The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-16
From the New York Evening Post
THE RETIREMENT OF MR. GIDDINGs.


From the New York Evening Post
THE RETIREMENT OF MR. GIDDINGs.
The people Congressional district of couree
have the right to manage their own affairs in
their own way, but people elsewhere have an
equal right to comment upon their doings We
are lot surprised, therefore, at the general dis.
approval which is manifested by the Northern
press at the recent action of The Repub lican
Convention in the Ashtabula district of Ohio.
n dschsging their long-tried and faithful Rep
resentative, Joshua R GiddiDgs; for We pre-
sumo the nomination of q successor terminates
his public career. Notwithstanding the i'm.
paired condition of his health, which units him
for active labor, and the many subjects on
which we O fer fiom him, we cannot help con.
curing with the universal feeling expressed at
the prospect of his retirement
Mr. Giddings is now the oldest member of the
House. For twenty-five years, his venerable
head and stalwart frame have rendered him
conspicuous among his associates, from whom
be was not less distinguished by the peculiarity
of bis principles, ard bis bold, uncompromising
style of enforcing them. Embodying as he
did, in an extreme degree, the opinions of q
small and exceedingly unpopular party, he was
ueIce8t
of the Influential leaders of both the great po-
litical organizations; but the courage with
which be has confronted them always won q
renewed tribute of confidence from his constit-
uents.
When John Quincy Adams entered on that
career of agitation for the right of petition,
which friendly bicgrspher declares to have
been the most illustrious and honorable period
Cf bis life, Mr.. GiddiDgs was at bis side, fight
ing the same battle, and sharing, without finch
ing, in It's obloquy. The vote of censure in
1872, passed upon him by the House, for his
temerity in offering resolutions commencing
the conduct Of the iIsurgenI slaves of the Gre
ole, was the most noted attempt to single him
out as subject of intimidation. He resigned
his seat, and threw himself upon his constitu-
ency, only to be Immediately returned by a
largely increased majority.
Since then, his right to free speech has eel
dom been successfully questioned; and it must
be confessed that he has exercised it, to use q
pertinent colloquislsm, "with q vengeance"
Whenever the occasion arises, he is on his feet
TO protest against some new attempt of the
enemy 10 press forward, openly or covertly, or
TO give legislative sanction to the projects of
that institution which he so abbors. Just as
regularly as new Congress opens, he is up at
the hrst opportunity to deliver one of his in
cendiary " ieassertions of principles, reviewing,
somewhat on the plan of Lord Lyndhurst's
famous tiradssin Parliament, the shortcomings
OF the Government and the progress of the
cause OF which he was a representative and
yet such has been his courtesy and regard for
the rules of order, and such his obvious sin
certify, as to command ultimately the respect,
If not the approval, of his bitterest foes.
In this place we may perhaps be excused for
repeating an instance, not, we believe, recorded,
as 1t should have been, in the Congressional
reports of the time, showing the spirit with
which he confronted the clustering tactics of
OF his opponents. 1t happened, in the heat of
debate during the Thirty fourth Congress-,
when the old man was launching forth certain
Anti-S!avery thunders which gave particular
chence to one of the most truculent repre-
sentatlves OF the chivalry. The latter, o large
framed man, and noted as rather an ugly Gus
toner when excited, left bis desk, probably
With his pockets full of "the documents" and
planting himself a few feet directly in front of
The aged speaker, said something in low tone,
which, coupled with his defiant aspect and
manner, was obviously menace. The whole
House was excited, when the Ohio agitator,
turning an urquailing eye on the Southerner,
and shaking his gray head with defiance, ex-
claimed, with outstretched arm:
Go. show your slaves how choeric you are
And make your bOndmen uemble,"
but don't come here"
1t ID needless to say that the Southerner at
once retired, thinking it best to reserve his
discipline to a more fit occasion, or a more sus.
esptible subject. m
The constitutional ardor of Mr.. Giddings's
temperament disqualified him for the position
n looHn a,1
ties, ss, for example, his remarks at a critical
period in the deliberations Of the Philadelphia
Convention which nominated Fremont, at times
frustrated the calculations of his friends quite
as much as of his foes. In moments of sudden
excitement he would turn round and trample
ooWn unintentionally right and left the ranks
u ihose whose fortunes were linked with his
own, and who, though differing in matters of
e2pediency and detail, were supporters of the
saine cause. Still, it cannot be denied that he
was useful, and, IN fact, an indispensable CO.
soJutor In the political battle. The effect pro-
Suced by his stormy appeals to the popular
near', ana his fearless aud vehement denuncia-
.ions OF the ou'rsges upon humanity incident to
tne save system, had good effect in clearing
up Inc doubts of the temporiziDg and timid,
tnough "eil-disposed politicians, aud in awaken.
iug an enthusiasm for the vital distractions of
neeoom and human rights, which never failed
70 'ei N the results of the election, and on the
ponueal history of the country. They had q
most benefcent influence in stimulating and
promoting a movement which cooler heads
were required to organize into effective shape
hia Congressional life is honorably identified
VITA the struggle now going on against the en-.
efoscnmenis and usurpations of that aristocrat
,Gai element in cur political system, which has
a'Ote seriously interfered with its perfect and
legitimate action.
mere Is something, too, in the boldness and
m.Iuependenee Of Mr.. Giddings-something in
.uat sympathy which he always shows for the
eaS ana oppressed, whether it be the negro or
S as iGgiulVe Indians, whose wrongs be has so
,,ni'hiuliy presented in his "Exiles of Florida
.La' ommands an instructive respect even from
I; Whose convictions are adverse to his own.
;. MAMA 10 not restless itch for notoriety
certain noble rage-tfe overplus of an
OTst and genuine humanity. He has not
succeeded in popular estimation as politician,
~ a' ne mas at last obtained foremost place on
e sne good angels book "as one who loved his
tSat men, and we are not displeased to find
sa a' ~ is even now receiving something of the
nj Pee' and admiration with which posterity
son repay his unfaltering and unselfsh zeal
'0f great and noble cause
Aoout the 26th of August, young man took
TiNsnss at the st. Charles Hotel, New Orleans,
aan enrerins bis name as as. Bostwick, La.
9o.t Illinois" On the evening of Saturday, the
M ne paid for the insertion in one of the
~, o'ieans papers of bis own death notice,
s sio SIX copies of the paper, sent them in va.