Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-04-01
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FRIDAY MORNING. APRIL, l, 1912.
MIR. GIDDlNGS, OF OHIO.


This gentleman has resigned his seat and
gone home to his constituents, for the pur-
pose of being again returned to Congress, as
he doubtless will be, by decided majority.
But were his election dependant upon our
vote, he would remain a private ciizen.-
For, heartily as we condemn erery attempt
of the House to censurc members for dis
charging their duty in their own way-wilh-
in the rules applicable to the subjcct-yet, as
one Of his constituents, VIC would refuse to
ionize a man for AN uncallcd for, reckless,
wanton trifling with an important public in
tcrest (already embarrassed with difficulties
enough and this too, for the manifest mere
purpose of little notority. The case to
which his resolutions applied had been APP
propriately referred to the committee Of for
cign relations, and was matter of ncgotIa-
ton between the two nations-a negotiation
greatly embarrassed by the rude indiscrclon
Of Congress in publishing Mr. Wcbstcr's let
ter, before the ink was fairly dry upon it,
Any attempt therefore, to torcs,all the sub
ect by premature action in the House was
so manicsly uncaled for and indiscreet, as
to find, no apoogists in Congress and pre-
cous few out And yet Mr.. Giddings, as if
in mere wantonness, without consulting a
solitary individual on the subject, introduces
his ill-timed resolutions, gets up storm
and then what why, wrhraws his rcsolu-
tons, and skulks The House toolishly pro-
cecds to censure him, and thereupon he re-
signs, goes home, and appeals to his cons'it
uenls. If his constituents regard the true in
teres,s of the country, they will keep him
there. For il he has no more discretion than
thus to hife with the time Of Congress and
the great interests of the nation, the country
can well dispense with his services. On the
other hand, if he acted conscientiously in
obedience to the dictates of duty in offering
his resolutions, then in Withdrawing them OF
the first manifestation of popular feeling, he
betrayed weakness and want Of mora
courage which totally disquaiiy him for any
great achievements. Mr.. Giddings evident.
" sought to ape Mr.. Adams. But how un'
ike Did that old Patriarch offer 10 with-
: draw the petition that had drawn down upoT
him such atcmpes, of wrath and Indignation
Not he. He spurned the offer. Honesty
e impressed with sense of his duty in thu
matter, he defended his position, single hand
d cd almost and nobly did he triumph. Blu
: in this case, it was all hcartless, reckless
: bravado, resor,ed to for mere notority, ant
+ readily abandoned when that object was at
IS tanned. Thus it is, that Congress fri,ter
l. away its time in worse than idle bickerin
d and rccrinna,ion, while the real neccssi
ID ties of the country are overlooked and neg
IS lec,ed.
.. % We copy the following from the Bosto
20 Daily Advertiser.
m II will be perceived that the House Of Represents
IL tyes has been diverted from the performance OF u
ID legitimate duties Wv the aitrmpt ione of It's member
auparently to see how far he could outrage the eens
n OF a portion of his colleagues, and slgnallze his ST
ii GARD Of the relations which su sist between the sa
)t ~ the Unon Mr. Giddlngs must have known tn
" The proposition offered by him could not be serious
n sustained by the Hon e, and that they would act
Grehrand thrown among the members, 10 intcrru
Of tho business of the House II the propositions sui
r m,l,ed hy hun were mamie silly true as they arc
h C,ct f,lgc and drmorllZng he must have know
i'm, thew could n, be adopted IN the House, and ca
,ed INTO nrartltal operction, consistently with the pr
-cr,ahor oli'c uu!on Il Dhe Sioes What rwro