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February, 1861.     DOUGLASS' MONTHLY.      405
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pretend to walk under divine illumination--come, we say, and do the work better.  Don't stand off, with folded arms, refusing to lift a finger to break the chains of the slave, and then use your every opportunity to blast and destroy the reputation of every man who, true to nature and nature's God, endeavors to hurl the burdens of bondage and ignorance from the persons of four millions of his fellow creatures.
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DEATH OF JOHN H. SMOTHERS, OF TROY.
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DIED, suddenly, at his residence in Troy, JOHN H. SMOTHERS, aged 54 years.

When, as in this instance, we are called upon to mourn the sudden loss of a near friend--one who possessed the respect of all who knew him--we feel for a time sad and melancholy, and grieve to think that we have sustained an irreparable loss.  But as time passes away, and the sharp edge of grief becomes worn, we think of the quiet and peaceful manner in which his life was passed; we recall to mind his manly simple acts of kindness, and we dwell upon his sincere piety and evident willingness to meet death, and feel that he has gone to that

'Happy land, far, far away!'

We contemplate the sad event with composure and resignation, and often whisper one to another, 'I would not wish him back.'  The subject of these few lines had been a resident of Troy for more than a quarter of a century, and had always borne an excellent reputation.  Occupying a humble sphere in life, yet sufficiently exalted to make him a useful member of the community, he had, by his quiet, unobtrusive, respectful, yet dignified manner, made many warmly attached friends; and his unexpected decease has made a void in a large circle of acquaintances, which, they justly feel, can never be filled.  By his honesty and industry, he had acquired a small competence, yet hardly had he entered into a full enjoyment of it, ere he was suddenly stricken down.  A little over one year ago, Mr. S. had the sad misfortune to lose his oldest child.  The blow was a heavy one, yet he bore it with meekness and pious resignation.  She, too, possessed piety and gentleness in an eminent degree.  He often spoke of her, and loved to dwell upon her many virtues, yet little thought that hardly a year would elapse ere he would join her in a better land.  But both are gone--the one leaving behind a tender wife and darling children, and the other a loving mother and gentle sisters, to contend with the trials and adversities of    i life.  We sympathize with this family in their [[superscript]]s[[/superscript]] great bereavement, knowing that they will find comfort and consolation in that Book of Books, wherein it is written that 'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.  Blessed is the name of the Lord.'        B.A.B.
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With the foregoing touching notice of the death of our late friend, Mr. SMOTHERS, written by one who appreciated his unostentatious worth, and sympathized with him in the afflictions and trials of his valued life, we unite our humble testimony, and the expression of a deep sense of bereavement in his sudden and unexpected removal from among the living, and our sympathy with his affectionate family, to whom he was a staff of support, and an example of goodness.  Our whole people have met with a loss in the death of JOHN H. SMOTHERS.  His uprightness, energy, benevolence and manly character were a perpetual contradiction to the allegations of prejudice against the colored race.  His heart was ever keenly alive to the burdens and hardships heaped upon the oppressed.  On the day before his death, the writer of this conversed
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with him, at his house, on the present state of the country, and upon our condition and prospects.  His sentiment and advice, in this threatening state of affairs, was to stand still and see the salvation of God.
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FRIENDLY VOICES.
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It is quite cheering to receive, in these times of despondency and gloom, while men are disowning the common sentiments of human nature, and Abolitionists are, if possible, more hated and persecuted than thirty years ago, all to purchase what everybody knows can only prove in the end a deceitful and transient peace with slavery--such letters as the following, counseling a steady adhesion to principles, and a brave and constant assertion of the truth.  While we have a paper, and a voice, we shall continue to deserve the confidence and the co-operation of all men who still have faith in truth, love for the race, and believe in the final triumph of justice and goodness over all forms of wrong and cruelty, and the complete and universal emancipation of mankind from every form of bondage.  A friend at Greigsville, N.Y., sends us his subscription, and says:

'You have sown in tears; you shall reap in joy.  You have gone forth in the morning, bearing precious seed; you shall doubtless return again with joy, bringing your sheaves with you.  The harvest looks ripe; shall we find the fruit of liberty?  Has the lord heard their cry, and will he now deliver the poor and needy out of the hand of the oppressor?  May our Heavenly Father hasten it in his good time!'

