Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-03-28
Mr.. Giddings Withdrawing From
Public Life. "a

lfrom tue r1uonat crnJ
To the people Of the Tpentieth Congress
sionai D,strict Of Ohio:
FELLow- CrrizENs: The long pend
ing contest for the election ofa Speaker
has terminated. Freedom has achiev-
ed her 6rst important victory ia the
House Of Representatives Of the Amer
lean Congress. The doctrines Of JET:
ferson, of the fathers of the Revolu-
ton. have been re-established in the
citadel Of oppression.
l should do violence to my own feel
ings were l to remain silent on such
an occaoion; and l seize upon nv first
leisure moments to tender you my
heartfelt congratulations. It's saluta.
ry effects are to be enjoyed by you.
by your children and your children's
children. pray you not to under
stand me as addressing myself to any
particular party: ! embrace in these
saIutat!ons the people Of all parties.
Those who have opposed the progress
Of freedom were honest; and to them
and their offspring will the blessings
Of Free Government be as important
rs to thoss who have labored to lus-
trate that Government from the curse
Of Slavery. In the fulness Of my
heart, greet you all and pray tha,
you and orr Government may all be
purified from the csimcs Of oppression
The Cd Of Feb. A. d. 1856. will
mark an important era in the history
Of Congress. On that day, man who
dared declare that he held, with the
early fathers Of the Republic. 'thatmen
are endowed b the Creator with the
inalienable right to life and liberty"
was elected Speaker Of the House Of
Representatives. He stood firmly on
this rock Of truth. The shafts Of
slavehoIding calumny and vi.utupera-
ton were hurled at him. But he
looked his opponents in the face. babe
defiance to their impotent assaults. and
trlumphed. He was elected upon the
identical doctrine. for the utterance Of
which l was driven from my seat In
this body fourteen years since.
You badc me return. and maintain
the doctrines which ! had avowed.--
To the extent ofmy humble abilities ]
have obeyed your behest, and these
doctrines are now recognized by a ma
jority Of this body. In what Ihave
done, have ucto as your agent.
representing your views. II there be
honor to those who have stood firmly
as the advocates OF freedom. that hon
or belongs to you, In common with
those who acted with you. ] claim
nothing moro than 10 have been the
fortunate representative Of your doc
trines and interests.
This progres OF truth Is without a
parallel In the history Of our Govern.
menL We may well say, "It 10 a
victory OF truth over error, Of freedom
over oppression. Of justice over
wrong" Let II stimulate us to fur.
ther efforts. Irejoioe NJ the appreci'
alton Of this important victory by the
people. The loycrs OF liberty may
well rejoice; and these manifestations
Of tho popular feeling. which now
reach US from MI the Free States. will
serve In coming time to stimulatv GU,
public servants 10 boldnoss OF action,
Here. too. I see tho warmer feel.
inga ofone nature gushing forth from
hodest hearts. rejoicing at this trl.
umph Of liberty. To mo the whole
scene Ii solcmnly interesting, Look
log around me, [ Gnd mono Of those
with whom stood In the darker day,
OF our cause. Mr.. Adams has gons
10 hIs reward. Mcssrs. Sladc. Gates,
and others have retired 10 private life
not one Of thcm ID left. l secm Il
stand alone. an old man. In the mids
Of generation of statesmen, whose
advent upon the stage OF political liz
10 Of comparatively recent date.
In the long period Of my service
here, | have sought neither cnlolu
meni nor distinction. l have laboret
Tor the ro.establishment OF those prln'
eIplos for which our royolullonar,
fathers contended. have lived 4
see them recognised by y majority 0
the popular branch OF Congress.
regard myself among tho most fortu
nate OF men, l have attained The
highest poInt Of my ambition. Tan
safisfed. And 1 know that you vii
appreciate my feelings when l expresl
tho hope thai, At the expiration OF N,
present term OF Office, may reIir'
from public liie-slep ASIDE from th'
public gase--return 70 my humble
home-aud in the retirement 50 con
genial 10 my nature. spend the re-
mainder OF my life which Heaven ha'
allotted 10 me; while other and able
statesmen shall carry forward th'
work so auspiclously commenced unit
our Government shall DO redeemed
and regenera'ed from the corrodinl
sin Of oppression, and the blessing
OF Heaven shall rest upon q free coun
try. J. X. GlDDiNGS.
WAsuIsoroN CrrY. Feb. Q. $50.