Gerrit Smith: Abolitionist

Gerrit Smith: Abolitionist. . The reform to which Smith applied the most resources was abolition., “The great delight I take in purchasing Liberty of slaves...None of my expenditures of money have brought me more gladness of heart.” -Gerrit Smith in Letter to Ezekiel Birdseye, July 8, 1845, Syracuse University Special Collections, .Purchase of Freedom , Smith spent thousands of dollars to purchase the freedom of slaves who were sent to Peterboro where the Smiths, fed, clothed, and helped train them, and helped them find work. He expected nothing in return., “I have not a moral right to receive it....I am rich, + they are poor and this is reason enough, why I decline to receive it.” -Gerrit Smith Letter to John Mason, November 21, 1846, Syracuse University Special Collections, Smith was criticized by some of his colleagues for giving funds directly to individual persons as opposed to donating larger sums to organizations and societies with missions. Even during the depression (Panic of 1837) he provided funds for freedom:, $450 paid to Mr. Woodbin for a slave. “My heart yearns toward him. I want to comfort him - and I want to see him usefully employed at the North.” -Gerrit Smith Letter to Ezekiel Birdseye, December 21, 1840, Syracuse University Collections, “I have paid the present year between four + five thousand dollars in the purchase of the Liberty of slaves.” -Gerrit Smith in Letter to Nathaniel Crenshaw, December 30, 1841, Syracuse University Collections, In 1841 Gerrit and Ann Smith paid $3,500 for the freedom of the Russell family who came to Peterboro and whose descendants continue to live in the area., “I buy 9 slaves at $750.00 per slave - $6,750.00, September 28, 1842.” - a note in Smith’s handwriting - Syracuse University Special Collections, “$500 to Mr. Davis to purchase one slave called ‘the captain’” -Gerrit Smith to Ezekiel Birdseye, July 8, 1845, Syracuse University Special Collections, “March 8, 1854 - I gave Basil Hall to help buy wife + children - $15.00” , “March 15, 1854 - I give Ellen Lee to help her purchase her liberty - $10.00.” , - Smith 1854 Account Book, Syracuse University Special Collections, .Aiding the Fugitives , The Smiths opened their Peterboro home as a station on the Underground Railroad to hundreds of fugitive slaves., .Aiding Abolition , Smith gave money to the abolitionists for traveling expenses and publications. By the mid 1840s, according to his own calculations, Smith had contributed over fifty thousand dollars (equivalent to $3,750,000 in 2010) to antislavery movement., William Lloyd Garrison believed that dissolving the Union was the only way to win emancipation. Gerrit Smith believed that the Union should be preserved and that the Constitution prohibited slavery., Smith helped to organize anti-slavery conventions in many New York communities. His oratory and money were sought throughout the Northeast., Smith offered liberal funding to abolitionist newspapers over long periods of time, especially the efforts of his close friend Frederick Douglass with his North Star and Frederick Douglass’ Paper.