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Collection Reference Number GLC00267.208
From Archive Folder Documents Relating to 1859 
Title Gerrit Smith and the Vigilant Association of the City of New-York
Date 1860
Author Miller, Charles D. (1818-1896)  
Document Type Pamphlet; Correspondence
Content Description Reprinting of the correspondence of a dispute between Gerrit Smith and the Vigilant Association of the City of New-York. Miller attacks the Association for implying in its "Manifesto" that Smith supported the violence at Harpers Ferry. Says that Smith would never condone violence, even to free slaves. Insists Smith had no prior knowledge of the Harpers Ferry plan, or any plan for violence. Miller says he is writing because Smith is too sick to write himself. Correspondence is with Royal Phelps and Samuel L. M. Barlow. Text taken "From the Syracuse Journal." An appendix summarizes what Miller claims are Smith's actual views on abolition. Published by John A. Gray. Fearing that he might be put on trial for his connection with John Brown, Smith made every effort to deny his involvement in the Harpers Ferry raid and destroy private documents linking him and Brown. For a time he even lost his sanity over these events.
Subjects Abolition  Slavery  African American History  John Brown  Law  
People Miller, Charles Dudley (1818-1896)  
Place written New York, New York
Theme Government & Politics; Law; Slavery & Abolition; African Americans
Sub-collection The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information Charles D. Miller was Gerrit Smith's son in law. He took part in covering Smith's connection to Brown and destroying the evidence that linked Smith to the Harpers Ferry raid. Gerrit Smith was a member of the Secret Six, the group that helped fund John Brown and his raid on Harpers Ferry.
Copyright The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859