Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-06-26
From the Ashtabula Sentinel.
MR.. GIDDING'S ADDRESS TO HIS CON
STITUENTS.

TO the PEOPLE OF THE 10Th CONGRESSIONAL DIS
TRIcT OF OHIO.
The interest with which | have heretofore ad-
dressed you. is in no degree diminished by the
consideration that this may, probably, be the last
time | shall enjoy that privilege. Indeed l have
ueper penned an address with more buoyant
hope, or stronger faith'than | do now.
Slavery was originally, an elemoHt in or Col
onlal Governments, and was permitted for a time
under most of the State Constitutions Blu. those
who formed the Federal Union of l776, in the
most explicit language repudiated it, and the fra
mers of the Constitution in 1887 declared in IN
mistakable language, that under its exclusive lur
isdiction mo person shall be deprired Of life, H6cT
ty or property, Without due process Of lar" But
those patriots failed to maintain the doctrine set
forth in the Declaration Of independence, and re-
iterated in the Constitution. In violation of those
charters of human rights, this element of despot-
ism was practically transferred into our federal
organization, and for half u century 1t has main
tanned, an aggressive war upon the interest of
the free States; upon free labor, upon the rights
OF human nature. So far as it has attained pow
or in our government, Just so lar has that govern
ment approximatcd 4 despotism. The experience
of three iourths of u century has demonstrated
that liberty and slavery cannot prosper under the
same government, that they are religious, moral,
and political oppositeS. That when government
acts for one, it necessarily acts against the other
When the federal power was exertod fol
extending and perpctuating Slavery in Tex
az, it was to that extent welded against free
dom. Some of the evils arising from that policy
we're pointed OCT in an address to the people 0
the free States, published more THAI fifteen years
since. lt was signed by the Hon. John Quincy
Adams, and twenty other members Of the llous'
Of Representatives. But its predictions mad,
little impression upon the public miad. "Jlhd
uds then prophecy has nor become histoiy." Tn
act of annexation denied the doctrine "hat goC
ernmcnts are established to m~aihtdiu liberty, its IN
iiueuccs were put forth to maintain Slavery to ban
iA and suppress liberty.
The repeal of the Missouri Compromise, an.
the efforts of the executive to establish slavery il
Kansas, is the natural sequence OF the polio
adopted in 1915 and the declaration put forth a
Cincinnati, that the people of a territory ma
rightfully form a government which shall consig
a portion of the human family to degrading bonu
age, was but the assertion of a policy on whic
the Democratic party had long practiced.
This bold do0pal of d~espotism however, brougl
upon the party proclaiming il, moral and polite;
pdrdiysis-it became imbecile, the scepter Of pow
or fell from its grasp. 1t then ceased to wiel
the moral energies of the nation But to this da
the friends of liberty have leen unable so TO cor
centrate the political elements, as to guide the al
mini tratiOn Of government for these high purpo
cs for which it was formed. The work of iounC
ing a political party upon doctrines SO elevated
90 purely christian in their character, require
time and effort. 1t was obvious that no ephem'
raj DOlicy, NJ httlltudi lhNCiSoA nv Z lhitiod
advantage could constitute tho basis of a per5dt
4aeat organization. Nothing short OF a restoratio
of the government to its original principles, coul
give peace to the country, security to freedom, {
'permanence to the Constitution. The slave powe
then guiding The Democratic party mast be me
exposed and orercORe. Outside the States III
Constitution having exclusive jurisdiction must B
enforced. The whig party has faded from exi'
,ence in consequence Of its efforts TO concilliat
the d~espotism of slavery. The democratic part
had fallen a victim TO the same policy, and tina
man must have lived 70 little purpose whom form
ing a new political organization, would so guild
II RS to strike the very rock on which all forme
parties had split. IL was under these oircumstan
ces that the new party was formed, and absolut
necessity dictated its basis Of The mchaHgiag init
" equal jaStecto all men. And those politician
who now talk Of modifying the doctrines Of tn,
Republicans party, simply declare themselves to-
timid to look at faets, or to much prejudiced to ap
prociste them.
The first effort to form u new organization, al
ter the demise of the old paities WAS made b,
'nombers elected az Representatives to the Thirt,
Fourth Congress-. AT tho assembling of that bod,
IN December, 1855, a portion cf the members con
sist'ug u a ptuidlfy and numbering l03, unite,