The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-03-04
Retireme. of Hon. J. r. Giddiups.

a Washington correspondent of the Tri.
Gune OF the 22d inst, aIudes to tho many
changes which will take place in the next
House of Representatives. Mr. G has sat
twenty years in the House and is now his
toric character. We clip portion of the
article.
MIR Giddngs entered Congress in the
midst of tho contest about tho Right of Pc
titlOn. He followed tho lead of Adams in
his championship of this right. He shared
with him il. the pcrils of the fight. and thu
gIorios OF tho triumph. IIo bore distin-
guishcd part in the subsequent conflicts over
tho Annexation of Texas. the Oregon Joint.
Occupation, aud tho WIlmot Provsu.
The country rccOllects tho agitation which
sprung from the acknowledgements of the
negroes uf the brig Creole, by the British
authorities in Bermuda, when driven into
ono of its ports by stress OF weather. while
voyaging from Virginia to New Orleans.
with cargo of slaves. In March, 1882 Mr..
Gddings offered, in tho House. niue resolu.
tIons touching this case, aud affirming that
all attempts to regain possession of, or to
re-enslave thCsO negroes, were unauthorized
by the Constitution and laws of tho United
States, and Incompatible with our national
honor. On reading tho resolutions, IA wild
storm broke out raging nearly all day in the
MIDST OF which he withdrew tho obnoxious
paper Mr.. Bolts drafted, aud endeavored
to offer Il resolution with "A wordy preamblo)
declaring that " this House hold the conduct
OF the said member (Glddings) unwarrauted
and unwarrantable, and deserving tie se-
we're condemnatIJh of the people of tins
country and of this body in particular. -
The State of Virginia having been pussed
n hn
not offer il, and no handed it tu John B.
Weller of Ohio for that purpose. The tom
pest, which bad Iullcd on the withdrawal of
the paper, now burst forth afresh on lh s
resolution of ccnsurc. Ii ravcd witA un.
governablc fury for two days. Though tho
previous question was pending. the Speaker
Mr. White of Kentucky, u liberal minded
man, ruled that Glddlngs could be heard in
his defense, us matter of privilege" The
House insane with passion ovcrrued the
Speaker. Glddings stood dumb before his
accuscrs. Alter struggle. tho resolution
was adopted-l25 Yeas to SO Nays. Among
the Nays are the names OF John Quincy
Adams, Caleb Gushing, William PIT Fcssen-
den, Milard Fillmore, Francis Granger,
Robert c. Winthrop, and JOhH .ucheoH, all
honor 10 him GIddings resigned his seat,
returned to Ohio, aud was sent back by
splendid majority.
In tho seventeen years that have passed
since this event transpred, the people OF
the North have taught the House OF Rep.
rcscntutives some sRlutary iossons concern.
ing tho discussion OF Slavery within its walls.
Mr.. John Minor Bolts is older and wiser
now than he was then. And MIR. Giddiugs
has sat in tho Hall till, so far from resou-
tions and debate on the Slavery question
being ruled out of order, it has become
almost disordery and impossible for mem
bers TO talk or act unOu anything else 1t
does move through !! said Calico.
On the death OF Adams. his Anti Slavery
mantle fell upon the shoulders of Glddings.
HIS course during the contest over the Com
promise measures of 1850 aud in all the
phases of tho Kansas controversy, from its
initiation in tho repeal of the Missouri com
pact down TO the GROWING infamy of the
LecomptOn swindle, would have mot the
appreciation of the great man whose fame
in coming generation will rest less upon tho
starcsmuushiP ho displayed, during the
uoonday OF his powers, in high adminstra-
tive positions, than upon the skill courage
and eloquenco with which he defended, in .
his declining wears, on the floor of Congress,
the cause OF Liberty and Humanity.
ne slalWart lOlm OF NIuuIHEsi uhOcilt
with tho weight of years, his towering head
crowned with flowing white locks,is mark
ed object as no calmly sits in the House !
amid tho surging sea of young life around
him. Though ho DO an interesting specta-
Gle to behoIders, and though it be treat to
hear him, on questions of order, given from
memory, or, il may be, from hs own porson. |
al observation, the rulings of previous Con |
crosses; or to SEQ him silence some upstart .
negro propagandist with crushing fact, or
mpalo him on u sharp retort. or roast him
with irony as he implores his Republican
colleagues not to interrupt BY cries of order
bis young friend from tho South" who is
cursing like very drab in vindicstion of
the Divine origin of Slavery. But your in
rerest in the aged man eliminates &c you
go with him to the old Hall. and he points
out the localities where thrilling Cvonts
trsnspired in times gone by, Hero is where