Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-05


thst the doctIinei and this because II eurtails the
freedom of speech The freedom Of speech on the
tart Of majority may be eurtailed, but you must
rot interfere with the freedom OF speech on the part
Of an abotionist. Does that class command 30
much respect in this nation that they, and they only,
are not TO be rebuked for miscondue Arc South
ern men to sit tsmely by and hear their slaves in
vted to instruction, and offer no resistance, express
no opinionsi
In what manner, let me ask, does a resolution Of
dsapprobation Of the course Of a memb deprive
nm OF any OF his rights or prviegesf The tesig
nation of member is his own act-he has deprlvec
himself Of the right to hold a seat in Congress. The
resignation of MIR Giddings was unlimited, but un.
lamented To be sure-intended for etect-out OF
which capital be made for the abolitionists.
Martyrdom was to be the cry! And here comes
| our own presses TO Join IN the crusade.
Suppose tho vote of censure TO have pissed, and
MIR Giddinss had not resigned, would he not this
day have been in the full enjoyment Of all the
rights and privileges which attach TO any other
member Of the body1 Then Why this effort to
excite sympathy in his behalf what has Con
sress done bu, TO express their disappro6sIion OF
his course1 Has not the ln,eiigencer done as
mueh7 We pass one censure; they two-hrst on
MIR Giddings, and then on Congress.
tic asked for legislative action, and the
House was obliging enough to accommodate him,
though nos perhaps in the shape he expected or
desired IT,
Some other gentlemen have since taken occasion
TO express in the public prints their entire concur
been tauntnsly asked why oresolution OF censure
was not introduced TO all who express ihese
timents ? The ans~er IS simple. These pgbliea-
tiOas they may have the right to make; tall ever
II Is not matter for Congress 10 medje witt; but
II they wish 10 put the 6rmn- and sincerity OF tho
House To the test, and have other occasions for the
cry OF mattyrGoni, let them present similar rcSou
tons to the body. and am deceived II their temeriy
and contempt OF that body does not brin: upon them
the same or more serious Consequences
Df.st M. -,fft 1,s. ~ 81
preamble adopted assumes the principle that rs
patriotic TO question the correctness Of grounds
sumed by any high tunctonasy OF this Govern
ment.
The Editors ofihe lnielliseneer have always been
remarkable as conductors OF pubic journal for
their fairness and eanJ,t; aud sIbmI 10 them
Whether this IS far statement OF tie principles
assumed m that preamble.
y ssste of Is reeitej in that preamble. 10
wit: That the Government haS taken lis position
with foreign Power on THIS deitca'e question.
which IS now a subject 81 nee,iAoon between the
two coun;r1es that At such a un,-. and rnCsr svch
circumstances, anv attempt 10 create exc rsni,
dissatisfaction and DIV ar, >ns TIE people O: the
Untec States ought % he 6is-onngenaUccd, an
thu; ihIs Vas the only effect - es accom- pushed bN
the inircduction OF sron sentiments N hostility 10
he position assumed by tse g fsre;iousry having
IN charge thus de,ieaie AMI Important jrust.
Does this amount 20 brose declaration tha; u s
uLpaiTioie 10 question the correctness u the grounds
assumed ~ high fGnc,iouary 81 The Government
No, al; and it vas not fair 50 &c eAarae:eri-e Il;
hat Is privilege that the writer oi this article not
only claims, bot has exercised for himself, end
would oe the last 20 oeny 10 others.
Many efforts ore made 10 excite sympathy in
behalf OF this distutber Of the public peace. by
making itappear that he was denied all opportunity
TO defend himself II u had been so, II would not
have been nonsrous as at the first blush II ri-ht
appear. The offence had been committed in the
presence Of the Hous-; they were acquainted with
all the circumstances, end they might well have
said: ave want TO hear no Justification Of the
'horrid and horrible doctrines contained in these
'reso .utonsi you cannot satisfy that to
the Constitution Is virtue; You cannot sntisfy us
that mulIny and murder not criminal offences
deserving punishment" Well might the House
have said: eve will not tolerate a defence founded
on the assumption that Madison Washington, the
ielon slave who committed the murder was, in the
language OF Mr. Giddnss's iellow-laborer OF the
hero and q patriot"
But was II 81! IL certainly was not. The House
sustained the call for the previous question to cut
of general debate; and, question Of order they
decided, and decided correctly, that it cut off Mr.
