Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-09-09
JEFFERSON. Ohio, Aug. l6, 1854.

My DEAR SIR; In answer to the article in the
Bugle, l would remark that the report of my
speech at Providence was made out by some one
not familiar with tho subject, and who did not
understand the view which l intended to express.
and %hurrying over so much ground as | wished to
travel, | probably left him and others, in doubt as
to the detail of my arguments.
Perhaps more ignorance throughout tile country
exists, as to the law of 1898 than ever existed in
regard 10 any other Statute of so general interest.
That Law gave no process for arresting a slave.
1t made it the duty of no officer nor did it author
Use any officer to issue process. 1t made it the duty
of no officer to make the arrest, or to aid in arresting
the fugitive. In short the Omitted States" by that
law, took no part in the arrest, nor was the treasu-
ry of the people taxed in any way, or to any ex-
tent on the subject.
1t prohibited the people of the free States
from s~ecreting the slave. End. from defending the
Slave. Sd. from rescuing the slave from his mas
ter. This Law was at the time supposed to be in
accordance with the Constitution. And when |
turned my attention to the subject l regarded it in
that light, and took my position upon these princi-
pies; that all which the Constitution or lac of 1893
fcQulTel, was LOT use 10 uDSluln from beCTcllDH,
defending or rescuing the Slave. Both the Consti-
tuition and the law of '93 left us to feed and clothe
the slave-teach him his rights--show him the
road to Cannda-carry him openly and boldly on his
routc-givc him money and arms-and teach him
their use-his duty to use them in defence of his
person and his liberty. And under the law, had
he, in defending his personal liberty killed every
STAKEHOLDER in christendom; and every Doughface
who has the courage to attempt to "catch a mig
ger" he would have been guilty of no crime, nor
punishable under any law.
That law went as far in favor of slavery, as the
Constitution permits. This is the position which
have maintained in Congress--at Providence, and
every where else.
Again, / have ever commended that there is nc
obligation resting on Congress to enact any lac tcha
erer on The subject aud that il ,eas croag TO do so
Then in Congress and out of it, l have commended
for the total repeal of the fugitive slave law, and O
all laps Of Congress rhich support Slare,y. This
has been for fifteen years the distinct avowal o
my views. AS ! supposed them understood by
all who have read my speeches; and to reach tina
position, l have OIL some occasions, proposed rs thu
first step, to discard the compromise of 1850 by
total repeal of the fugitive law, and if ~necessar,
to attain that at this time, | would reinstate tn,
act of 1898 as a temporary compromise until pub
lie opinion should come up to the main point of
5 total separation if our Federal Government from
1 all support of Slavery.
. 1t may have been vanity in me; but | did no
: apprehend that any intelligent man would be mis-
led by the structures of the Bugle in regard to M
. positions. Indeed | can hardly suppose the odito
of that paper, to believe me in favor of catchin
i fugitive slaves, as he states. Nor do | think h
believes me so unstable as to have changed m
positions, and not have said at Providenc, what
> have said, at least for the past ten years in ever
other place. Very Respectfully,
j. r. GIDDINGS.
A ISAAC PIERCE, Mt. Union Stark Co. o.