The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1859-08-10
joshua IL. Giddings TO Thomas
COrWin.

dlngs and yielded ready obedience to the views
and wishes of the Ashtabula Chief Instead Of
maintaining his own often declared opinions
vindicating his own integrity, and respecting
his own manhood, Corwin shamefully betrayed
the conservative portion the Convention, and
turned the scale in favor Of the Oberlin school.
His conduct was so acceptable to Giddings that
the latter exulted on the floor of the Conven-
ton, and proclaimed that the speeches of Den
hlson and Corwin made him so inexpressbly
happy that he was like one Of old ready to de-
part Having obtained the complete mastery
over Corwin and brought the latter like sup.
plient to his feet, Giddings is unwilling now to
let him have the latitude he took at Xenia, al
though the object Corwin has in view is to de-
ceive Old Line Wings and conservative Republi
cans, so that they may be catght in the Disu-
MON Abolition trap. Corwin is we'll aware that
Giddings speaks the truth as to what is Repub-
lcsnism, and that if the party should triumph
in the fall election Giddings' views and doc
trines would be fully and completely carried
out. But he feels and knows what Giddings
appears not to understand, that in the central
and southern portions of Ohio, the Republican
voters are not prepared to take the leap, and if
he undsguisedly took open ground with Gid
dngs in the campaign. there would in the re-
gions referred to, be perfect stampede. Old
Joshua is unwilling for Corwin to speak as he
does in the name of the Republican party, be-
cause 10 is not RepuJlicaniSnt. Corwin knows
that it is not Republicahism very we'll. lie
knows that if the party succeeds that it is the
triumph of the Disunion Aboltionists, and he
is for that, but to accomplish success he also
knows that the people must be humbugged, and
he is in for that too. Giddings however, seems
inexorable, and demands that Corwin shall
preach the true republican faith-the faith as it
comes from Oberlin The following extract
from Giddings' letter, (Which is the concluding
part,) will enable the reader to understand the
views, opinions and principles Of the Republi-
can party, as expounded by their chief man.
We ask every honest man who loves his coun-
try to ponder upon it, If Giddings and his
crew are not put down the future has in store
for us a sad and fearful time They are enc
mics to law, order and good government, de-
termined to destroy the Union of the States,
and they are the ruling spirits in the Repubi-
can party. Here is the extract from Giddings'
letter. Read and reflect Statesman: ---
You cannot have forgotten the conversation
hot uanp nc w von urapa nho1t tn far tbn
Cabinet of Mr.. Fillmore. then gave it as my
opinion that Mr.. Webster would be the ruling
spirit Of that administration, and | stated 10
you in emphatic language, that his subse,viency
to the slave poaoer wouM ruin any administration.
told you what knelO, when stated that you
were selected expressly for the purpose of CIV
ing popularity to Mr.. Websters subserviency.
| speak of these things "in sorrow, and not in
anger" You were favorite son of my own
State. We had stood together IN many hard
fought battle. This fugitive law however, un.
der threats and intimidation passed Congress
by aid of the previous question, which cut of
debate and prevented exposure. lopposed it to
the extent Of my powers, and denounced it as
Institutional, deSpotic, barbarous and disgrace
fUl. You as member of the Cabinet officially
approved and sustained it, and used the army
and navy of the United States to enforce it.
At that time a0c separated. Ten years have pass.
ed away. Mr.. Webster has departed; the stg.
ma Of approving that law rests upon his mem.
ory. From Russia you hear the voice of he1
imperialsts boasting that no act so barbarous
as that law ever insulted her people. From
philosophic Germany you have listened to the
voice of her greatest philosopher, her purest pa
triot and most exalted philantropist, Humbolt
declared that he hated Mr.. Webster on accoun
of his completely q0ih that 1aU. And he spoke
the voice of christendom. Pardon me when
say you cannot roll hack the tide of reproacf
which is so rapidly oblitcrating the memory o
New Englands most talented statesman.
had hoped that you would sieze upon the frs
opportunity, declare your conviction of the in
fanny of that measure, and place yourself on thu
side of freedom.
In your late speech in Xenia you say it is thu
sacred duty Of every good citizen to obey the laa
wlea the Legislature and the Judiciary haze deci
ded 1t such. THIS doctrine OF submission is un
suited to our age. 1t condemns Jefferson, Ad
ans, and their associates, who refused to obey
the "stalnp act" although the Legislature ant
Judiciary had decided it to be constitutional
So also of the act levying duty on tea. The,
slew the minions of Government who attempt
ed 20 enforce those unconstitutional laws Re
publicans hold it the sacred duty OF every gooC
citizen to resist despotism in every shape althro
approved by the legislature and by the judiciary
They look upon that man as already enslavet
who fears to speak, and act his own enlighten
ed convictions. Submission to depotic powe
has become the disgrace of our nation. TIL
doctrine has become offensive to every friend Q
liberty.
You further say il men disobey the law yo
tUW bring their heads to the block-provided thu
law should require it. This declaration of hos
tilty to Republicans generally, was unnecessa
ry and unkind. Had it come from q slavehol
der or servile democrat, it would have excite
no attention. The Republicans ofLorain coun
ty trempled upon that law, rescued fellow
being from slavery and set him at liberty. The
indicted the men who re-captured him, an,
would have sent them to the Penitentiary, hat
not the administration receded from its at
tempts to punish the rescuers and permitted tn
fugitive to enjoy his freedom. You would brin
their heads to the block. IF you speak Repub
lican sentiments we are not a united party
You would hang the men who now impor
slaves from Africa; but when the same slave
escape to Ohio, you would clothe the slavehol
der with all the power of an army or navy
capture him, and take him back to bondage
Republicans would hang the stakeholder.
When Federal officers recently attempted t
punish thirty citizens of Oberlin, for rescuin
a man from the hands of miscreants who ha
re-captured, and were attempting te re-enslav
him, public attention was attracted to the sub
lject. People regarded those who enacted tn
law, those who retained Office and thus voun
tarily sought to enforce it, and the miscrcant
who under it attempted to enslave innocen
men, as equally guilty. The popular mind wa
for time dissuaded from executing retributiy
ustice but give it as my opinion that if tn
lprosecution had been continued in the spir