Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-04-01


groes were regarded as property by the
e United States Government, and paid for
when lost in war. Mr.. Giddings was afraid
: that he should be accused of talking poll
tics for just as sure as he spoke of eternal
truth, they said that he was speaking against
the Democrrtic party. lApplause. In
speaking of the Creole mutiny, he thanked
God for the fatal blow which was struck by
Madison in Washington. Then Daniel
Webster placed this nation in the attitude
, of solicitor for slave dealers at the Court
of St. James, and in the Senate of the
United States they proclaimed war against
: England if she hesitated to pay over the
money. Northern men yielded in order to
save the Union. But the Slave Power
went further. When the people sent their
petitions TO Congress, they were flung back
in their faces. Religion, too, was contain
mated to save the Union. All the Churches
in the District of Columbia participated in
Slavery. One clergyman sold member of
his own Church. Mr.. Giddings related
several touching instances of the despera-
ton to which slaves had been driven in the
District OF Columbia. and gave some strik-
ing illustrations of the degradation of the
North and its officiating submissiveness to
the Slave Power. He told how great was
the interest felt in Washington when Shad-
rack was rescued in Boston how the Pres
ident issued his proclamation calling upon
the people to save the Union, and the Sec
retary of the Navy ordered the vessels 10
be put in fighting order to follow Shadrach,
then on his way to Canada. Laughter
and applause 1t was in such a state of
feeling that John Quincy Adams used to
take out petition, and state that it was
from SO many men and so many women,
and that it prayed for the abolition of Slave
ry in the District of Columbia. Instantly
score OF Southerners would propose to
put 1t under the table, or upon the table,
and it wentssthere. Then he would take
out another to excite an angrier reply.
Some forty citizens of Hayerhill sent him
a petition asking that, as the Southern
States could not probably remain in the
Union great while, Congress should take
measures for the peaceful separation of
the States. MIR. Adams asked that this be
referred TO special committee Of nine, to
report the reason why the prayer of the
petition could not be granted. There was
great confusion, but Mr.. Hopkins of Vir-
ginia, found an opportunity TO ask if it
would be in order to burn the petition. Mr.
Adams did not reply, but afterward alluded
to hun as the 'combustible" member. Af-
ter many attempts, Mr.. Wise of Va. got
the floor and asked if it would be in order
to move resolution of censure. There
were many replies of 'Good, good" and
the House adjourned. A meeting of South
ern men placed the burden of the arraign-
pf Mr. AIa,no
Ky. A meeting of Northern men was at
tempted, but scarcely more than three were
willing to sustain Mr.. Adams. Next MORN
ing Tom Marshall made his speech, and an
able speech it was. Mr.. Adams called up
on the Clerk to read the opening sentences
OF the Declaration of Independence, and
then claimed that it was the "right and the
duty OF the people to change their Gov
ernment so as to secure their liberties. He
then sat down, saying that if the resolution
were pressed, he should ask for postpone
ment to prepare his defense. A Georgian
followed, hoping the House would not hesi-
tate. Mr.. Wise of Va. then commenced a
speech, which ended the next day. Mr..
Adams replied, crushing Wise by an allu-
sion to the Cilley duel, in which Wise was
a second, and flaying Marshall SO terribly
that Marshall never recovered from it. On
the 9th day it became evident that Mr..
Adams had the House. Mr. Underwood,
a Southern member, upbraided Southern
members for blaming the people of Massa-
ehusetts for asking Congress to do what
they so often threatened. AT last MIR.
Rhett of South Carolina owned up that he
believed that the Union ought to be abol-
ished, and had had bill for its abolition in
his desk for some time. Then the South
ern men got up quarrel between them
selves, and each other up completely, and
Tom Marshall at last made an apology, and
asked leave to withdraw his resolution.
On the twelfth day, MIR. Adams was asked
how much time he should require for his
defense. He referred to the trial of War
ren Hastings, in which Burke spoke for
four months, and said that, if not interrupt
ed too much, he hoped to get through in
ninety days. Astonishment seized every
countenance. He went on to compare New
ork and Virginia, much to the discomfort
of the gentlemen from Virgiaia. Next
the resolution Of censare was laid
on the table. MIR. Giddings considered this
to be the first of the triumphs of the right
against the Slave Power. The lecture,
which abounded in personal narrative, was
received with great enthusiasm it will be
After the lecture was over, Judge CuI-
YER gave a brief history of the expulsion
Of Mr.. Giddinss, the parliamentary dodge
by which he was precluded from reply, his
resISnalion and his triumphant return into
The House five weeks thereafter. A reso-
luton of thanks TO Mr.. Giddings closed the
exercises.