Do you shrink from our advice—­and say, that obedience to its just requirements would impoverish you?  Infinitely better, that you be honestly poor than dishonestly rich.  Infinitely better to “do justly,” and be a Lazarus; than to become a Croesus, by clinging to and accumulating ill-gotten gains.  Do you add to the fear of poverty, that of losing your honors—­those which are anticipated, as well as those, which already deck your brow?  Allow us to assure you, that it will be impossible for you to redeem “Henry Clay, the statesman,” and “Henry Clay, the orator,” or even “Henry Clay, the President of the United States,” from the contempt of a slavery-loathing posterity, otherwise than by coupling with those designations the inexpressibly more honorable distinction of “HENRY CLAY, THE EMANCIPATOR.”

I remain,

Your friend,

GERRIT SMITH.