Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-12-13
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE meets january Ith.
A uumilialing Position.


III the Congressional proceedings last week,
it was stated that Mr.. GIDmNos rs the oldest
member of congress, sworc in the speaker
" amidst much 6aghtcr." Why this laughter
on the part Of the Shareholders Will Mr.
Giddings, and those obolitionists who sent him
to congress please answer
Well might tho Shareholders laugh It was
an occasion of triumph to them, and Of humilia-
ton to Mr.. Giddings and the principles he was
supposed to represent. 1t turned in their cs,i-
nation Mr. Gidding's most solemn appeals and
most vigorous efforts for freedom into mockoEy.
Mr.. Giddngs had denounced and exposed the
tyrants Of the slave power in congress and out
of it. Iio had complained of and exposed tho
injustice of always having slavcholding speak
or of the House of Representatives, and now
when a now slaycholdng speaker was elected
ono whom every body knew would give the en-
tire weigh; Of his personal and oiicia! influence
to support the system, fugitive law, treason
trials and all. Mr.. Giddngs comes forward as
the agent Of tho Shareholders and by virtue of
their authority qualities Lynn Boyd for his
work Aye the worl, pcrchancc of gaging Mr.
Giddings himself, in the midst Of some Of his
eloquent dcnunciations of slavery. Qualifying
him for the appointment of committees that
shall give tho whole influence Of tho house in
favor of slavery. Committees that shall per-
chance Introduce new slave territories from
California and Mexico or do whatever else tho
interests Of slavery may require. Well might
the foul spirit of slavery jocr and laugh when
the old champion of freedom thus lent himself
to defeat and meek ~ his own efforts for free
dom.
Mr.. Giddiugs, as of late, in the midst Of our
Ohio woods or in Fanicul Hail. pouring forth
his burning dcnuncotions of slavery, to listc-
ming thousands, and orousing them to opposi-
ton to tyranny, was a sublime and God. like
spectacle. But Mr.. Giddings in the House Of
RcprcscntOtives-swcaring to support pro-
slavery constitution--on Mr.. Giddings in ac-
cordance with the spirit ofthat oath committing
the power Of Congress to q STAKEHOLDER by ad.
ministcring the qualifying oath of office, is a
spectacle sadly developing the inconss-
tency and weakness of our race--and leads
US more nearly to despair of the success of free
principles than anything else to which we can
revert. When the Shareholders laugh of tri
umph rings through the nation well may the
friends Of freedom despair. That congrcssion.
nj laugh of moebcry and seom is tie uncon.
sciously uttered, but truthful declaration of
those ~ao h,'o,e, that our position of non-intcr.
course with their pro.slayory government is
right.
1t is said by ant-slavcry voters, that their vo-
ting for good men absolvcs them from all res
possibility in tho support of the system though
bad men are successful and rule the nation.
Evidently such arc not Mr.. Giddings views.
lie doubtless voted for Thaddous Stephens or
some other equally reliable anti slavery man.
But when Lynn Boyd was elected, Mr.. Cid
dings docs not rcpudatc his previous contract
that the majority shall rule. lie accepts him
as his spoakor-and acts as the agent of all both
majority and minority in qualifying him to rule.
a true representation of the position of all, the
minority voters under the constitution. We
ask our friends who are so welded to the ballot
box TO consider it.