Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-01-30
JANUARY 80, 1856.

Mr.. LETCHER. That is an evasion
OF the issue; you were to gu stion me-
Mr.. GIDDINGS. have to deal with
your candidate now.
Mr.. RICHARDSON. You and / are
not equal; you are not candidate
am. Laughter.
Mr.. GIDDINGS. That gentleman
stands before the country the eyes of
the nation are upon him. He IS can
didate for Speaker. He wants my vote.
L have right to know his views before
l vote for Lin, and so has every olLer
member of this body and now. when l
PROFOUND To him most respectful and
question, he stands mute. He
dare not say to the friends Of freedom,
lhat he will, if elected, insult them by
smolhering their petitions, nor dare he
say 10 The Shareholders he will not violate
the parliamentary law, and therights ofihe
people and the spirit of The Constitution,
in order TO maintain the slave trade, and
the practice alluded to; yet he is gal
liant man he quailed not on the battle-
field but he lacks the frmnt IS TO speak
out here the sentiments of his heart. He
says | am not candidate God forbid
that l ever should be a c. ndidate if
thereby compelled to lay aside my inde-
pendence, my manhood and fear to speak
the honest convictions Of my heart. Sir,
when | hesitate TO avow my detestalion
of the crimes TO which / have so repeat.
edly alluded when hesitate 10 declare
that all my influence, official and person
al, moral and political. shall be consli-
tutionally exerted for the eradication Of
such inquiries from this District, from
our Territories, and from the world,
shall regard myself unworthy to be a
candidate for any Office before the Ameri
can people.
And now, if gentleman please. l viii
PROFOUND this same question 10 the gen
ileman from Virginia Mr.. SMITH] who
preceded me, who spoke as one having
authority.
Mr.. SMITH. of Virginia. II the gen
Ileman will take word OF advice from
me" sr7 ee.r1 s- a1
Mr.. GIDDINGS. No, no advice.
ask question. Laughter.
Mr. SMITH. But allow ne
Mr.. GIDDINGS. Sir, l ask no ad
vice; God forbid that l should be driver
to such necessity. nea. .c
Mr.. SMITH. I will tell you what
say in reference to that. Blu, first let me
make suggestion.
Mr.. GIDDINGS. No suggestions
Answer my question-yeS or no
Mr.. SMITH. If you wish to know
how | would organize the committees,
can only say that | would organize them
so as TO advance the public business il
strict conformity to the Constitution and
all its compromises, and none other
Now, you may make the most of Il at
Mr.. GIDDINGS. Gentlemen will mari
these facts.
The gentleman from VirgiRia Mr..
SMITH can assail honorable Senators as
he has done here to day, while they are
at distance, with no opportunity to an
swer him. He can denounce them and
talk of the salvation of the Union but
when simple interrogaiory is PROFOUND
cd, calculated to draw out his honest
feelings and show his principles and
views to the eontrry, he becomes mute.
He eyades my question and tells me 10
make the most Of It. lean make nothing
of it, wish TO learn him that here, at
this forum, is ample loom and verge for
The display of his forensic talents. His
lofty bearing, his dictatorial manner
quails before the mere int'rros atory cal
culaied to unveil his motives and inten-
lions. -..t.rt s.
Tag in call the attention OF the coun-
try TO this important fact am here
Intercepted, and those with whom l act
are assailed, for adoptingsthe determine.
ton expressed in the resolution which
has been read /; and now, when turn and
ask our assailants whether they will, or
will not, sustain its doctrine. they and
their candidate stand speechless. The
picture .hus presented to the American
people is humIlialing. Every gentleman
is aware that The man of conscious in.
iegIiiy. who knows that be is right, that
he seeks to do justice. 10 promo.e the
public good, never did. and never will,
fear TO avow his doctrines; indeed the
more widely he is able to proclaim them.
the mure is lie pleased aud gra;ifed, for
the very PRONUNCIATION Of his doctr nes
tends to The attainment of his object :;
while, TN the contrary. there can be but
one motive to conceal the political senti
ments which We entertain-that. mo i've
is to deceige Tie peolls. I speak frankly
and plainly. when | declare that if slave
holding gentlemen and their northern
allies really believed il Just and rig hi
and proper to protect the rearing of
children for market in this city, and to
uphold the slave trade here and on our
southern coast, they would say so frank
ly-thev would not exhibit before the
nation the humilialing spectacle present
ed here to-day; not daring 10 define
their position fearing to let the people
know where they stand Why. sir, al
frank and open avowal Of their intention
to protect those crimes by the means
adopted for the last twenty Eve Yeas.
would con>ign to private life every such
from n free State, and many
from our Save States. Inow declare
that not member from free State ever
.d,,.,f fhoe he .-.,toI E. . Cro.lo,