Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-01-30
- = SPEECH OF
]. R. GIDDINGS, OF OHIO,
- on THE ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE;

j. r. GIDDINGS, OF OHIO,
- ON THE ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE;
IaNe Rouse Of Representatives. Dec, lSM.
The election of Speaker being the bu-
siness before tie House
Mr.. GlDD1NGS said :
- FELLow NEMESIS 81 address you in
this manner for the reason that we have
mo officer to whom can direct my re
marks. As yctaswe are unorganized
: without rules. wirhoua officers. While
Z in this condition the pec pie are looking
4 to us with intense interest,", expecting Us
g to proceed, as soon as possible, 10 the
3 discharge of the important trusts conf
5. ded 70 our discretion and patriotism
Still am not opposed TO those explana
lions to which We have listened Tor some
days psst.-ssIudeed, 1t is right and prop
user that gentlemen. should place 7their
- viexs before the country in Of der, that
: : the people, whoa oer constituents. our
masters, may understand our positions.
1 am gratifed at hearing gentlemen
speak out 50 plainly. 1t isan important
era with our nation. The eyes of the
country are upon each,of us, and the
popular aPproyslurcondemnation awaits
every member aa sss
ssa- Gentlemen will pardon me when I say
there is one practice which. in my opin
ion. leads to unnecessary naisunders,and-
ing of each other, and the consequent
delay of business, With all delicacy !
suggest, that instead Of using terms and
= phrases, which are so. indefinite. on
which different individuals place differ
- ent constructions, which serve rather to
confuse than 10 enlighten our understand
ings, we should speak of principles. In
3. justice to ourselves and to each other,
ought tive not to refer to The doctrines
which gentlemen hold, rather than call
, them sswhigs, democrats, % know
Nothing" and "Free-Soilers ?'' When
- gentleman speaks OF member as a
free-Solier, what does he mean by IT,
a No man can answer for another; or if
different men answer the questions, each
viii give a different definition OF the
80 iterm.@7 % oil all the parties 1t you
- sneak of a ssDemocrat - one member
- WIZ understand you..as referring to gen
<. liemaii VINO Sosed ior Mr. fierce; anoth-
- er wiil oeisEye you refer lora gentleman
hoidin5 tne opinion Of Jefferson and
:. ano'her WIN understand yon as speaking
- ssa o. supporter OF the NEBRASKA niii' and
- =, anoti'e: viii understand you TO near
--.-.s -. supporter OF slavery generally. there
- lefe' submit a N @he % tner we ouglit not 10 de-
-''al nae these terms before We use them, SO
: s.la.1 We may each understand The speak
er Wnen ne refers 10 The dinorent parties;
sser 10 dl3erent members live bur
adopt thls M rule we shall had ourselves
agreeing upon many poln.s on which
We now appear 10 d'ffer. Gentlemen
when I speak oi the 'iDemocralcs par.
W re'er 10 taose who s'anI by the
~. seoraska olil' and aenounce The Amer
- leAn. o'sanlzapon Without hearing:
swnen | spesk OF Republicans, lsPeak OF
- those who take distinct and unmislaka-
q pie issue with the Democrats ON these
y points. holding that all men and all par
ties shall be respectfully heard; and when
: refer to know Nothings,r | refer to
those who seek 10 enlarge tie time re
CURED Tor naturallzing foreigners under
: -. our laws. and who are nov associated BY
- - secret obligations.
ss- There is one other point to which |
Z would respectfully ask the attention Of
Yesterday we listened to
:. various remarks from members having
distinctive reference to sectional lines,
speaking OF North and Sossth, of northern
- parties and southern parties, northern
men and southern men. This language
= ought not to be used here. There are
> no such parties never use such phra-
- ses. l base nv whole moral, political
and religious hopes and expectations up
on distinct, unyieIding, enduring princi-
= pies. / apprehend that others do the
same. 1t is well known that the south
ern States adhere to slavery. while those