“Will this nation be saved? Will it be saved from its hard heart –its heart to oppress and enslave?” These were the questions asked by this man when he addressed his audience at Cooper Union in New York City in December 1862. At a congressional inquiry about John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry, it is reported that he gave “a check for one hundred dollars... to Brown, was handed by him directly, in part payment, to the manufacturer of the pikes with which the slaves were to have been armed. This gentleman, Mr. Smith, is known to the country as a man of large wealth and a liberal contributor to this pretended ‘cause’ ”. Senate Report No. 36-278 (1860)
Gerritt Smith pictured above was a friend and confidant of Frederick Douglas who had faith that Smith’s tenure in Congress would bring about remarkable change for “he will strip the vile thing (Slavery) of all gospel, constitutional and legal countenance, and will treat it as it ought to be treated—a system of violence and blood, no better than piracy. Murder itself will get as much respect from him as Slavery; for, to him, Slavery is murder”. "Article 1 -- no Title." New York Daily Times (1851-1857): 2. Jul 25 1853. ProQuest. Web. 13 Feb. 2018 .
In honor of Black History month we celebrate those who fought through words, actions or deeds for the cause of freedom and justice. For details about this and other unrelated images, please visit our CONTENTdm Illustrations database.
