Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-11-08
The "Irreprsssib,s Condicc'--speech OF Josh.
ua II. GIddinxs-


The "Irrepressib,e Condicc'--Speech OF Josh
Ma II. Giddinzs-
A speech delivered in the city Of Philadelphia, on
the 2sh Of October BY Joshua r. Gddings in regard to
she Harper's Ferry forsy Of ossawattsme Brown. 1t
was carefully prepared speech and delivered after
the sxc;,sment incideat such aisir had cooled
down. and places tho hoary headed old aboliszis In
posou dissracefrl and revolving than that OF old
Brown himself With GOODNESS and effronterv suds
cous Is d.grxeeul he admits that he has assisted il the
q .aing OF slaves On this point be says
And ss an Illustration Of nv doctrines have paid
probably hundred dollars per year from my limited
free slares from bondage have also fed and
clothed those Eho called while fleeing to land Of
liberty To Others Who pursued, have given arms
10 defend the1selves and have constantly spoken OF
these ihinzs Pubc AID L private BY the Eayside and
~ TIE fre-!de- opposed &c taking human HE
oe2 iefeocs Of Efs liberty In sch cases believe
/. dz;y. IL these opinions think large portion OF
S1- yso5s Of northern Ohio We do these things
vhe, c1a 90 hsl without violating any enActments,
ezI ~ vi that TIA plGs< cannot change the moral
CHARACTER OF ou- act Aua feeling this men NAV become
excited 20 even far - cGr government did
siA Ii. Alzvriaes- would Eos haEs not the hero
ssn 70 DO il
wsAsree Viii the Nashville banner that such COO
tssoa this could come oriy from usn Of the low
ss iastinets- slave thief s better than who
ssesI hogs shsep- Negroes property under the
laws OF fifteen States Of the oonfsdeacy srd reeog
nhed as property blythe Federal Constitution What
sTsr ay be the vless OF individual. IL regard the
vi.dou, morslay, policy Of such laws, they
much bound respeci thst species Of property any
other article which Is the subject OF ownership. An in
dividual has right to say that be will recognize
the right OF property in slaves. The Constitution aud
laws Of the States and the Federal Government recog
niIe the institution, AID the obligation observe and
obey these Laws rests equally upon every whatever
may be bis Individual notions When Mr.. Giddngs 50
rnblusbngiy confsses having contributed hundred
dollars deprive Of their slaves, and jusfes
himself upon the ground that be does not admit the right
Of property In negroes be makes confession that war
rants the suspicion that he would under given OF
circumstances, steal any other kind Of property
Were be Jew, be would steal the hogs Of Christians
and contribute an additional two hundred dollars TO aid
Others In stealing them. Were he teetotaer Ike hlI
febd Gcrrit Smith, be would steal whisky, run and
bs33y however clearly the law might recognize these
articles ss legitimate subjects Of ownership. He might
say that 1t Is sin for people to ruin their health By
ing boys dnng whisky, and therefore he felt bound
% deprive them OF the Of committing that sim
THIS reasoning convincing the logic by which be
sseks vindcsts his conduct In stealing slaves Such
should be watched for In this fast age new theo-
r., snd doctrines discovered almost every day
and should Joshua Z Giddings ever TAXA up with thai
HlJool Of medical quaoi. who repudafe pork
isni sod wtDe bevssagc |, would be necessary fol
BIS Ohio neisbtoFs, who .sjse hogs and cultivate the
Vine 10 surround tbslr herds Of swine With wal
ten feet high and their vineyards ~ liberal sup
ply Of rDsntrtps to p,eTent the predatory nearsons
he redoubtsbls slATe thief
Ioshe speech from which tho above ia extracted
n. Giddibgs, Gays:
Discussion has eiciiei tTaih they have carefsIly
a1hnlReJ the character OF their lights and are deter
mined TO maintain them. An hTcpressbc conflict hs.
srse1 u Is Upon rs, and be does injustice 20 himself
AID biz county that iesr1 70 look Il IA the face no
ice that some Of oar papers appear tind sud fearful
would sty 10 such men, speaL not ct all on this
eou u = one tia. rises above the thoughts of derna
sogoes, ibe comprehension Of minds that move In
dLrss VI mere political sirttegen.H
N smother portion of the speech effort Il made
vndiOste Brown cad 10 doing 60 the speaker profess,
20 give expression 70 the sentiments Of The people Of ,h
trss s,eisS DC sAys
"Sow, IS 10 Brown, entertain the opinion that hi
ouo ssoount o. bis object and designs correct. pre-
suns be has told the truth when saying that his 4oe
jSct IN gosh 70 Virginia 10 free ne siaues On Ll
point suppose 20 ooe VII doubt. He declares he ha
no Intention Of shedding blood He only did tina. whe
compelled 70 doh therefore that In regard to hi
desire Tor freedom 70 the slave be agrees perfectly Wit
nineienths Of The people Of free States with min,
..nst 81 on, ministers WHO every sabbath put up pet
don't think he has Of any time up TO my o.
views"
Again besys
Jbe indignation Of our people Is awakened. In sou
locatyes u y intense. Let no man mistake or bei,i
thai feeling IL has long been forsseeu All reHectr
men knsw h must conc. In fifteen years ] have co
stsnty pointed Il out 20 South,ru men and 20 Sorthe
ueu. Recent events viii increase aud strengthen IT,
1T thoss 10 poser understand can not be traed viii
Let timid msu keep Silent. Let dsmigogus4 long
spser nor thteatcnh
From tbc = ztraos Il win he that Joshua r. a
gs syovs, DOT ly for himself the "irroptessble CO
nisf doctrine Of wm. H Seward bu, he also undertat
% commit the frcu ioIy q the Northern people 20
sane odio1s principles The position Of Giddlngs q
Reward a. Prominent leaders In the Republican pa
givee weight and aut oh'y 70 their sentiments, d
shey would not Otherwise possess and unes. that pa
desire 20 he considered endorsing these infamous
hcsndiary doc,rine', both sesard and Giddngs, and
Who preach thsr kv.iofJing berese', must be rspu,
seA 40 party ran admit sDch into ts councils
xnow hen 10 themselves forward as lie spokesm
~fthort ncurns The odium that necessarily attaches
sbsm. Ths conservative. awabiding people Of the Nc
eve 70 themselves 10 place the stamp Of their
rh.ao condemnation upon such dssssrdly pdncil
80 those procansdb by this sboFton,s,, GiddIngs- +
80 othsrrse he hsld reponsbls Cor them~-he nck