J[ohn] Sella Martin to Frederick Douglass, September 17, 1858

GERRIT SMITH AT BUFFALO.

Hon. Gerrit Smith's meeting in this city on the afternoon and evening of the 16th was a perfect triumph, both in the thoroughness of the "[illegible]," as he calls it, and the genuineness of the [illegible] elicited. The questions were similar to those put to him all over the State, excepting, perhaps, the studied ingenuity of the questions; but need I tell you that he answered even the most abstruse with the utmost triumph and satisfaction in the most simple and yet exalted language? To the question, "Where will you find a precedent for the removal of a Judge, because he does not agree with you in law?"—he answered, "I would make a precedent; for," said he, "if I had not been a believer in the superiority of law over precedent, I would not be before you to-night." But without taking up space in detail, allow me to say that even his opponents admired (and expressed such admiration in the utmost warmth) that magnanimity which evinced itself even where his sense of justice compelled him to be severe.

It seems to me, my friend, that there is no room for doubt in regard to our support of Mr. Smith, for even though it be a fact that every vote cast for him will weaken the Republican candidate one, and strengthen the Democratic candidate two, duty demands that we should preserve first our consistency, by voting for the candidate who pledges himself, if elected, (and in whose integrity we have the most unlimited confidence,) to do all in his power for liberty.—And second, even though it is almost certain he will not be elected, to teach the party whose election we may prevent, by our consistence and adherence to principle, to respect the power that Abolitionists can wield, and hence make them take higher ground in regard to Temperance and Freedom.

But I see no wisdom in the assertion of our friends that they would vote for our candidate if they could elect him, but, entertaining this fear, withhold their votes from the best man in the field, who was so acknowledged in the meeting last night, and by implication at other points where he has spoken; and the reason why I do not, is because if every voter who believes in him to be the only candidate that claims our suffrage rather from principle than expediency, would vote for him, then we would be certain of every Abolition vote—and in this connection, with the fact that it is very likely the Temperance Convention will re-nominate him as their candidate, which would go far to insure his election. I received this intelligence from the highest source of authority and information, no longer than ten days ago, in Bethlehem of this State, where I had the honor to lecture, viz: that they would adopt as their candidate the best temperance man put up. I think Buffalo Abolitionists will go for Mr. Smith—nay, I am certain of it.

J. SELLA MARTIN.

BUFFALO, Sept. 17th, 1858.