Feb. 6, 1865: Abolishist - Gerrit Smith to General Ashley

[Tender Thomas Co- Administrator]

  Gerrit was close friends of, Frederick Douglas, John Brown and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

  Nevertheless I would remind them that, in my judgement, the Constitution does already forbid slavery; and that in my judgement Congress has the power to abolish it, and moreover, that my heart was set on far higher and broader work than the abolish of slavery.