Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-01-13

CONGRESS.

OONOOEoc'
On Tuesday the 4th Mr.. Giddings, with his tact
and ceasless vigilance, managed 70 introduce the
following interlude into n discussion on the subject
of swamp land. Mr.. Sellers Of Maryland made a
speech on the swamp land question, which, was
nothing more nor less than n defence of Know.
Nottingism. While in the course Of its delivery
Mr.. @. questioned him as follows:
Mr.. GIDDINGS. | wish to ask the gentleman
from Maryland n question. ] understood Kim to
soy that he was for leaving the question of slavery
where the Constitution lent it. Am | correct?
Mr.. SOLLERS. ! think you are.
Mr.. GlDDlNGS. The gentleman then would
vote to restore freedom to Kansas.
Mr.. SELLERS. | do not acknowledge any
construction which the gentleman from Ohio
would place upon the Constitution of the United
States.
Mr.. GIDDINGS. The gentleman then backs
out of his proposition. Will not the gentleman
reply to the question | have propounded him?
Mr.. SELLERS. ] will most cheerfully reply.
[ have no desire to enter into a contest with the
gentleman from Ohio. 1t is q striking illustration
of the@SnnilaIity of feeling between the two ex-
IRENE parties Of the country, that | should be in.
%terrupted by a Secessionist of the South and an
Aboli;ionist of the West. That is wha.I want to
tell my people, when so home. | believe they
know something about it already. But | am get
ting exhausted, and must hurry TO q conclusion.
| know nothing Of the organization of the Know
Nothing party, but | know this, that this Gov
eminent will be soon wrested from our hands, if
we do not arrest the immense immigration from
Asia and all parts of Europe setting in here from
the starvation and desoating wars that prevail
there,
know another thing, that this party is bent
upon preserving the Union of these States. know
that we passed the crisis of the 1890, when the Mis-.
souri, compromise was adopted.
/ know another thing, that in 1882, we passed
through another crisis of n very different kinda
crisis which threatened the dissolution of the
Union, through secession and nullifcation-a crisis
which, was only averted, | undertake to say, what
ever may have been his faults, by the honesty,
bravery, and patriotism of General Andrew Jack
son, who ut that time declared that 'the Union
must and shall be preserved"
We passed through the crisis # 1850, when the
fugitive slave lu+ was adopted and | trust that
we have passed through the crisis of 1854. /
know one thing, that politicians may attempt to
do what they choose, but there is a party behind
the politicians of this country who are pledged, as
their fathers were pledged, to maintain the Union
of these States. and they will do it at all hazards,
and under all circumstances.
Mr.. LETCIIER obtained the floor.
Mr.. GIDDINGS. Will the gentleman from Vir-
ginia yield me the floor for five minutes, in order
that may make an explanation?
MI. FLETCHER. If do not loose the floor there
by I will yield the floor for the gentleman.
Mr. IDDlNGS. 1t was with the utmost sin
certify Of purpose that | lropounded the question
| did, a few moments since, to my friend from
Maryland, Mr.. SoLLERs. asked him, in good
faith, whether hc or his party would go to restore
freedom to Kansas and Nebraska. | did it from
the purest motives that ever found a place in my
heart. The gentleman had appeared here as a
champion of the "know-NOthings," standing
forth ms the exponent of the views and principles
of that party. In the sincerity Of my heart, ]
desired to know of him that single fact. When
he says in general terms, that they wonld do
everything in their power to preserve this Union,
he avows nothing, he utters no doctrine, his dcclar-
alton means nothing, for no man, here or else
where, processes any other sentiment. When !
asked him, in plain and distinct language, will you
restore freedom to Kansas? he hauls down his
colors beats n retreat, and shows the white feather,
and dcigns no reply. lie is not so well deserving
the application Ct know Nothing" as of Say
Nohing." Arc we to come here as Represent,
atives of the American people, avow ourselves as
champions of q party, and then hesitate to express
the sentiments of our hearts, and every emotion
of our Utmost souls? Have not the people OF the
United States an inherent right to know what
doctrines their public servants entertain, and that
in distinct and unmistakable language? If hcsi-
tate to avow any principle here, about which any
friend or foe, or even an angel from heaven,
might ask me to speak, | shall do it to decicve and
defraud some portion of the people. / can do it for
no other purpose than of deceiving, defraudihg,
ttllu ullolCaiiisSC itDch = ouSh Va bNNSNniNJ |
be my object. | am a friend of the Know-Noth-
inss, SO far as I am informed of their policy
Laughter. have courted their friendship, and
| liked them as far as they went with us: but
when they proclaim to the Union that they mean
to crush out Abolitionists and Seccssionists in
order to preserve the Union at all. hazzards,l he
should let us know upon what principles they
plant themselves. Whit doctrines do they enter
tain? Do they intend sustaining the doctrine
that all men are endowed by their Creator with
the inalienable right to freedom?
Mr.. BARKSDALE. | wish to ask the gen.
tleman from Ohio if the 'Know-Nothings" and
the Anti Nebraska party did not unite in that State
ut the last election?
Mr.. GIDDINGS. do not know anything Of
tho kind | do not know anything Of any know
Nothing" lodge in Ohio before the election. III
there were any Know-Nothings in my district,
| trust they voted for mo, rs it would afford
most excellent proof that they know something.
Laughter.
Mr.. STUART, of Michigan. ] desire to ask the
gentleman from Ohio whether the Know-Nothing
party of Michigan, every single and solitary man
of them, did not vote for the Abolition ticket, a
ticket put in nomination solely and exclusively as
an Abolition ticket?
Mr.. GIDDINGS. will with the utmost pleas
ure answer the gentleman, as l do, and will,
every gentleman. Sir, ! knew not that there
was a Know-Nothing in the whole State of Mich
igan.
Mr.. STUART. Well, l will ask the gentleman
if. at the last election, every candidate upon the
State ticket, put in nomination by the Wing and
Abolition party in the State of Michigan. where
not VIGOROUSLY members of the Know-Nothing
organization-every one of them? 1t was never
denied in that State.
Mr.. GIDDINGS. / did indeed address a
most respectable audience in Michigan, and a more
intelligent audience have seldom addressed or
seen. They were enthusiastic on the great prin-
ciples of freedom, of the rights of man, of the
doctrine of our fathers of 1776; and. furthermore
I never heard il intimsted, nor did ] suspect, that
any Of them we're Know Nothing" or bad ever