Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-03-20
Ibe Anti 5lauerp Buelr.
TIE CONFLICT BETWEEN RELIGIOUS
TRUTH AND AMERICAN INFIDELlTY.
SPEECH OF HON. J. R. GIDDINGS,
OF OHIO.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
February 26, 1853,
Upon the great issue of freedom or slavery pend
ing before the American people.
WRITTEN OUT BY HIMSELF.
The House being in the Committee Of the Whole
on the state Of the Union

The House being in the Committee of the Who'll
ON the state Of the Union
Mr. GlDDINGS said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN: Questions of nero economy
thoseswhich relate to hanks, to internal improve
men.s or protective tariffs, no longer occupy IT,.
public mind These subjects have given place 4
questions of more trar scendent Importance. t.
those which relate to the rights OF mankind, to tn
religious moral, and political elevation of gu
race. The discussion of these subjects has i, al
past time been attended with agitation and excite
m,nt 1t brings the rights of the people into,conf1ic
with despotism, whatever may be the form Uf gov
srnment under which tho discussion takes place
Such is now the condition of this mighty nation:
our Union is shaken to it's very center by tho agi
t.tion of great and undying truths. Our Govern
ment is vibrating between freedom and TYRANNY
and it becomes us thoroughly to examine the re-
lieious basis on which we found our politica
action.
The late message of the President in relation t,
Kansas is without precedent in the history o.
executive Communications to this body. Its ton'
of contempt for the people of that Territory fnd'
no precedent in our Government, while the Ian
euaye of the people of Kansas expressed by he
Legislature is most extraordinary for sovereign'
90 use towards a servant already arragned he
fore the tribunal of the popular mind for higt
crimes and misdemeanOrs.
Under these circumstances. have thought tha
the best service render the people on the
present occasion1 1would be to analyze the sutjec
which now absorDs the popular mind, and 80 fa'
as sbe, to define the issue pending before the
nation.
That issue is founded upon fundamental reg
ious truths. which are maintained ty one polit
cal party and denied by the other.
Immediately after the last Congress adjourned
the men who WELD the judicial and executive
powers of Government publicly denied the great
primal doctrine of our Government. 'that all men
are endo,ced by their Creator ,cith inherent equa
and iaalienaJle rights" They essayed to obliter
ste the line Of demarkation drawn by our patriot
fathers between the despotisms Of darker age
and the rights of mankind as understood in this
nineteenth century.
The annual message of the President, in it,
leading positions and in it's details. wholly disre
CARDS those rights of human nature, and speaks
Of men created in the image of God with undy
ing spirits with eternal destnies, as transformed
into propeyty in direct contradiction of those TRUTH
which the American people have long regarded a,
''selfevident."
II will be my object to render this issue more
distinctly obvious. Its Importance is transcend
snt and. however fully other gentlemen may have
appreciated it, feel constrained to admit that
have failed to comprehend its vastness, or sci
bounds to the consequences naturally resulting
from it's decision yet every member OF society IL
bound to examine and to act upon his own respon
sibility.
Our fathers, recognizing God as the author o
human life, proclaimed it ''selt.eviden" truth
that every human being holds from the Creator an
inalienabe right to live. to sustain aud protect
life, attain knowledge, elevate his moral nature
and enjoy happiness.
These prerogatives were recognized as "9ifs
of God" lying behind and above human legis-
la,ion and the founders OF our institutions pro
eeeded 10 declare that governments are Instituted
among men to secure their enjoyment. Thus
our Republic was founded on religious truth. and
Il was thus far emphstiUally religious Govern
meRt. II has ever been sustained by the religious
sentiment of the nation and it will only fail when
this element shall be discarded by the people,
ions truths demands the severest condemnation.
There are but few men who openly deny the ex-
isteDce of q Supreme Being or that He il clothed
with the attributes of infinite wisdom TRUTH and
Justice or that mon religious ia degree as
they bring themselves into harmony with those
divine qualities, make them their own and as
simulate their characters to that of Deity This is
the sense in which use the term religion"
do not speak as a seotnrian. Indeed. sectarians
do not regard membership as religion, but merely
ss the evidence of religious feeling on tha part OF
the individual. All admit that thoss who are wise
truthful just. and pure Of all denominations and
mon who possessing these attributes. belong tn
no particular Sect are the truly religious men Of
earth.
II will here remark that am conscious this ex
suipstion Of the religious character Of our Gov