The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-07-01

intensity Of his invective. ill the foolish !
assailant was drawn away by his own |
prudent friends. 1t is said that the calm
gaze of brave man will still furious
lioU.
Probably i. may have been thought by
some who only knew Mr.. Giddings by his
speeches, that ne was OF harsh and vio
lent nature. No mistake could be greater.
He was singularly gentle; delicate and
tender. From his quick sensibility 10 The
right and the wrong, it followed tha: the
wickedness Of oppression and state craft,
whenever brought 10 his notice, moved
him to strong Indignation. But the seve.
rity Of language which be did not scrnpIe
10 use, was simply what he thought due
10 justice and TO tho maintenance OF the
public honor and well being. There was
no particle Of maligni,y in his make +; he
was rs incapable OF i'll temper rs Of fear
Of the meanncss Of hating as Of the mean
ness OF feigning, fawning, trucking or
flinchng. -... ....
His spirits were habitually buoyant and
gay; he had vein Of bumor. A South
ern Representative and he drew seats side
by side. The Southern gentleman did not
like the proximity, and caused a thin
board partition 10 be put up between the
desks. When Giddings came in the next
morning, and saw what had been done,
he affixed 10 his own side OF the barrier a
sheet inscribed in large letters with the
couplet ...-. ..
'.Great wits are sure TO madness near billed
And thin partitions do their bounds divide"
His neighhor could not help observing
that the passers'by ssopped 10 read and
smile; he learned the cause Of their cheer.
fitness, and the partition with its legend
was taken down. .-...... ....
|. One of his last public ut,erarces was
The following, in a letter Of November 80
1868, to the American Anti. Slavery So
, ciety:
, "From the length OF time and the seve.
rty OF my own labors, have tainted, fal.
len, and been borne from the field of con:
. 1ict. But as lipger oa the verge OF time
shall rest my dim vision upon the ba,tle
as it yet RACES, and my last prayer shal
be for the heroes CT justice and liberty"
His strenuous labors are over; his las
prayer has been offered; he has overstep
ped the verge Of time but his works fol-
low him. And when the perspective o
history is ascertained for this age, thu
, wise, good, true and brave Joshua R. Gid
] dings will have place in the foreground.
. There is good deal Of his writing ii
print. Mostly it related TO passing occs
t sions. But the fulness of knowledge dis
. played in it respecting the topics discuss
| cd. the justness and vigor of thought. anc
the simple viyacity of language, claim fol
it degree OF attention which is not gene
, rally due 10 what has been designed only
for an ephemeral purpose. There is t
I treatise from his pen on the Florida War
. which will not fail to 6e permanently con
suited as among the valuable historica
documents Of this momentous age. 1t il
understood that he had in preparation
History of his Lie and Times, or per
, haps, sketch OF his Congressional ca
! reer. work of this character from hi
$ hand, would command the most cordia
. welcome. s. .... ....
Mr.. Giddings was faithful member O
the Congregational church; but he mad
little account Of diversities Of name'
among Christians. His religion was o
, the most catholic description his Greco
was that ofpiety and humanity--tEe creet
Of the first and great commandment, ant
of the second which is like unto it.