Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-09-03
Letter from J. x. Giddings.

- JEFFERSON, OHIo, Aug. II, 1901.
Hon. J. w. VANCE: a,
| Dear Sir-I was pleased to hear from you
1t is scarcely probable that we shall again mee
In State Convention where our most interesting
acquaintance has taken place. Yet feel as in.
tensely as ever on subjects pertaining TO the wei.
fare OF our Government and fully sympatbize
with you in your apprehensions as to the effect
of forming new political party at this time.
II is little more than four years since the or
ganizition of our Republican alliance, and less
than ten months since the election OF our Presi-
| dent upon the very doctrines on which the Un-
ion was founded. He and his Cabinet with
great unanimity have honestly and ably en-
deavored to carry out those doctrines Tho
people of the free States with a unanimity of
sentiment, spontaneity Of patriotism unknown
in the history OF the world have rushed to. his
support; while rebellion has reared its horrid
front, and unexampled efforts are made by the
slave States to overturn the Government. At
a moment, apparently more important than any
other in our history, we are called on to turn
aside from the support of the war now raging,
to form new political party, to abandon the
Administration whom We have elected, the
principles on which the Union was founded, and
unite In new political organization without
avowing any cause for SO Extraordinary move
ment, or asserting any principles or fundament.
al truth as the basis Of this new party. 'Ale @;
This movement Is said to have originated with
members OF Congress who united in recon.
mendation TO our State Committee to call no
Republican Convention These members ol
Congress did not form the Republican organi-
zation, nor were they elected for the purpose o.
disbanding il. They were sent to Washington
under the most solemn pledge to use, their con
stitunonal powers to maintain the "righs oil
man to live" and to uphold all collateral and
incidental principles which fow from this semi.
nal truth. The denial of this doctrine and in
cidental issues flowing therefrom, have consti
Etuted the only real questions before the Ameri
can people for the last quarter Of a, century,
/ True, efforts have been constantly made /,
keep this issue out Of sight, to turn public at
tention from 1t, to decefve the people; while ii
truth and in fact the subject of slauery or free
dom has been the life-giving element in ali ou
political controversies. Davis, Wise, Smith
Toombs and Stevens, were no less anxious .,
4 overthrow the Constitution while serving in th,
House of Representatives, than they are now OF
the battle Held. But the people were told tina
we should say nothing Of freedom or slavery
that these men were true friends of the Union
Silence in regard to fundamental truths wa
then the order Of the Wing and Democrat,
parties as 1t is to be In this third party about Il
be formed. a'oN ~ - 'senil a,
I Iassert as truth not to be denied or doubt
ed. that had Congress for the last twenty, ff
Il teen, ten, Eve or even three years boldly ant
properly done its duty, there sOouId hare been n
REBELLION. a7' 7PAt''t a
But 20 propitiate the enemies of our Govern
ment, Congress annexed Texas, paid her debts
the people elected secession Presidents, Judge
4 and Marshais, and placed them in altdepart
ments Of the Government without knowing thei
doctrines pl ecisely, as it is now proposed to d
4 Ia this aew Or third party. We were then aske
to do 60, to save the Union and uphold the Coz
ernment precisely as we now are. And the bis
tory of ls40 and ls4s appears to have been foi
gotten. !. -.ss. s,sss9 tE.7 "a a 81
u 1t is now more than twenty years since,
saw, or thought saw most clearly that ou
4 Government would be overthrown, unless th
people could be aroused to the support, of th
primal objects aud ulterior designs on which |
! was founded; and the highest enjoy ment of %
life occurred when the Republican Conventio
at Philadelphia enunciated the right Of all me
to life and liberty as the basis of its orgaDiza
Ition., The issue was formed by the ,Suprem
Court, who, acting on behalf ofithe Democrat
|. party, denied the self-eyident t.utbs on whic
a our fathers challenged the sympAthies Of civil
/ ixed men, Tue Chicago Convention re. assert
III ed these doctrines and on them the PRECEDENT
II the Vice President, and all Republican mem
i Ibers of Congress were elected, soss... ~, I.
a This rebellion in behalf of slavery brough
4 out o new phase In human deprsvity, and in
i parted to Il q barbaroue, q piratical chafacte
European governments, seeing this, glad
i sought other sources for their supply ct cottc
..N .