man.” But the same Christian impulse to serve and protect his fellow men, led Gerrit Smith toward social activism. Abolition was simply an outgrowth of helping another of God’s creatures to Smith. The threat of death against abolitionists who fought the Fugitive Slave Law, in estimation, is simply a threat of murdering men, being a Smith’s “for Christians.” Helping slave, Smith continued in his 1851 address to the Liberty Party of Madison County, was none less than, that, which we cannot refuse to do, and yet be men and I refuse “doing Christians.” “If to unite with my neighbors in concealing a poor innocent brother from the monsters, who would plunge him into the pit of Smith continued, most certainly do I trample on my slavery,” “then, manhood, and deny my Smith knew the consequences for antislavery actions well, in God.” spite of the fact they contradicted the word of Smith concluded, I Christ. “Nevertheless,” “unless do refuse these services, Millard Fillmore and his associates would have me hung.” Furthermore, Smith contended, the President of the United States, have me hung, “would notwithstanding they know, that the Common Father of men commands these services at my hands.” Where there were white men willing to eschew their Christian duty, however, Smith noted that blacks were quickly rising to the challenge. half million of free blacks in this “The Nation and in Canada, hitherto patient, beyond all parallel, under the insults and outrages heaped upon Smith reminded his Madison County constituents and friends, at last, giving them,” “are, signs, that they will for their No sign, to Smith, was as potent a bellwether of this ‘stand life.’” fact than the, and beautiful bearing of the black men of Syracuse, who, on the ever “brave memorable first day of October, perilled their lives for the rescue of their abused brother.” Smith prayed, all of the half million may have the manliness and courage “Heaven grant,” “that
man.” But the same Christian impulse to serve and protect his fellow men, led Gerrit Smith toward social activism. Abolition was simply an outgrowth of helping another of God’s creatures to Smith. The threat of death against abolitionists who fought the Fugitive Slave Law, in Smith’s estimation, is simply a threat of murdering men, “for being Christians.” Helping a slave, Smith continued in his 1851 address to the Liberty Party of Madison County, was none less than, “doing that, which we cannot refuse to do, and yet be men and Christians.” “If I refuse to unite with my neighbors in concealing a poor innocent brother from the monsters, who would plunge him into the pit of slavery,” Smith continued, “then, most certainly do I trample on my manhood, and deny my God.” Smith knew the consequences for antislavery actions well, in spite of the fact they contradicted the word of Christ. “Nevertheless,” Smith concluded, “unless I do refuse these services, Millard Fillmore and his associates would have me hung.” Furthermore, Smith contended, the President of the United States, “would have me hung, notwithstanding they know, that the Common Father of men commands these services at my hands.” Where there were white men willing to eschew their Christian duty, however, Smith noted that blacks were quickly rising to the challenge. “The half million of free blacks in this Nation and in Canada, hitherto patient, beyond all parallel, under the insults and outrages heaped upon them,” Smith reminded his Madison County constituents and friends, “are, at last, giving signs, that they will ‘stand for their life.’” No sign, to Smith, was as potent a bellwether of this fact than the, “brave and beautiful bearing of the black men of Syracuse, who, on the ever memorable first day of October, perilled their lives for the rescue of their abused brother.” “Heaven grant,” Smith prayed, “that all of the half million may have the manliness and courage