Syracuse University Library
Special Collections Research Center
Gerrit Smith Broadside and Pamphlet Collection

To the Liberty Party of the County of Madison : Peterboro, September 15, 1846.

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874.

Digital Edition.

This digitization project was supported by Regional Bibliographic Databases and Interlibrary Resources Sharing Program funds, awarded by the New York State Library.

Call number: Smith 441

TO THE LIBERTY PARTY OF THE COUNTY OF MADISON:

PETERBORO, September 15, 1846.

From the bottom of my heart do I congratulate you. The New-York State Liberty Car is again upon the track. I trust, that it will not, hereafter, run off from it. Certain I am, that, whatever else may befal it, it will never, no never, more, run off again into that slough, which is worse than Bunyan's "Slough of Despond," or, indeed, any other slough. I, of course, refer to the voting for proslavery men-slough. As often hereafter, as it shall approach that deep and dirty mire-hole, even though it be fifty years hence, all hands will be on the look-out to guard it from the recurrence of its late appalling and never to be forgotten disaster.

All praise to the Canastota Convention for having lifted up our good old Car, and for having cleaned and repaired it, and set it in motion again. So muddy, and so shattered was it, I did not know, that I should ever ride in it again. But to ride in it now is far more pleasant than to ride in it, when it was new. The bruised and battered gun, which has been through the wars, is dearer to the soldier, than when it came shining from the shop: - and all the dearer is it, if it be one, that had fallen into the hands of the enemy, and was recaptured. So too, the Liberty Car is all the more precious for having been rescued from the designs of the Whigs - all the more precious for what it has suffered from the attempts of this most deceitful and, therefore, most dangerous, class of our enemies. "If possible, they shall deceive the very elect." There is no more danger, that our sham Democrats will be mistaken for friends of our cause, than that naked wolves will pass for sheep.

To drop my figure - the proceedings of the late State Convention at Canastota were such - were so characterized with truth and wisdom - that the Liberty Party of this State will, doubtless, proceed, henceforth, harmoniously and effectively. I understand, that it took the position, unanimously and heartily, against voting, in any conceivable circumstances whatever, for members of proslavery parties. Hereafter the Liberty Party of this State will not vote for a proslavery man, though it be for the humble office of pathmaster; no, not even, it it be to gain an antislavery President by it. I understand too, that the course of the Convention on this subject had the entire concurrence of Alvan Stewart, Asa Raymond, Charles A. Wheaton, Wesley Bailey, O. A. Bows, and others, who, as well as these, had, in their eagerness to secure the right of suffrage to our colored brethren, been willing to choose men to construct fundamental civil laws, who think buyers and sellers of human flesh fit both to administer and construct civil laws. Honor to these friends, who, even in their error, showed how quick was their benevolence and how absorbing was their sympathy; and who, in turning publickly away from that error, have set so beautiful an example of magnanimity! Wise and good men are not ashamed to change. Never had I thought half so favorably of Robert Peel and John P. Hale, as I did, when I came to those parts of their late speeches, where they are not ashamed to avow themselves the subjects of change. It is little and mean men, who boast of their consistency, and that they never change; and who think, that they say the very hardest and most disparaging thing of an opponent, when they accuse him of change.

If report may be relied on, the Canastota Convention did good service on another point also. It did not commit the Liberty Party to free trade. But, it did just what it should do in conceding to men of whatever views of political economy the right to inculcate those views in Liberty Party Meetings and Liberty Party Papers. The Liberty Party is not yet prepared to say what is truth in respect to the various subjects claiming the attention of Government. But, because the great political parties of the country are well nigh past all hope of espousing the antislavery principle, or any other principle of righteousness, the Liberty Party is bound to look upon itself as destined, in all probability, to be a permanent, and even an actually National, Party. If such, however, is the probability, and if the reins of Government may yet come into its hands, how can it, without very guilty delinquency, refrain from enlightening itself, in respect to the various duties of Government - in respect to the various bearings and applications of that principle of equal justice to all men, which is its own acknowledged fundamental principle? It need not be feared, that its antislavery character will, ere the overthrow of slavery, cease to be its reigning character; or that, ere that event, questions of political economy will be very extensively discussed by it, save as they stand related to slavery.

