A biography for Gerrit Smithhasn’t been written yet.
“When a good man lends himself to the advocacy of slavery, he must, at least for a time, feel himself to be any where but at home, amongst his new thoughts, doctrines, and modes of reasoning.”
“It is not to be disguised, that a war has broken out between the North and the South. - Political and commercial men are industriously striving to restore peace: but the peace, which they would effect, is superficial, false, and temporary.”
“But, although America cannot be justly charged with violating the rights of Turkey, Turkey nevertheless can be justly charged with violating the rights of America.”
“I prefer, in a word, the republican system, because it comes up more nearly to God's system.”
“To say, that Capt. Ingraham violated the rights of Turkey, is nonsense.”
“The Southern slave would obey God in respect to marriage, and also to the reading and studying of His word. But this, as we have seen, is forbidden him.”
“I need say no more, to prove that slavery is entirely unlike the servitude in the patriarchal families.”
“But I love honesty, and, therefore; do I make great account of facts.”
“God cannot approve of a system of servitude, in which the master is guilty of assuming absolute power - of assuming God's place and relation towards his fellow-men.”
“There is one class of men, whom it especially behoves to be tenacious of the right of free discussion. I mean the poor.”
“I am a plain man, and I care and know comparatively little about rhetoric.”
“Let us tell our legislators in advance, that this is a right, restraints on which, we will not, cannot bear; and that every attempt to restrain it is a palpable wrong on God and man.”