The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-10-09
Disceliapeops.
The Retirement OF Mr.. Giddings.

Hutchins as their candidate for the place
which Mr.. Giddings has filed for the last
twenty years, the friends of the latter as.
sembled to greet him in front of his lodS
ings, and were addressed by the "old
man eloquent" as follows 4
My FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS -
l sincerely rejoice to meet you here, and
l assure you that l never came before
you under circumstances more pleasant
and satisfactory to myself personally.
For thirty-six years I have been an &C.
tive politician, but during all that time
never have attended Congressional Nom
mating Convention until now, and should
not at this time but for the purpose of
consecrating my friend TMr. Hutchinsl
to the high and holy work you have set
before him. / know the pleasure he
must feel in having received the expires
sion Of your confidence, and in taking at
your hands the important trust of being
your Representative, and in acting for
you in the great work of National Re-
form. fully sympathise with him in
the qualification he must experience, for
/ have travelled the same road.
From 1922, for sixteen years the pso-
pie of our District sustained my prede
cessor Mr.. Whittleseyl; and for twenty
years have received its approval. There
are men in my county Ashtabulal fif-
ty-seven years of age who have never vo-
ted for more than two men to serve them
in Congress. Ispeak of my county, for
the counties of Trumbull and Mahoning,
by changes liz the District, were separated
from our District for ten years.
This stability Of purpose is unparal.
leled in any Free State, and in but one
District OF the Slave States. 1t has rem
dered us historical, and gives US position
In the nation equal to that of the people
of any other. What have contributed
to this is not for me to say but l NAV
remark that the. great responsibility which
has for twenty years borne me down, has
often rendered my nights sleepless and
my days anxious, is now in part rolled
of. l feel the relief, and never have
addressed you with lighter heart.
But this vast responsibility is now to
rest on my friend, whom you have NOM
mated. He is soon to bear aloft the Re-
publican banner, and in the name of our
constituency, I charge him to see that it
be not lowered, that it never trail in the
dust.
A word as to myself. Having so long
represented the District, l knew that I
was in peculiar position, and felt myself
surrounded by some difficulties which
could not but occasion me some perplexi.
ty In determining what should do at
this time. II is new thing for me to
attend q Nominating Convention and I
am here now because l have wished to
show you the motives that have infiu-
snced me in consenting to enter this can
Vass.
Many friends urged me to decline be-
Ing candidate before you. 1 may be
permitted to say to you, also, that many
fnends In the District, wished me to con-
tinue in Congress and they urged that
had no right to withdraw from the can
vass, however much might desire to do
so. Men of distinction from other States,
whom love, insisted that I had com.
menced the agitation in Congress of the
great question whether the constitution.
al powers of the Federal Government
shall be put forth and sxerted for Justice
and liberty instead of slavery that
had so long labored for it as to become
identified with the cause that nv pres.
ent influence was greater than at any for
mer period and that / had no right tc
decline. assured them that I was moi
ambitious to die in Congress, but willing
to do so if necessary for the good of the
cause; that my own self-respect would
not permit me to ask or strive for a nomi.
nation; that it was the duty of the peo.
pie OF the District to nominate such an in.
dividual as would most efficiently carry
forward the great reformation now in pro.
gress, and would leave the matter with
them, silently submitting it 10 the pso.
pie whose interests and honor was mos
concerned. concurred with these friends
that my position would not permit me tC
decline nomination, if rendered to me
and / preferred avoiding responsibility il
the matter, leaving that responsibility
where it naturally belongs.
wished to place myself thus on tn,
record that might be understood befor,
and after the nomination. I desired I,
say TO the Shareholders, did not volunta
iiy withdraw from the contest; but tha
the people selected better and an able
man to aid in carrying forward the grea
subject which now abSorbs the publi
mind that he, in the full tide of ambi
tious manhood, will lend greater energy t,
the cause. Am right?
In that feeling and object I hearth,
I,,A chat e..
thousand times more honored than
could have been BY refusal to be q can
didate. l have no interest aside from
this cause. l have no honor separate,
from that of our District and Of man
kind. With this cause I would stand o
fall and you having selected an agen
who win lend it a more sufficient suppor
than could, shall feel more auxiou
to sustain him than to sustain myself.
I wan! to say 10 my friend Mr.. Hutch
ins1 and to you, that this fight is not We
ended. There are difficult passes to b
taken, and hard-contested fields to b
won and, from the position which tn
people of this District have occupied il
the fight, the eye of the nation will b
upon my successor. This District has oc
cupied higher position than any othe
in the land; and your acts and your rep
resentative,s acts are marked. woul
not presume to advise him; but were
tovolunteer a single caution, woul,
charge him to maintain that platform
which he aided in forming at Philadel
phiA Let no modification BE- interpois
ted. Regard it as the faith delivered :
the Republican saints to be maintained i
ell its dignity.
Fellow-citizens, our friend will 500
= enter upona new sphere of action; grav
labor, incessant toll, will be his portion
and when he returns to you, after forc
Eve years service, the effect upon hi
physical constitution will be percsptibl,
Encourage, cheer, and support him; d
him never look back to find assailants ,
home for having done his duty in Cor