Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-06-03

The Tribune gives the following sketch Of
the life Of this great worker in the Anti
Slavery cause
| He was born at Athens, Bradford Co.. Pa.
/ Oct 6, 1925. When he was ten years Old his
/ parents became settlers Of Ashtabula Co.. Oln.
/ in the Western Reserve, since famous by its lie
votedly Anti-Slavery politics When ! : years
old IN lsl2, he entered the army as a substitute
for his brother, and saw service against the In
dams near Sandusky Bay. Subsequently he
taught school. Began the law in 1917. STUDYING
with Elisha NhIttlesey, and was admitted 10 the
Bar IN ls2u. In lo2t his public political ht.
commenced with his choice as repres NATIVE
to the State Legislature. declining a reelection
he pursued his profession till 1888; and in that
year was chosen to Congress to succeed his IN
structor, Mr.. Whttlesey. Henceforward his
career became part OF the history Of the Anti
Slavery movement
His principles were settled before he entered
Congress. At the beginning Of his service a. a
Representative he became identified with the
champions Of Anti-Savery. BY the side Of John
Quincy Adams he defended the right Of petition.
declared for the abolition Of Slavery ami the
Slave-trade in the District Of Columbia, and e.
poused the cause Of Territorial freedom But
those were the days when freedom Of speech in
Congress was at the mercy Of a slave-holinc
oligarchy, and Mr.. Giddings' first attempt TO be
heard against the slaye-trade. in 1899. was
vain one. In ls4l he found leave 10 speak
against the Florida War as a pro-slaverv contest.
In 1872 came the celebrated Creole case. in which
slaves on board vessel Of that name. sailing
from Virginia for New Ollean-, rose against
their kidnappers, and carried the vessel into a
British port Mr.. Webster. then Secretary Of
State, demanded naturalization from the Brit
ISL Government, and Mr. Giddings, on the DIST
Of March, offered a series Of resolutions in Con-
gress, declaring, after a statement Of general
principles Of liberty, that the Am ans Of the
Creole had violated no law in resuming their
natural rights and that any attempt to re enslaye
them was unconstitutional and incompatible
with the national honor. Mr. Gidiings. however.
at the solicitation Of party friends Withdrew his
resolutions, and for offering them Was censurei
by the House Resigning his seat he was re-
chosen by great majority, and thereafter was
reelected for successive terms till lSja-a period
Of y years.
Throughout his Congressional life his Anti
Slavery record was consistent His political as
sociations were with the Wing Party, though in
1917 he refused to vote for Robert C. Winthrop
for Speaker, and in 1916 declined to support
Taylor for President-in both instances because .
he deemed those candidates enthusiastically on the .
Slavery question He sCrenuously opposed the
measures in ls5O-in these as in
other cases, subordlnatng his party associations I
b the demands Of conscience and the Anti-slave- .
~ cause. He was hated by the Pro-slave Y
eaders in Congress and the Pro-slayery parties +
IF the country, az perhaps no political leader .
Except John Quincy Adams had been; but DO
AMOUNT of opposition, or Of personal peril. or Of .
sacrifice, ever caused him to falter.
Mr.. Giidings was appointed by President Lin
DIN Consul-General for Canada in 1861, and
las since discharged the duties of that Office AZ
Montreal. He dies ripe in years and in fame
lies just too soon TO witness the final triumph of
he cause to which he gave unreserveily the
,nergies of his life.