Lower Sandusky freeman. (Lower Sandusky [i.e. Fremont, Ohio]) 1849-1849, 1849-04-14
JOSHUA R. GIDDINGs.

ing himself conspicuous, even If 1t has to be done
at the sacrifice of honor, truth, and every thing
else Giddings is man we have always admired
and esteemed until lately; and we are sorry that
man possessing the ability and talent that he does
and whose views and opinions in the main are right
should so far forget himself his position to do good,
as to wlfully misrepresent and slander an honora-
BILE and good man, even ifhe should chance to be
a Shareholder.
It's well known to all, that during the last Pres
idential campaign it was publicly charged by him,
at the Buffalo convention and in various parts OF this
State "that Gen. Taylor had denounced the VIII
mot Proviso in conversation with committee OF the
Mississippi Legislature, and had counciled resls-
tence to it on the part of the South" He declared
that his authority was unimpeachable, and pledged
his personal veracity for the truth of the story
As soon as this story got to the ears of the Com
mittee referred to, they denounced it. over their
own signatures as base fabrication. Gen. Taylor
also wrote letter, denouncng tas false, asserting
that he had no such conversation with committee
from Missssippi-never alluded to the Wilmot Pro-
viso Yet notwithstanding these facts, Mr.. Gid
dinss had not the magnanimity to give his author
lity, or retract the assertion.
Now he has again taken upon himself the re-
sponsibility of asserting that Gen. Taylor is oppos-
ed to the Proviso says that the defeat of the bill
for establishing Territorial Government in Cali
fornia with the Wilmot Proviso annexed, was caus-
ed by the interference of the President and that
"the influence, personal and official, of Gen. Taylor,
was brought to bear to produce the result
When this assertion first GENE to our notice, we
had some doubts to its truth, and recent author
Iity shows it to be false in every particular We
last week published an article from the National
IInteIigencer paper which is said to express the
views of the President, and which has reputation
for candor and honesty not awarded to any other
paper in the country which denounced Mr.. Gs
charges as unfounded We are this week enabled
to present our readers with further proof, In the
shape of letter from Senator Seward, of New
! York, whose devotion to free soil measures are
known to all, and whose honesty can be questioned
) by none, which we think will put this matter to
rest Mr.. Giddngs has been repeatedly called
upon to subs.antate his wholesale assertions by
proof which he said he could give, but thus far he
has failed to do so and until he does clear himself
of the charge of misrepresenting facts no reliance
should be placed in his statements For the pres
ent we will leave him in the enjoyment of his un-
enviable position. The following is the letter re-
fered to:
Mr.. Stewards Letter--Gen. Taylor ana
Walkers Amendment.
} From the National InteIligencer-
} Washington, March %, 1s49.
r To the Editors Gentlemen: 1t has been stated
in some quarters that Notwithstanding the ALI
son letter. and the pretended pledges of Gen. lay
lor to leave all questions of legislation entirely to
Congress he eoas found personally aging members
/ of CONGRESS to pass Mr.. Walkers amendment
through, attached as it was to the apportionment
bill The first movement of the fast friend OF the
Wilmot proviso after he had arrived at our nation
capital was to gi0e has personal influence to meas
are the effect of achicb a0as to ertend sLrOery"
l do not pretend to know the grounds or the au-
thory on which this statement is made, but think
it due to Gen. Taylor to give to the public the facts
which are within my knowledge relating to the sub
ject:
In the morning of the Sd of March, (the last day
of the late session of Congress,) Gen. Taylor, Mr.
CLAYTON the present secretary of state, and Mr. Ew
ing now secretary of the interior, severaly callee
nv attention to the necessity of having some form
of civil government for California established before
Congress should adjourn. Neither of those gen
tlemen indicated any plan whatever, or expressed
any opinion on the question of the extension o
slavery within the territory What Gen. Taylol
did say on the subject was, that he desired to sub
stitute the rule of law and order for the bowie
knife and revolvers. l repaired to the Capitol, II
company with Mr. Ewing, and there procured {
: copy of Mr.. Walkers amendment which had no
s. before read. Immediately prepared what l con
d templated as an amendment of Mr.. Walkers
amendment, or as substitute for it Afterward
found Mr. Webster's proposed amendment and
discovered that it contained all the provisions hae
X contemplated, very tersely expressed. took Mr.
o Webster's amendment and having shown it to Mr.
IS Ewing who left the whole subject to my own judg
ment visited many members of the House o
Representatives, and urged the adoption of it Mr.
% Vinton. chairman of the committee of ways ant
e means soon informed me that the committee woulc
is report the amendment with some slight moditea
% tons, to which did not object spent the resi-
due of the day in urging the adoption of the amed
~ ment of the committee of ways and means upor
Is members of the House. When it had been adopt
ed there returned to the Senate chamber and ex
erted myself to procure the assent of the Senate
the amendment, and insisted that no different pro
vision ought to pass I continued my efforts unit
#, the Senate decided to disagree to the amendmen
O. of the committee of ways and means of the House
10 1t is we'll known that the whole design of govern
~ wont for California failed hV reason of that dISa