Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-10-02

!
| From the New York Evening Post
| THE RETIREMENT OF MR.. GIDDINGS.
The people of Congressional district Of course
have n right to manage their own affairs IN their
own way but people else where have an equal rlgh'
to comme Mt uuon their doings. We are not sur.
prised, therefore, nt the general disapproval
which is manifested by the northern press at the
recent action of the Republican Convention IN the
Ashtabula district OF Ohio in discharglng Their
long tried and faithful representative, joshua H.
Giddings for We presume the nomination ot a
successor terminates his public career, Notwith'
standing the impaired condition OF his health,
which units him for active labor; and the many
suiiec.s on which we differ from him, we cannot
hell concurring with the universal feeling express
sed at the prospect Of his retirement.
Mr. Gddngs is the oldest member OF the
House. For twenty-five years his venerable heau
and stawart frame have rendered him conspicuous
among hs a. ssuciates, from whom he was not less
distinguished by the pecnliarity of his principles
and his bold, Incorporating style OF enforcing
them. Embodying, as he did, IN an extreme de
gree, the opinions OF a small and exceedingly un
popular party, he was for long time mark foi
| the iercest assaults of the influential leaders o
both the great political organizations but the
courage Win which he has confronted them always
won a renewed tribute of confidence from his con
stituents.
When John Quincy Adams entered on that ca
reer of agitation for the right of petition, whicl
a friendly biugrs pher declares TO have been thu
most illustrous and honorable period Of his lite
Mr.. Gid lings was at his side, fighting the same
battle, and sharing without hincbing, IN lis oblo
$ guy. The vote OF ceusure in 1912 passed upof
him by the House, for his temerlty in Offering
resolutions commencing the conduct OF the lnsur
gent slaves OF tho Creole, was the most noted az
tempt to single him out subject OF intimida
ton. He resigned his seat, and threw himsel
r upon his constituency only to be immediately re
, turned by largely increased majority. sine
D then ms right to free speech has seldom been sot
. ceesiuily questioned and 1t must be cOuiessc
! that he has exercised it, to use a pertinent col
ioquIalism, with u vengeance W haneyer tn
Occasion arises he Is on his eet 10 protest agalns
some new attempt of the enemy to press forward
openy or cOvertiy, or to give legislative sahct
10 the projects Of that institution which he 80 aO
Ibors Just as regularly i.s Il new Congress opens
he is up at the first Opportunity u Geiirer one U
his .'ncendiary" re'a-sertiOns OF principles, re
viewing, somewhat on the plan OF Lord Lynd
bursts famous TRADES IN Parliament, the snort
coming of the government and the progress Ui the
cause of which he was II representative anG ye
such has been his courtesy and regard Tor the
rules Of order, and such his obvious sincerity, AS
TO command ultimately the respect, if not the ap
proyal, of his bitterst toes
In this place we may perhaps be excused for re
beating an instar ce. not, we believe, recorded
"a it should have been, in the Congressional re
ports of the time, showing the spirit with whlef
he confronted the clustering tactics OF his oppo
nents Ii happened in the heat of debate dur
ling the Thirty fourth Congress, when the old mar
was launching forth certain an!islaVery thunder'
which gave particular offence to one OF the mos
truculeut representatives of the chivnry. The lat
fer a large framed man, and noted rather al
ugiv customer " hen excited, left his desk, prob
ahlv with his pockets full of "ihe documents,
and planting himself a few feet directly in from
oe the aged speaker, said something in low tone
which coupled with his defiant aspect and man
ner was obviously menace. The whole house
was excited, when the Ohio agitator, turning al
un,uailing eve on tae southener, and shaking hit
gray head with defiance, exclaimed, with outstretci
ed arm;
"Go, show your slaves now cbolerc you are,
"And make your bondmen tremble,"
: "but don't come here"
1t is needless to say that the southerner at ono
retired, thinking it best to reserve his discplln
to a more fit occasion, or more susceptible SUI
n ject.
c ybe constitutional ardor Of Mr.. Giddings' tenn
" nerament disqualified him fer the position OF lead
e er and his unprsmeditated eccentrcities, as, TO
t. example, his remarks at critical period in tn
: deliberations Of the Philadelphia Convention
Q vrhich nominated Fremont, al times frustrated tn
calculations OF his friends quite as much as OF hi
f"as In moments of sudden excitement he woult
:. tnrn round and trample down unintenuonally
- rpht and left, the ranks Of those whose fortune
;, were linked with his own, and VINO, though dlHei
ing in matters of expediency and detail were SUI
a norters of the came cause. Sui, IT cannot DC az
a nied that he was useful, and, in fact an lndi'
q pensaEle coad iutor in the political pattl,
! His stormy appeals to the popular heart, ana NJ
a fearless aud vehement denunciatlons OF the ou
- RACES upon humanity incident to the slave system
c cleared up the doub's Of the tempor'I1e anu ,In