Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-02-20
Tothe People Of the ooh Congressional
District Of Chic.


District Of Chic.
FELLOW CIrIzeNs The long pending
cnnlesi for the rircion Of a Speaker has
Terminated. Freedom has achieve her
first important victory in the House Of
r, preseniatiyes of the American Con-
gress. TIE doc riues of Jefferson. of the
fn,hers OF the Revelui ion, have been re-
cstabli, he'd in The citadel of oppression
] should do violence to my own feed
ings, were | 4 r. main silent OF such IN
orcasion; and seize on my first leisure
moments to tender YOU my heartfelt con
gratula ions. It's saluiary effects aIe to
be enjoyed by you, by your CHI drcn,
and your chiliren's children. l pray
you not TO understand me as addressing
myself to any particular party: | en-
brace in these salutations the people Of
tn D rites. Those who have opposed
the progress of Freedom were honest /;
and TO Them and to their offspring will
the blessings OF free Government be as
important as to those who have l.boIed
to lus rate that Government from the
curse of Slavery. In the ~fulIness Of my
heart l greet you all. and pay that you
and our Government may all be purified
from the crimes Of oppression.
The 9d Of February, A. d, 1856. will
mark an important era in the history OF
Cungr,s IS. On that day, a nan who
dared declare that he feld. with the
early fathers OF our Republic. ''that all
men are endowed BY their Greater with
the inalienable right to life and liberty"
was elected Speaker of the House oI
Representatives. He stood firmly ON this
rock of truth. The shafts of slavehold-
ing %calumny and ~vituperat on we're hurl-
ed at him /: but he locked his opponents
in the face, oade defiance to their impo.
tant assault. and niumphed. He was
elected upon the identical doctrines, foI
the utterance Of which | was driven from
my seat in this body fourteen year:
since.
You babe me return, and maintain
the doctrines which l had avowed. IL
the extent of my humble abilities l hav,
obeyed your behest. and hose doctrines
are 10Y recognised by a majority Of this
body. In what ] have done, | have
acted as your agent. representing you
views. If there be honor to those who
have sto. d firmly as the. advocates o
Freedom, that honor belongs to you II
common with those who have acted viii
you. l claim nothing more thin TO have
been the fortunate representative Of you
doctrines and interests
This progress of truth is without
parallels the history Of our Government
We may well say, at is a victory o
truth over error, Of freedom over oppres
sion of justice over crime" Let j
stimulate us TO IA thcr and greater efforts
| %rojnicr at the appreciltion of this i'm
important victory by the People. Th'
lovers OF Liberty may well rejoice an
these manifestations of the popular feel
ings. which now reach us from all Ih'
free States. will serve in coming time Il
stimulate our public servants to Lines
of action.
Here, too, l see the warmer feeling
of our nature gushing forth from homes
hearts, rejoicing at This triumph Of Lib
erty. To me, The whole scene is sol
EMMY Interesting. Looking around me
| find none Of those wi h whom stood II
the darker DAYS of our cause. Mr.
Adams has gone 70 his reward. Messrs
Slade. Gates and o hers. have retired 4
/ private life lot one Of them is left.
seem 10 stand alone. an old NAH, in Ih,
midst Of a generation Of statesmen who's
advent upon the stage CT poi ical life !
of comparatively recent date.
In the long prriod of my service here
have sought neither rmolument no
|, di tinction. | have lsbored tor the re
: establishment Of those principles 70
t VIII ch our revolutionary fa hers contend
ed. / have lived to see them recognis
ed by a majority of the popular brancI
Of Congress. | regard myself amoul
the most fortunate of public men.
; have attained the highest point Of M
ambition. + am satisfied. And kno'
|. that you will appreciate my feeling:
when | express the hope. that at the x
pirsIion OF my present t,rm OF office,
may retire from public life-step asid
frsm The publ; gaze return 10 m
D umble Homeland. n that retire tT
so congenial 10 my nature. spend the r
mainder of the lie which Heaven has a
4 lottxd to me VIII lie other and able
statesmen sh II carry forward The wor
so a~uspieiously commenced, until GU
Government shall be redeemed and r,
generated from the ~corroding sin ofoE
5 preston and the blessings Of Heave
Z shall rest upon a free people. q,
a. =" J.. r. GIDDISas.
Washington, FEB. 8, 1856.