Gerrit Smith Quotes & Sayings (Page 2)

“True, permanent peace can never be restored, until slavery, the occasion of the war, has ceased.”

“God cannot approve of a system of servitude, in which the master is guilty of assuming absolute power - of assuming God's place and relation towards his fellow-men.”

“As this is the first time I have had the floor, it may be well for me now to confess, that I am in the habit of freely imputing errors to my fellow-men.”

“It is not to be disguised, that a war has broken out between the North and the South. - Political and commercial men are industriously striving to restore peace: but the peace, which they would effect, is superficial, false, and temporary.”

“It, sometimes, suits the slaveholders to claim, that their slavery is an exclusively State concern; and that the North has, therefore, nothing to do with it.”

“Our political and constitutional rights, so called, are but the natural and inherent rights of man, asserted, carried out, and secured by modes of human contrivance.”

“But I love honesty, and, therefore; do I make great account of facts.”

“I do not subscribe to the doctrine that the people are the slaves and property of their government. I believe that government is for the use of the people, and not the people for the use of the government.”

“I believe that government is for the use of the people, and not the people for the use of the government.”

“I do not object to the construction of rail roads and canals.”