The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-01-27

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stand to defend Mr.. Giddings on his
left, Charles Hudson and other friends
gathered around and thus protected
Mr.. Giddings. until he finished his
speech, and maintained the freedom of
debate. Previously during debate, Mr..
Black had charged him with stealing
slaves and with franking. dress to his
wife by mail, But on an investigation
by Mr.. Giddings, it turned out that Mr.
Butler had sent a shawl to his own
wife, and that was the parcel in ques-
ton. -,.,....f -.e,,
AtMr. Buffers request Mr.. Giddings
said nothing about It, for he feared he
would not be reelected if the story got
out. Mr.. Giddings told him that he
did not want to see any more Demo
Gratis returned, but he would, as per-
sonal favor, bear the reproach which
Black had put upon him. That did not
save Butler, however, for his district is
now represented by Republican.
MIR. Giddings next spoke on the Gre
ole case. A cargo of slaves sailed from
Richmond, Va, in 1910, and when out
side, by their own right arms asserted
their freedom, killed the miserable deal
er who opposed them, and going to
Nashua, left the vessel and escaped.
This gave rise to the promulgation of
certain doctrines by Daniel Webster
and others, that the rights of slave
holders to their slaves was guaranteed
by the Constitution. This Mr.. Gid
dings denied. He offered resolutions
having contrary bearing in Congress,
and was driven from his seat by the in
fuence of Webster, simply because he
opposed doctrines which no man dare
assert to-day. But Adams and VIM.
B. Calhoun and Briggs, and Borden
and otEe.'s of Massachusetts, stood by
him notwithstanding the storm, aud
despite the wishes of Webster. -o0
That claim rested fourteen years In
consequence of the trouble caused at
that time, but Franklin Pierce brought
it up again, and made this people bear
the expense of paying for those slaves
of the Creole. ....,
In lS46 he was a Whig, and the
Wings assumed to be the defenders of
the Wilmot proviso. Wr. Winthrop,
with whom he had had the bitterest
personal quarrel had brought forward
that proviso as an appendage to the
Oregon bill at previons time. The
Wings went into the campaigne and
elected General Taylor, with the
platform of the Wilmot proyiso and
non-intervention with Congress. But
when Congress assembled, the Wings
held back: some took one ground and
some another; the Whig party was de-
vided, and the Northern Democrats
voted with the Wings to divide and
conquer them. By getting up other is
sues than those Of the canvass, the
Wing party was broken. And it was
a warning to the Re publican party how
they changed their ground of action
and deserted their high principles.
Z Gen. Taylor, seeing that California
was to have no government, used his
influence with members to secure the
passage of Walkers amendment, there
by abandoning his pledge of non-inter-
yention with Congress. Southern
Wings deserted it; on the night of the
Sd of March, the little band of the
faithful stood by Wilmot, and it being
apparent that by dilatory motions they
would prevent the passage of the bill
till the midnight hour arrived,
and Congress must adjourn, the
majority gave up the amendments to-
save the main hill.
Mr.. Giddings alluded in quick sue
cession to the various events of later
years, the battle to elect Banks, the Joy
in Washington when Shadrach was
seized here, and the interest of MEM
bers when they heard that the man had
escaped, in consequence of which the
Union savers claimed that the Union
was in danger, and proclamations were
issued to the army and navy, and let
ters to many, calling upon them to be
yigilant Professor Stuart disgraced
Andover by writing a plea for the en-
foreement of the fugitive slave bill !;
prayers were offered for it in Congress,
and Congressman grew drunk in con-
viyal parties for it, and all for the reason
that one poor colored man had escaped
from bondage. s4a-rase.