GddIngs, with the rest Of the House, from debate
as matter OF right; but matter OF courtesy
he was, by unanimous consent, invited 10 defend
himself: which he declined, because he had 10
defence TO offer. which appears by his own publish
ed card IN the lntellsencer of the next day. which
$ here appended. So let US hear no mere about
his denial of the right OF defence.
Nor let me hear again OF the intolerance OF slavery
The censnre could not have been passed by the
votes OF the slave States alone There were forty.
,i1 from The free States who CALAMITY battled in
defence OF Southern rights, IN condemnng the un.
pardonable outrage that had been committed.
A MEMBER.
The following is the card published by Mr. Gid
1ngs as what he would have said # the previous
question had not been called by which II will an
pear that he had defence to offer a, that time
but which the papers Of the North who sympathize !
with Mr. G. AXE especial TO omit, as fer as
nave them
"Mr GIDDINGS then rose and said stand
before the House IN p culiar situation
MIR M. A. COOPER objected TO MIR G s pro
ceeding; but, at the reques, oil his colleagues MIR
G. withdrew his objections.
But MIR Giddines did not resume the floor
The following note addressed TO the Repor.
ter Ivy MIR Giddings:
T. tie R'perier Of ne Nation al IHieis.neer-
When rose so often during the confusion OF tn
proceedings of the House this day. and was so often
called TO order, the ast time by Mr. Cooper. of
Georgia, | had written, and desired to have stated
TO the House whl, follows
MIR Speaker ! stand before the House IN \ pe-
culiar situation. IL s proposed TO pass = vofe of
eensure upon me, substantially for the reason thstI
dter IN opinion from majority Of the members /
The vote is about TO lie taken without eiyins me
time to be heard. II would be idle for me 10 saw \
That am ignorant OF ne disposition Of siory |
TO pass the resolution. Ihave been violently nssa.
ed IN personal manner, but have had no oppor
tuniiy OF being heard in reply. DO not now stand
here 10 ask for any favor crave any mercy nj
the hands OF the members. But, in the name Of
an insulted cCnstItuency-in behalf Of one OF the
sovereign States Of this Unon--in behalf Of the
People Of these States and the Federal Constitution
Il demand a hearing agreenby TO the rights qua
ranted 10 me, and IN the ordinary mode of proceed.
ing. accep, Of no other privilege | will receive
no other courtesyl
And the question recurring rst on the adoption
Of the following resolution
Resolved, That this House hold the conduct of
the said member as altogether unwarranted nd un-
warranthole, and deserving the severe condemnation
OF the People Of this country, and Of this body in
particular.
Mr. srANLY asked the yeas and nays, which
were ordered.
Mr. w. w. IRWIN asked to lie excused from
voting, assigning (amidst some interposition on
question OF order,) his reasons therefore bu, the
House would not excuse him.
Mr. CAMPBELL, Of South Csrollna. said he
Wished Il to be generally understood that no obiec
ton had been made 70 the gentleman from, Ohio|
MI "lddingsl proceeding IN his defence.
Carolina is NOT in order.
me question on said resolution was then taken.
and decided IN the affirmative: Yeas i25. nav, GU
From the staunton Spectator.
Monday last, being Court day, and an unu,uollv
large number Of the people ~ the county being IN
! Town, our Senator, John III. Pcyion, ESQ and our
delegates, Messrs Kinney and Brooke. who mad
lust returned from Richmond, were called upon 10
address their fellow citizens in relation In tbe IN,
portani subjects before the Legislature Al Id. recent
session-which they did, az considerable length.
n ga ref uefr