Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-08-18

ole of the District, and that was the apparent OBJ
ect Of the bill.
But his conversing with the people Of the Die
rict, the preparation or his BILL the avowal of his
intention to present it, were important. By these
acts he took bis position with those who were la
boring in the cause of humanity He avowed his
intention to strike down slavery and the slave
trade in the District, to strike from our statute
book the act by which freeman we're transformed
into slaves to speak, aud act, and vote for the
right He cast aside the sbackles Of party and
took his stand upon principle. You speak of that
act with great severity of condemnation. l view
it us o! high moral excellence, marking the
heroism of the man. lie was tie only member
among the Wings proper Of that session, who
broke silence the subject Of those crimes which
through Congressional enacttnent6 still Continue
70 disgrace our nation and mankind.
! | repeat am not vindicatng Mr.. Lincoln. l
know not that speak his views. l only speak Of
those acts which have given the lovers Of liberty
confidence in him.
But those acts we're ancillary to the exclusion
of slavery from California. They we're intended
to prepare the popular mird for that event. At
the period oc which l am writing (lSl9) those
friends of freedom who held seats in the House Of
Representatives were marshalling their forces pre-
paratory to that conflict which was rapidly gather
ing around them.
Our worthy friend, j. NJ. Root had introduced
his celebrated resolution directing the committee
on Territories to report bills organizing govern
ments in California and New Mexico, excluding
Slareyy Merefrom. On that resolution, Mr.. Lin
colo voted for freedom. The question Of ab.
sorbing interest. The advocates of free soil and
free men felt their responsibility. The Democrat
c party were anxious 10 carry out the design Of
extending slavery fot which Texas bad been an
nsxed and the Mezlcan war had been waged. The
slave power had ne7eE Seen defeated on any i'm
portant measure. Shareholders were threat enng
dissolution of the Union timid men hesitated,
conservatives begged and prayed the advocates Of
freedom not "to sever the Union" the radical Alb
olitonists cried down with the Union" while
wickedness and stupidity combined to charge
members of Congress with the alledged political
heresies entertained by the friends of Mr.. Garri-
son. Amid these scenes the friends of the slave
in Congress were constrained to keep their eyes
upon the battlefield, to see that their ranks were
serried and firm. In that hour of freedoms dan
ger Abraham Lincoln was with them. On every
call of the yeas and nays the official records show
him at his post Firm, cheerful. and true to his
own convictions, he taltered not, but carried out
ia practice the doctrines which he enunciated by
presenting the bill of which you complain. And
even when Gen. Tay lor and his Cabinet surren-
dered to what they supposed a necessity, and ex
erted their influence to induce members of Con-
gress to give way, and accept amendment to
the civil and diplomatic bill organizing govern
ment in California tCuhOut excluding sidrery, Lin
coin maintained his position, and with his assOc
ates on that last night of the 30th Congress amid
excitement and violence, resisted the influence of
the outgoing, well as of the incoming admin
istration, aud saved an empire from bondage
Eleven years of subsequent study, thought and
observation, have brought Mr.. Lincoln to the sat
isfactory conclusion that life, liberty, and the pur-
suit of happiness, are gifts Of God constituting
the rights Of man for the protection Of which,
Governments are instituted.
In our Territories, in the District Of Columbia,
and upon the high seas, our Federal Government
holds exclusive jurisdiction. There Mr.. Lincoln
stands pledged by every obligation that can rest
upon him, to maintain 10 the full extent of his
moral and official pO-ers these rights which per-
tain to the human soul. To the fugitive slaves, to
the slaves in Southern States, to he seris Of
Russia, to the oppressed throughout the world, he
stands pledged to the extent of his moral and po-
tical influence. to support the rights which God
has given them. am not aware that any man Of
any age has based his political faith upon truths
. more essential They Ore the truths which al!
good men would gladly maintain.
Your friend,
j. Il. GIDDINGs.
Jefferson. Julv 30h. 1860.