New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-03-01
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE.
Of ibr gb.rtittb eougrtss....No.

g. - Auy that grace oar country Annals inc
Y ,dyaotsges Of sober conduct Of pelsoyeriDg labor
| sfseltcul,iya,ion are portrayed better nowhere -
From the devotion with which he ever applied n'm-
self 10 his studies and h the duties Of bis position
i would seem ss If he had entertained precedence
! rf the career that ley before him.
4 His youth serious yet rot aUstere ardent e'ss-
re and determined, revealed the destiny Ibis ma
turer years In honesty Of purpose capacity Of sp-
phcstion and laborioUs habits the boy was father
10 the
Mr. GIDDSGs took his seat as member Of the
| 10Th Congress IN Dec. s39. lie had hardly accus
toned himself 10 bis position before be entered
upon a strict examination Of the constitutional rea
ton which the people OF the free States held 70 the
Institution Of Slavery n found the subject almost
wholly untouched. The case in 1872 before LORD
| Mansfield and another Ia the Court Of Common
| Pleas Of Great Britain, with some few American
decisions, constituted the whole body Of Judicial re-
stion 10 the matter II il true the debates in the
Convention which framed the Constitution, and in
the State Conventions which adopted il, gave some
Indication Of the views entertained On the subject
BY the Fathers Of the Republic. Bot at the time
Mr. GlDDNGs entered Congress, they preserved 10
hold upon the public mind The AbolitOnists had.
, free States 70 the question Of Slavery their
purpose seemed 70 be nther desire 70 influence
| tse public mind against Slavery Itself by mad dc.
I nunciations and exaggerated statements than TO
invoke careful philosophical and statosmanllho
consideration Of the relation oonsttu,ionaly exist
lng between the free and slayeholdng States.
T. Mr.. GiDDISGs did not then deny nor has he ever
denied. that the doctrine laid down by the irsmers
Of the Constitution and maintained since by jurists
and statesmen, that "neither Congress nor the
ederal Government had any power over Slavery
re- 10 interfere against IT, was correct but he holds
that the converse OF this proposition is equally cor
ect-that neither Congress nor the Federal Gov
ornment has any power rs interfere 90 toUor Of that
instituton In the study Of our Legislative annals
he detected this glazing inconsistcncy-th where
rs any bill could be introduced, debated and passed
for the benefit OF the peculiar institution. not even
motion could gain consideration calculated to
limit its power even prevent its extension Tbs
Inconsistency. alike illogical and unjust he was
determined to denounco sad. hpossble, to remove
At the time Of his entrance into Congress the re-
solutions which have given an uuenyiable notorety
to their originotor-now popula'y known as the
Gag Resolutions were introduced and passed
The seat they gave Mr.. Anterior in the Senate OF
the United States by rapid retributiye Justice
they will soon deprvehim Of lie falls like Luciier'
never to hope again.
Yet notwithstanding the rigorous exclusion by
these resolutions Of all debate upon Slavery, Mr.
GlDDISGs held he might discuss the subject when
1t incidentally arose from the consideration OF any
bill resolution. sc. before the House. His col
leagues. however, dissented from him. Stlllhe WAS
determined upon the first favorable opportunity TO
test the question.
on the 18th February, 1870, a bill to appropriate
$50 900 for building bridge across the Potomac
then pending in Committee OF the whole House
MIR GiDDISGs moved to strike out the eracting
clause and in giving his reasons therefor, insist
ed that as the Slave trade was carried on in the
District to such an extent to render residence
there revolving to the lovers OF freedom the Seat
OF Government should be removed He fortified
this position by various oogent arguments The
excitement in the House from his speech was IN
tense. Dsordery calls to order. yocieratons,
dozen members claiming the floor at once and
each seemingly determined not to give way, made
confusion worse COMPOUNDED Abusive opithets
were showered from all parts Of the House upon
MIR GiDDINGs. lie stood like Atlas, with a world
of words around him. nor vas silenced TIL the gen
eral prevalence Of the din rendered his remarks
ipaudible.
The threatening olamor with which his first at
tempt to assert the rights of treemen received
did not torry him, change in the least degree
his firm resolve to renew the contest whenever
favorable opportunity presented itself
Near the close of the session the Hgitatiug ques
ton Of the North eastern Boundary line command.
ed the attention Of the House 4 bill passed both
Houses giving the President ten millions Of dol
lars and fifty thousand volunteers 20 defend our
territory there. Congress was seized with ma
MIA of giving Sir. GDDiNCs was one OF the SIN
who opposed the passage Of the bill lie con
tended that there was no emergency which re-
ouired the reposing in the President 50 much power
For his conduct on these two occasions be- was
vehemently Rssaied as well at home as in W ash
inr,on He considered It bis daiy therefore. On
his return to Ohio to give he reasons Of hls con-
duct, He va. ably sustained By Mr Hammond
then Editor Of the CigcisHals Go-s.H snd biz con
sutuepts became not only satisfied bat pleased
with his course.
"a The first session Of the goth Congress was tain
gaished BY its active attention. 70 the ensuing Pres
idental election Sometime Ia tho month OF Feb
ruary. 1870 Thomas C9f~in then member OF tho
House from Ohio msin bis ever memorable speech
IN reply to Mr Crary R Michigan. and 80 complete
was his demolition Of ,hss indiv.daa'. losi he re-
tanned ever after the soab17sa Of The is.e Af
Crazy.
Tois speech Of ar Corxin called out Dr. Duncan
the somewhat qotoroas member from ihe Cinoif
ns,i District ,esPoso noi Ia rsPlyio Sir corTin
but 10 abuse - Gen Harrison All tho Whlg party
Nj GiDDiscs answered him IN a speech that made
much sensation At the time sod gsincd sraersi
circulation. was the only political speech Of =
strictly party character he has ever msds in ne
House. lie received a. almost ansoimoas rsnomi.
nation for Congress ssd pas Of course i6ampbsst
y reelected
Ia February, isG. the ssbjsct q ne Florida uss
ram. helyre the House Nr GIDbIvss in e. sisl.