American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-08-18
Mr. Giddings, Letler TO Gov. Corwin.


Mr. Giddings' LetteE TO Gov. COTwin.
WehAse hitherto rsfrslnsd from noticing
the letter OF Mr.. Giddipgs. addressed to
our Gellow,citiEsp. Mr., COrTiu. The De
mOctntic press, in various parts ofthe State.
have labOred diligently. aud is their wont.
to create division in the Republican par
ty. by presentilg.with much exaggerAtiou.
the points on which Mr.. Corwin and Mr..
Giddings differ. touching the execution OF
the fugitive slave law. Mr.. Giddngs. in
a recent letter. published in the Ashtabula
Sentinel. has however expressed opinions
on this subject. which we presume no one.
except himself. ald very few like him,
can possibly admit 10 be Republican doc
trine.
We hold it to be sound Republican doc
trine, that the laws OF both The State and
Federal Governments. when declared con.
stitutioual BY The proper judicial tribunals,
are to he obsyed. Forclble resistance to
law. under such circumstances. is not only
treason. as defined by our laws. but it is a
total abandonment Of government. aud re-
fers all rights TO the arbiIrament OF force.
1t is anarchy organized.
When Mr.. Giddings speaks with com
mendatiou Of hanging Judges engaged in
the discharge Of their Judicial duties, he
counsels murder, and murder of the most
atrocious hue. Ii such counsel were car
ried into over acts, all concerned would
incur. and justly too, the death penalty
Mr.. Corwin is right in differing from Mr..
Giddings on this subject, and we undertake
to say, that ninstylnise in every hundred
of the voters of Ohio win unite with him
in his adherence Of the extravagant. anti
social. anG.republican doctrines lately put
forward by Mr.. Giddings-whose age aud
great experience. we fear, have failed tc
teach him, that ours is emphatisally a gov.
ernment Of law, aud not Of force. or OF the
arbitrary will Of any man. AS majority
must rule, the lsH for him and all OF
is enacted by that msjority. AS no man is
to be the Judge in his own case, the Judi
cial tribunals shall. judge for all. Ii the
law be bal one, go TO the polls. and cleo
those who will repeal. or amend it. II The
Judge be corrupt, TO impeach or remove
him. Thus has our happy system OF gov
ernment gwen a peaceful and competent
remedy for all the evils which gsvernme d
can inflict upon US
Mr.. Giddugs' remedy for the ills result
ing from bad laws is, simply to shoot th'
sheriffs aud marshals and hang the judges
who enforce them. The owner Of fugi
tive slave has right, by the Constitution
OF the United States, to follow the fugitive
into Ohio, aud reclaim him. Mr.. Gliding
thinks the Constitution wrong in permit
ting this--and his way OF amending lh'
Constitution is, to shoot the man whc
comes to Ohio after fugitive slave; ant
when he shall have been indicted for th,
murder. as we conscientiously think h
should be, in such case, his mode OF de
fence is 10 hang tie judge before the tria
begins. That ideas so revolving to TIL
common sense o! all men--so utterly sub
versve Of the only free, rational system 0
society--a government Of law, enseted b,
agents appointed blythe free suifrages o
the entire adult population--that suGl
ideas should have been put forth in this en-
lightened and free State, would excite uni
vfrsal horror. il they were not 81 ply
ridiculous. Mr.. Gidding5. though in tn
main sound Republican, does not speal
the sentiments flhe great, law.loving. law
abiding Republican party Of Ohio, on thi
subject, Werepeat. Mr.. Corwin is tn
true exponent Of the Republican doctrine
chat the Fugitive Law 10 to bs repealed
and not resisted with force, and IN thi
view he is sustained by ninety-nine hun
dredths of the voters Of the Republics
party Lsbanon Star.