The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-11-18
Speech of Hon Joshua R. Giddings

in Philadelphia, Friday evening last, on
tho lTaipcr's Ferry instruction, to largo
audience. He alluded to tho excitement
occasoncd by Brown and his confedcratcs,
and tho Federal and Stato efforts to crush
it, and said:
such scenes have long boon foretold
there; scvonty years since Mr.. Jefferson
pointed his countrymen to the timn when
this condition Of things must take place.
and solcmnIy warned them that in such a
contest God had not an attribute that would
enable him to take sides with the savoholdcr.
Nearly twenty years since, Mr., Adams, With
prophetic assurance, said the day of tho dc.
liverance Of the slave must como. Whether
in peace or in blood, he said. tr il come.
The sympathy of the Christian world is
with the slaves. For thor liberation our
ministers and Christians pray. our statesmen
labor, and their freedom is the object OF de-
sire with all candid, intelligent men-whilo
oil feel unwilling to SEQ their freedom
stained with blood. Men of age, of expert
ence. look cooly upon these facts thoy
should not be moved, nor permit themselves
to become excited. deporo the loss of
human life as deeply as any man. l never
witness human WOO, nor can ! look upon
human suffering uumovod. Aud yet,
for Brown, nor Cor his follow prisoners
anything more, nor anything less than jus.
tico.
"This interesting incident in our country
history stands connected with some well do.
fined cause. Tho subject which excited the
invaders to action is Enthusiastically sot forth
in all tho accounts we have received. The
institution of Slavery was tho moving cause.
Whether Brown and his mon are as guilty
as they are represented or not, their object
seems to have been tho liberation Of the
slaves Of that region. Pennsylvania had
slaves she emancpated them. and now en-
joys the quiet and prosperity consequent
upon her justice. Virginia retains her
slaves, and is consequently subjected to
annoyance. Thus, cause and effect are
always connected"
AS to the relation of the Federal Govern
mont to Slavery Mr.. Giddings expressed
the following viows:
"At tho formation of tho Federal Gov.
crnmcnt new doctrine was adopted. The
Declaration of Independence was the bond
of the Union, and by that it was agreed that
tho new Government should be free, each
State holding its slavery subject to the will
of its own people, without reference to the
Federal organization. At tho adoption of
the constitution of the States each retained
their entire and supreme power over the
institution within its own territory, having
tho right to abolish it at pleasure, and to
consocIate its soil aud Institutions to free
dom. | do not Intend 20 argue this point.
I merely lay them down as incontrovertible c
principles. | therefore assert that each
State may at plcasure establish liberty with.
in its limits, and that no other power has
any right to interfere. That Pennsylvania
has the undoubted right to be free, while
Virginia has tho power and privilege to
maintain her Slavery.
"Anothor proposition lay down as 10.
controvertible-that attempt of tho Federal
Government to involve the people of Penn
syvania or othor Free States in the expense
the crime, or the disgrace of Slavery, con
stitu.o an overstepping of its Legitimate, it'
constitutional powers.
"In saying this. am certainly aware that
| Virginia and all tho Slave States deny this
proposition. and insist that, although We
had q right to abolish slavery in our own
States, we arc nevertheless bound TO aid
them to uphold it in Virginia. | am aware
that this now constitutes the great issue
between our political parties, But,l repeat
| it is no part of my present purpose TO argue
these points. 1t is sufficient for my present
purpose to say that nearly all of our people
of tho free states maintain and believe the
doctrine as | have laid it down-that oul
obligation to defend tho slave states against
invasion or domestic violence has no more
reference 10 slavery than to her imprisoned
offenders"
Mr.. Giddings did not think this fitting
time to speak of Brown and his associates
he did not wish to excite feeling unncccssa
rily. Said he:
"Most of Browns companions nre dead
at least the most fortunate among then
have departed. Tho others will probab!.
soon follow. Their sad fate will occupy
brief page in the history of our nation
Those who yot survive seem to have antici
pated the result. and arc now waiting it
consummation. l recollect an Instance o
somcwhat similar character. When tn
Africans of Algors seized and cnslavec
Americans, wo sent an army and navy t.
butcher thon declaring them, unworthy O.
existence. Whilo our fleet lay off the por
of Algiers, a large ship was 10 sight lying
under the protection of the guns Of tina
immense fortress. The American command
or proposed to send boat for the purpose
blowing up the ship. Tho plans were laid
arrangements "ClO pctIcC'Su, "Hd az 'H'
silent hour of twelve at night about twont.
men solomnly and silently shook hands will
their companions, entered tho boat, ant
struck out boldly 20 capture nm immens
shin. in order to lberatc their fellow met
from bondage. They died-NoT ONE RE
TURNED. Their plan was ill-conceived-i
failed. but their motives were sublime, an,
we honor their memories.
"Right and wrong are immutable.
Slavery were wrong then, it is' now. If
were wrong for Africans to enslave Amer
cans, it is no less wrong for Americans
cnslavo Africans. In all our words, All
thoughts, and actions, we should ever kee
in view those attributes of Deity-trul
and Justice. never look upon humen wo
without emotion. as deeply doplore tn
loss of life As any person can, and yet
would not ask for Brown nor bis associate
aught but justice, nor would / withhold
Justice from the slave nor from his master.
Mr.. Giddngs proceeded to trace tn
causes which had resulted in the presen
state of feeling. lie referred to the grounc
taken by John Quincy Adams in Congress
ON tho slavery question, to the actions o
, Miner of Pennsy ylvania, and to his owl