E.T., writing from Senecaville, O., says:

'Success to the right!  Let us have the "truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," and may God sustain you in it!  Yours, for the immediate and unconditional emancipation of the last slave, and the restoration of every colored man to the enjoyment of all his rights.'

A well-known principal of one of our most thriving educational institutes on the Hudson writes:

'I hear from you through your monthly, and feel a deep interest in you and your movments, though I presume you know nothing of me or my movements.  I am the same friend of the oppressed as when we journeyed together in Northern New York, three years ago.'

A dear friend at Messengerville, N.Y., remarks:

'I am old and feeble, and have but a little while to tarry.  While these eyes can see to read your paper, and I can raise a dollar, I shall not consent to its absence.'

J.R.B., of White Creek, says:

'I have no fault to find with your paper, but that it does not always reach me; and I am sorry to be deprived of the reading, especially at this time.'

We can assure our friend that the paper is mailed regularly, and that the fault does not rest with us.  In a postscript, a friend at Colosse, N.Y., says:

'May God speed the time when American slavery, the blot on our national escutcheon, and the blot on our national flag, shall have passed away!  His judgments are resting on this guilty nation.  I hope Canada will not give up Anderson.  One of the Judges has stood manfully up for the right.'

A Galesburg, Ill., subscriber writes:

'I wish you success in your endeavors, and have great confidence that you are doing your people a great deal of good.  I was much pleased
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with the view you took of the Constitution of the United States when in England.  It was correct.  Our Constitution is an anti-slavery instrument; but our Supreme Court, being a set of slave propagandists, are endeavoring to construe it into a pro-slavery document.  We must resist it even to revolution if necessary.'

An old friend, writing from Cazenovia, N.Y., says:

'Poor as I am, I must take your paper.  In some respects, you are better qualified to publish an Abolition paper than any other man in the United States.  I am sad in view of the low ground occupied by the Republicans.  A party to be an anti-slavery party, MUST be an Abolition party.  Go on, Bro. D., deal sure and heavy blows.'

A friend at Southford, Southern Illinois, concludes a letter to us as follows:

'It is my ill luck at present to live in the darkest corner of Egypt.  As I am about the only Abolitionist in the place, your journal is a standing offence to those lovers of mental and moral darkness.  They have already made their boasts that the Editor had to flee to England to save his neck, and the paper must eventually die out.  If my influence is of any account, I am willing to sustain that able vindicator of the rights of our oppressed people.  I am now trying to get up a club, and the prospects look favorable at present.  I hope I shall succeed in adding a few names to your subscription list.'

From Seneca Falls a friend says:

'I am glad to hear that you have not wholly relinquished the publication of your paper, and wish you success in conducting it in its present form.  I am too poor to do what my feelings prompt me to do in behalf of this enierprise I have so long cherished in an humble way; but you have my best wishes, and I will do what I can from time to time.'

Speaking of the change of our paper from weekly to monthly, an old subscriber at Meredith writes:

'Now you have room, friend Douglass, give us some of your sledge-hammer arguments against the sum of all villainies.  Now don't let your monthly dwindle to half size and break down again.  Give yourself room, and swing clear of all, friend or foe, and battle for the right.'

A valued friend at Rose, N.Y., says:

'Having taken your paper for a number of years, and been privileged in reading much that you have written on the slavery question, I need not say it has been a feast of fat things; but nothing that has fallen from your pen meets with a more hearty commendation from me, than the article in your November number, headed "New trouble between old friends."--It is just the thing needed at this time, and I thank you for it.'

From Cadez, Ind., we receive the following:

'Although I am sorry that the weekly was obliged to be suspended, I rejoice that the monthly will be continued to advocate the rights of man.  I do not feel at liberty to withhold my support from so worthy an advocate.'

S.F., of Syracuse, writes:

'My last paper was marked, "Time out."--I know I ought not to have waited for the monitor, as the Jerry Rescue--a large day in the calendar--is the date of my commencement.--Money in Wall Street is worth 3 per cent. per month; I enclose stamps for interest at rates a shade better.  I go for secession, and moving the Canada line down to David Wilmot's.'

C.J., of Albion, writes:

'Go on in your noble work!  The Revolution is again at hand, and slavery's days are numbered.  Count me in as a life subscriber.'
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