Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-03-26
Mr.. Glddlng'S Address.

Previous to the late election, the counties ol
Cuyahoga. Lake, and Gcauga, were stricken
from the congressional district which Mr.. Gid
dings has long represented IN Congress. In
parting with his constituents in these counties,
he has addressed them the following letter. 1t
sounds like the joyous, hopeful outpourirg Of
true hearted and la5orinus ;oformcr, and not
like the demasogue and tricky politician. In
bold llelity to the slave, Mr.. Gilliugs has
never had an equal in Congress. lie has won
for himself imperishable honor, by that manly y
courage which has induced him to defy alike,
the threats OF brasgart slave holders at Wash
ington, and the fendish SANDERS Of partisan
servilas in Ohio. There may be radical diff
ferc?ce between Mr. Giddigs and ourself in
opinions and measures, but none the less clear
ly therefore do we see and honor his fidelity to
freedom, in the position he has chosen for him.
self.
We cory the address from tho True Demo-
erat;
TO THE People OF CuYAHoGA, LAKE, AsD
GEAUGA COUNTIES.
FELLOW CITIzRxs:-The official relation
which have so long held towards you is
now dissolved. The occasion is one wiirh
demands of me an expression of the grali-
tnde which feel towards those in whose
service nearly one-half of the business por-
tion of my life has been spent. leave YOU
with emotions stronger than those of Or,li-
nary friendship. Long have been sustain
ed by your Influence, strengthened by the
repeated proofs OF your confidence, and
cheered on 10 effort by your approval Of my
Inhors. You have generously excused my
errors, and overlooked my imperiectious.-
These circumstances hnye created within
mo feeling Of afftctonate attachment, of
heartfelt gratitude, which can never be ef-
faced while memory shall perform its office.
la return for your kindness, and the con-
fidence ruposed in me, can only say that
have endeavored to discharge my public
duties with fidelity. My positions in Con-
gress have been somewhat isolated: | hnye
followed the dictates Of my own hest iudg-
ment; yet my opinions have been formed
with deliberalion and careful prepuraIi0n.-
In looking over tie past, ! experience the
most unieigned plenslIre Ia the consciousness
that thus far no political opponent, indeed
no stakeholder has attempted TO meet Tho
views ] have expressed, or TO reiute the
positions have taken concerning our cunsti-
tutional relations TO slavery. The declana.
ton, misrepresentation, aud personal helrac-
ton, with which have been ussailed, furnish
abundant proof that my opponents were
unwilling TO assal the docirines which |
maintained.
My views upon the great questions which
now agtaie the country nre placed upon
record; they arc to he found in the official
debates of Congress, and will soon appear
in a collected form before the country. 70
you may say that | sllal cheeriully trust
them to the examination and scrutiny of the
public, and of those who shall come after
us. Whether they shall hereafter lie np-
proved or condemned, | can only say they
were The solemn conclusions of my own
Judgment, ailer mature aud deliberate in
vestigation.
Since you first honored me with seat in
Congress, many changes have come over
the physical world around ms. Much of the
dark forest OF cur country has given place
to fruitful fields; beautiful dwellings now
stand where the gloomy wilderness was then
unbroken; our railroads have placed us in
Juxtapositon with the Atlantic cities; and
our magnetic telegraphs enable us TO con-
verse WIN friends who are thousands of
miles from us; in short, progress is written
IN unmistakabe characters uuon the natural
world around Us; but this progress is not
more obvious than that which is seen in the