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

VIII De rcau WIN interest," Dy tDe IrlenUS
Of Mr.. GIppINos, here as il has been in
Boston. .. ....
TIE LATE JosnUA r. GIDD1HGs. To
lie Editor of the Evening Transcript.
have been expecting 10 see some notice
by the newspaper press Of the career and
character OF Joshua h. Giddings, whose
death is announced 10 have takon place a
week or two ago at Montreal, where be
w6s residing as Consul General of the
United States for the British Provinces.
The Montreal Gazette, in noticing the
melancholy event, says he lived only eight
minutes after the fatal attack. II adds,
that in May, 1856, he suddenly fell TO the
floor, while making speech in Congress,
that in January, 1853, he was again at
tackled in the same way so seriously, that
he was supposed to be dead aud that
there was third access Of the malady
about year ago, a. ... ..
A man who has acted so conspicuous
and benefcent par. in public lite ought
not TO pass away without commemoration,
especially without being commemorated
in part Of the country whose principles
he had so much agency in fixing and in
maintaining, and which he did SO much to
bring to its present position in respect 10
sentiment and policy.
Mr.. Giddings had probably almost
reached the aye of seventy years. lie
served in the war of 1875 with Eng
land. having .hen scarcely arrived at
mans estate. lie came to Congress in
December, 1883, having been, previous.
ly TO that time, a successful practitioner OF
law in the town Of jefferson, in Ohio. He
continued 10 be member OF Congress nc
less than twenty years, representing one
Of The districts oI the Western. Reserve
The last part Of that time he was the old.
est member or. as the phrase is, "Father
Of the House," and, as such, administer.
ed the oath of Office TO Mr.. Speaker Boyd
Of Kentucky, in 1851.
In 184I, in the second term Of his Con-
gressional service, be was made Chair.
man OF the Committee on Claims, com
mitee which, before the transfer Of thai
class OF applications 10 the jurisdiction o
a special tribunal, was burdeped with ar
enormous amount Of business, and hat
great interests dependent upon its nleg
ri,y, intelligent and good Judgment. Mr.
Giddiugs had been preceded in that trus
by Mr.. Whittlesey, also Of Ohio, after
ward Comptroller of the Treasury ane
it is enough to say, in praise OF Gidding''
administration, that neither the Govern
ment nor the suitors were thought TO be
losers by the change.
But he did not long retain the favor oI
the representatives.. The Slavery ques
lion was becoming prominent in our poll
tics, and he was of the few who had al
once sufficient discernment TO perceive it'
momentous bearings, and sufficient con
stancy and self reliance to act light by
the dictates of party opposed to tb'
claims Of Freedom and Right. This wa
not the sort Of man whom either Of the
parties OF the day desired 10 make prom
inept and the next Congressional Direc
tory showed his name transferred hom
the Cbairmanship OF the importau; com.
mittee on Claims to place among the
rank and file Of the obscure Committee on
Revolutionary Pensions. .....-..
His position was now well defined to
both friend and foe. lie gave himself,
heart and soul, to the great controversy
which was opening. He lost no opportu
nifty of proclaiming the banoiul influence
of Slavery on. the councils and on The hon
or and interest of the nation. Nobod,
could worst him in discussion Of ques
tions connected with that momentous sub
;a,t ua unJaretooJ IL ,hnronrbly pr;p
ciples, facts, illustrations, were amply a
his command. He was practised deba
ter; he could not be confused or daunlod
0 and he spared no force of language. B
: the Southern demagogues and their fol
D lowers, he came 70 be hated even more
il possible, than John Quincy Adams
March 81, l842, he presented series {
o resolutions relating to the famous "Creol
case" and asserting that slavery coul
claim no protection on the high seas fror
the Federal Government. For this actio
5 he was, on the following day, censure
by vote Of the House. He immediatel
resigned his seat, in brief note address
ed to the Speaker, and going home place
himself before his constituents for re-elet
lion. They chose him almost without an
show of opposition, and he went back
o Washington much stronger than before.
1t was in the year 1916 or l847. thi
Mr.. Adams said, my work is over, 20
y must look to Giddings hencefoward." Th
successor to the position of chief champio
in Congress was in no way unwo orthy of i
D. His convictions were profound his sens
of duty was lofty his personal charactt
" was most estimabe; his talents were OF
d high order; his industry indefatgrtae; b
vigilance was sleepless; bis courage We
K of the iruest temper; his promptness we
never at fault; his power Of expressio
was tha. which is formed by clear hea
and warm earnest heart: long exper
= ence had made him master OF that bus
- ness of parliamentary tactics, in whlr
the pracIsed skill OF Southern member
RI used so often 10 secure them the advan
10 age over associates from the North wh
u came but term or two, and then CAV
a way 10 other beginners.
yt When, on one occasion, in his place
ID the House, he used language which CAV
offence, a fire eating member approache
him whila he smoke, and with threatenin