadsheet

Title: To the voters of Oswego and Madison counties New York

Thanking them for electing him to a seat in Congress, and reprising his anti-slavery, pro-equality platform.

GLC09329.02

30 May 1853

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Hayden

He has been so busy getting his affairs in order to leave for Washington that he hasn't had time to reply to Hayden. Writes that Wendell Phillips properly named McLean when he called him the "Western Miscreant." Possibly refering to John McLean, an American jurist and politician who served in Congress, as U.S. Postmaster General, and as a justice on the Ohio and U.S. Supreme Courts. Wendell Phillips was an American abolitionist, Native American advocate, and orator.

GLC07483.18

26 December 1844

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Cady

Writes to his uncle about two merchants, Shepard and Wright, who owe him money. Believes that if they start legal action against Shepard, he will pay. With note and docket on verso by recipient.

GLC07483.16

21 September 1848

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Augustus Stansbury

Mentions giving something about the men of the state to a W. Williams.

GLC07483.17

26 October 1856

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Reverand W. Heath

Replies to a request to come speak at the Reverend's church by stating that he is getting old and has almost entirely given up public speaking. Tells him to visit when he can.

GLC07483.19

15 October 1863

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William L. Starkey [?]

Has received his letter and states "Certainly, certainly, add my name to the list of subscribers." Comments that he was friends with the writer's father.

GLC07483.20

26 March 1864

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Susan A. Doughty

Sends his autograph in reply to a request. Ends with "May you see many Happy years!" On gold paper.

GLC07483.21

15 December 1864

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Showbergh [?]

Recipient's name is illegible. Gives his condolences for her husband, Henry R. Showbergh's [?] death.

GLC07483.22

7 January 1867

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C[?] Van W[?]

Asks recipient to send money to England because his daughter is spending a year in Europe. Recipient's name is illegible.

GLC07483.23

20 August 1868

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E.L. Wyler [?] Esq.

Recipient's name is illegible. Mentions Ulysses S. Grant/ Schuyler Colfax running for president/ vice president in the election of 1868 and states he is in support of them.

GLC07483.24

19 July 1868

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J.A. Spencer

Expresses his thanks for Spencer's condolences on the death of his child.

GLC07483.25

1874/06/27

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Broadside

Title: Open Letter to Frederick Douglass re: treatment of black cadets at West Point

GLC07592

1851/11/22

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Letter

Title: to President King, Columbia College; discusses Fugitive Slave Law

Printed circulat letter, addressed in Smith's hand.

GLC06852