Gerrit Smith
In n letter of Aug. b. to in. juoore 01 nnmplain, N. Y. Mr. Smith writes as a reaon for not attendinc; a Conveniion, "Sinte the Liberty party has subseribed to the doctrine of voting for proslavery men. I have nn doriro to aticnd its meetings. Umil the iast nine inonths. I had taken it for granted, that not to voto for a proalavery men was a settled, imniovable, nevei, no never-to bo-departed-from doctrine of the Liberty party. But, I learned iny miatake, when 1 found, ibnt most of the membo:s of the Liborty party in tliis Stnteandm st of tho Liberty party newspapers in tlie nation wcre in [nvor ot voting fwr proslnvery men to construct tho fundamental and orgnnic law of the State of New York. 1 had another nnd vc.-y painiul proof of this mistake, when I sasv the Liberty party members of tho New Hampshire Legislature voting for a proslavery mnn for Governor of thcir State- for a man, who, whatever his words, is. nevertheloss, pro&lavery in hisinñuence, so long, as he votes for the buyera and pellets of men.- And siill more painful waa my mistake, when I found. that not one of the Liberty party ne.vspa(ten, which 1 had secn. excopting the Albnny Patriot, disapproved of this conduct of the Liberty party members of the New Hampshire Legislature. "1 cannot voto for men-thievc3 T cannoi vote for those, who think men-thicves fit for civil ruiers. i havo no desiro to attend the meetings : yf a pnrty. whiih is iriiilty of sucb gróts inconsistency with thoobviousrequirementsot Itepub ücanism and Chrielianity. "I do not yet despair of the Liberty party.- 1 have so long looked to il, ns tho last great hope undcr God for the peacuful uboliiion of American slavery. that I cannot yet give it up. I musà belicvc. that it will spuedily retrace its ruinous step, and prove tiself the true-hearted. uncompromising. ond cffcctivo fri end of sluve. wliich thpy. who foundeJ it, coiifidently expected il woulü be."
Article
Subjects
Gerrit Smith
Liberty Party
Anti Slavery
Abolition
Letters
Politics
Old News
Signal of Liberty
N. Moore