Letter from Gerrit Smith to Lewis Tappan
Description
A letter from Gerrit Smith acknowledging Lewis Tappan's letter of March 14 and finding its contents of interest to him and his family. He longs to see the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Reporter Extra and "particularly the letter of Kale." Smith writes that he desires the Africans "in the event of their liberation" to remain in the United States for one or two years to learn more English and of Jesus "to prepare themselves to be greater blessings to their countrymen." If their stay would not lead to their moral improvement, then they should be hurried away. Smith would love to attend the meeting that Tappan proposes as the "moral "the anti-slavery" influence of such a meeting could not fail to be great." He writes that he is glad Tappan speaks well of Mr. Slade and Mr. [Sherman M.] Booth. Smith had written to Joshua Leavitt to express his high opinion of the Reporter. Smith wishes that Tappan had formed a "simple committee" instead of a "new society" as he dislikes "the machinery of our Antislavery Societies" and that William Lloyd Garrison and the Old Society would not "have been so full of fight toward" a small committee as a "rival society." If the Emancipator becomes the organ of the new society, Smith hopes it will not advocate for "independent antislavery [nominations?]."