The Canastota Convention is entitled to our thanks for its nominations also. I have been personally acquainted with Mr. Bradley, for many years. I do not know his sentiments on the various questions of economy and finance, which come under our consideration. But I know him to have been, from the beginning of the antislavery movement, its steadfast and devotedfriend. This of itself, and did I know nothing else of him, would go far to inspire me with confidence in his honesty. It takes an honest man to remain true to a cause, from which there are so numerous and so powerful temptations to swerve. I know Mr. Bradley to be highly intelligent also.

Mr. Bradley's integrity, including, as does all real integrity, a candid and teachable spirit - his integrity, I say, united with his intelligence, makes it quite safe in my esteem, be his present views on questions of economy and finance what they may, to entrust him with the power of civil office. I should rejoice to see Henry Bradley, wise and upright as he is, and distinguished for his enlightened zeal in the cause of temperance, antislavery, and religion, occupying the chair of State.

Mr. Chaplin is a statesman. I know no man, who has larger or juster views of the true character and uses of Civil Government. Happy the State, which has men like William L. Chaplin for its rulers!

John Thomas and James Sperry are our candidates for Canal Commissioners. The former lives near us; and marry of you know him. Where shall we look for a more brilliant and efficient friend of the slave? Mr. Sperry, whom but few of you know, it has, for a number of years, been my privilege to know. He is just such a plain, wise, honest, farmer, as I should be glad to see put into the office of Canal Commissioner, or into a much higher office.

I have, also, learned who were put in nomination, last Saturday, by our Madison County Liberty Convention. My whole heart responds to the nomination. I am personally acquainted with all the candidates. Mr. Downer and Dr. Saunders would, if elected to the Legislature, do honor to our County. Mr. Palmer has once been Sheriff of this County: and I should be happy to see his true philanthropy, exemplary life, and excellent habits of business, again adorn the office. Mr. Raymond and I have been mutual friends from our childhood: and were I to venture upon his praise, I might run into excess. I cannot, however, refrain from saying, that he is a gentleman of very superior intelligence; and that, in his circle of friends, his honesty and firmness are proverbial. Nor can I refrain from saying, that there is no man in this County, who has carried more head and heart into the antislavery cause than has Mr. Raymond. My gratitude and love are deeply stirred, when I think of his services. Day and night, in sunshine and storm, has he toiled for its success; and, this too, notwithstanding tie is a poor, very poor, man, who is obliged to labor most diligently, and economize most rigidly, for the support of a family very dear to his tender heart. Would it not be greatly to the praise of the voters of Madison to make such a man - a man, withal, peculiarly well qualified by his penmanship and otherwise - Clerk of their County? Can poor men - can good men - can any men - withhold their votes from him?

I have, thus, my friends, adverted to the wise proceedings of the Canastota Convention, and also to the good nominations made by our County Convention. In view of all these, should we not take courage, and act with unwonted zeal, union, and power? Was there ever so loud a call upon us for such action? Scores of thousands of slaves are still added, yearly, to our millions of slaves! Our army, for the purpose of getting more territory to drench with the tears, and sweat, and blood, of the African race, has gone forth to slaughter a poor, weak, and unoffending people! Our great political parties join hands in this murder; and are emulous to excel each other in acts of devotion to the slave-power! Our great National ecclesiastical bodies, which, impudently and blasphemously, call themselves Churches of Jesus Christ, are in full fellowship with these political parties! I add no more. Our motives to act are of illimitable power. The cries of chained millions and the voice of their avenging God are in our ears. We will act. We will, again, go to our neighbors, and again beg them, for the slaves' sake, for their own souls' sake, for the sake of their country, and for the sake of God, to break away from their blood-stained parties, and to unite with the few, who are praying and toiling for the deliverance of the oppressed.

I would that, as formerly, I could go through my neighborhood and through my County with messages of truth and mercy in behalf of my enslaved brethren. But, my bodily infirmities will, I fear, prevent it. Are there not, however, enough men and women of a merciful and self-sacrificing spirit to go into all the School Districts of our County, and, once more, beseech every voter, by all the unutterable woes of the oppressed millions of the South, to consecrate his vote to their deliverance?

Very respectfully, your friend,

GERRIT SMITH.