Item #14411 Gerrit Smith and the Vigilant Association of the City of New-York [wrapper title]. Slavery, Gerrit Smith.

Gerrit Smith and the Vigilant Association of the City of New-York [wrapper title].

New-York: John A. Gray, Printer, 1860. First edition. 16mo, original printed self-wrappers, 29 pages. Some foxing; a couple of small spots of light staining; a very good copy. Item #14411

In the wake of John Brown's Harpers Ferry raid, long-time abolitionist Gerrit Smith (who had been one of the covert backers of the raid--the "Secret Six") was evidently so horrified once he realized the scope of the violence the raid unleashed that he had a breakdown and entered an asylum. Smith returned from his insensibility to find that--perhaps not surprisingly--some northern Democrats had published attacks on his links to the raid. Smith responded by suing for libel, and this pamphlet reproduces correspondence between his son-in-law Charles D. Miller and the subjects of the suit, with extracts from Smith's writings and abolitionist polemics. Sabin 82609; LCP Afro-Americana 9498.

Price: $50.00

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