The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-02
MR.. GIDDINGs-AGAIN.

union" and making variety Of other statements
equally absurd and irrational. In reply to all this
we only said that we wondered how MIR Gddings
could come to Washington, and sit inN Congress
and take his eight dollars day for doing so, if he
really believed that the Union and the constitution
were broken up, and with Them Of course, the RICH,
| Of Congress to hold sessions at all We omitted
then to say, what is true, that can be foolish
enough to bstisr. what Mr.. Giddings asserts, and
that therefore Mr.. Giddings's publication must be
wholly fallacious The wonder is, how he dares
venture TO be SO barefsced, and openly TO convict
himself in his gross inconsistency.
In reply to our first article upon this subject
which was altogether less severe than the occasion
would have justified, Mr.. Giddings has sent US the
following letter:
Hall or RErREsESTArIvEs,
July |, 1886
To the Editor Of The Union:
SIh: Had the article relating to myself contained
| in your paper of last evening, emanat.d from any
other source than from an officer Of this House. its
| arrogant tone and offensive language would have
| forbidden any notice whatever from me. 1t is,
therefore, no part OF my present purpose TO exam
either the terms used the sentiments express
! ed in the paragraph alluded to; Of these the public
will Judge. You and have lived to an age when
our readers expect from sound reasoning instead
of defamation, logic instead Of denunciaton.
therefore call on you, gentleman and an officer
of this body TO place my letter to which you refer
before your readers, and then TO show To them the
/ definite point on which you base your EXCEPTIONS
place the specific error which II contains before the
public point them to the fallacy of my reasoning,
and hold up to them the absurdity Of my conclu.
sions. II you feel that such a task may be easily
accomplished, am sure you will at once enter upon
Il. But If you deem it an undertaking too difficult
| for man OF your age and experience trust you
will at the propnety Of Withdrawing an ar
| lice which am sure your own judgment will pro-
nounce disrespectful, when coming from an OFF,
Ger of the House Of Representatives, and having
| reference to a member Of that body.
Yours,
J. r. GIDDINGS
The purpor ofthis civil note is to ask to rePub-
lish Mr. Giddngss publication for the sake Of refu-
| ting it. We shall do no such thing for the plain
reason that it is not worth reflting But by way Of
showing what Mr.. Giddings has seen fit to write
we will give few short extracts from his public let,
| ter:
! "Ths several States heretofore forming the Amer
| lean Union now acting with Texas IN volun-
| tary association, without any written compact OF
| union. This central government is neither author
zed nor restrained in the exercise Of its powers by
any express limitation 1t is true that we yet speak
Of the constitution, and refer TO it though it was
| now in force. The people appear unconscious that
il has ceased TO protect them. No sudden revolution
has aroused them consciousness that their rights
| are subverted But how stands the record Of mmu-
table truth In less than twenty days from the fna
passage Of the resolutions connecting these States
| with Texas orders issued by the Executive,
directing our army to advance into the territory Of
Mexico, with whom we at peace, and to take
| a position on Mexican soil"
Does Mr.. Giddngs imagine that we have nothing
better to do than to attempt to reason dovn such
nonsense as this But here is another specimen Of
the same precious stuff
81 repeat that Ohio is party to no subsist-
ing Union: to people, Therefore, belongs the pre-
rogative Of debating the future policy Of State
They may, if they choose, demand of our legisla-
ture the passage of law enabling them to express
their views in regard to the propriety of entering
| into union with Texas. Or, alb
| solved from all connexion with the slave States, we
may remain free from all further political alliances
| with them. We may form u union with such of the
other free States shall prefer union ,oilh free
| men, and discard all further political association
with the institution of slavery. In such a union
can foresee stability Of legislation, observance OF
our constitutional compact and regard to those
'sef-evident truths on which free governments are
formed"
| And this is the language Of man who comes to
Washington to represent portion of the people OF
Ohio in the Congress of the United States! Where
| il the dsceney of such language in such a
| positions What paliiaiion has Mr.. Giddings to
offer for thus lifting parrcidal arm against that
union of the States, which is the very life Of this
country Mr.. Giddings wishes US to reason with
him on the subject. We say the very least that can
be said in reply to such request, when say that
| the case is not a case to be reasoned Nth.
Mr.. Giddngs seems himself to have an uneasy
consciousness that there is something wrong in
| his present position. Here is what he says about
a re- election to Congress:
"But evidently entertaining the opinion that our
State will become q party to the confederacy,
| you inquire whether will again accept nomina-
| ton to Congressi 1t has been my wish oil
expectation to remain in Congress longer than tc
fill out my present term. Friends from different part,
Of our district have written requesting me to with
hold any refusal of nomination, and to leave thu
subject in the hands Of the electors. In answer tc
these letters, expressed desire to withdraw from
| a position which l assure you has brought with
it more labor, more soliciude, and more RESPONSE
bity than any other in which it has been my for
tune to be placed, and to give an opportunity t.
some one Of the able and faithful wings Of ou'
| district, who are laudably ambitious to serve ou
| country in Congress, and who doubt not would dc
with credit to themselves and to their constituents
With this expression of my own feelings left thu
subject to the disposal Of people. Since that m
the aspect of our national affairs has undergone
material change. We have suddenly been precipi
| tated into an unholy and dishonorable war. fee
convinced, most reluctantly convinced, that tn
body of which am now a member, will hereafter
do little more than to register the edc,s of presi
dental usurper. and carry out the designs of al
! ELECTED MONARCH; that the utmost that any whis
representative from our State or from any of tn
free States can do, will be to inform our pco
pie Of facts, and to unveil to their view thu
i crimes and corruptions Of a profigate admin
istraiion Of this central power which is now
unrcstrained by moral or constitutional limita
| tons. These circumstances have thrown around
the Office now hold new difficulties and respons 81
bes, and have increased my desire for retirement
| while am fully conscious that my country posses
sea the highest claim to my services if demanded
With this expression Of my own feelings, | aga
leave the subject with those whose right is to dis
/ pose Of it."