Quotes by Gerrit Smith

About Gerrit Smith:

Gerrit Smith was a leading United States social reformer, abolitionist, politician, and philanthropist. Spouse to Ann Carroll Fitzhugh, Smith was a candidate for President of the United States in 1848, 1856, and 1860, but only served 18 months in the federal government—in Congress as a Free Soil Party Representative, in 1853–4.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

But I love honesty, and, therefore; do I make great account of facts.

Gerrit Smith

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.

Gerrit Smith

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.

Gerrit Smith

I prefer, in a word, the republican system, because it comes up more nearly to God's system.

Gerrit Smith

My rights all spring front an infinitely nobler source - from favor and grace of God.

Gerrit Smith

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.

Gerrit Smith

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.

Gerrit Smith

I am a plain man, and I care and know comparatively little about rhetoric.

Gerrit Smith

I do not object to the construction of rail roads and canals.

Gerrit Smith

I need say no more, to prove that slavery is entirely unlike the servitude in the patriarchal families.

Gerrit Smith

It, sometimes, suits the slaveholders to claim, that their slavery is an exclusively State concern; and that the North has, therefore, nothing to do with it.

Gerrit Smith

Let the poor man count as his enemy, and his worst enemy, every invader of the right of free discussion.

Gerrit Smith

Our concern, however, is with slavery as it is, and not with any theory of it.

Gerrit Smith

Our political and constitutional rights, so called, are but the natural and inherent rights of man, asserted, carried out, and secured by modes of human contrivance.

Gerrit Smith

The poor North has much to do with slavery. It staggers under its load and smarts under its lash.

Gerrit Smith

There is room in our ranks for the old and decrepit, as well as the young and vigorous.

Gerrit Smith

But as well may you, when urging a man up-hill with a heavy load upon his back, and with your lash also upon his back, tell him, that be has nothing to do either with the load or the lash.

Gerrit Smith

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.

Gerrit Smith

To no human charter am I indebted for my rights.

Gerrit Smith

To say, that Capt. Ingraham violated the rights of Turkey, is nonsense.

Gerrit Smith

Author Bio

  • NameGerrit Smith
  • DescriptionAmerican abolitionist and politician
  • BornMarch 6, 1797
  • DiedDecember 28, 1874
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionPolitician