Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-06-10
Hon. Joshua Reed Giddings.

The tribune gives the following
sketch of the life of this great work
er in the Anti-Slayery cause;
He was born at Athens, Brad
ford Co., Pa, Oct. 6, 1875. When
he was ten years old his parents be-
came settlers of Ashtabula County
Ohio, in the Western Reserve, since
famous by its devotedly Anti-Slaye-
ry politics. When II years old, in
1912, he entered the army as a sub
stitute for his brother, and saw SER
vice against the Indians near San
dusky Bay. Subsequently he taught
school. Began the law in 1917,
studying with Elisha Whittlesey, and
was admitted to the Bar in 1920
In 1926 his public political life com
menced with his choice as a repre-
sentative to the State Legislature.
Declining a reelection he pursued
his profession till 1888; and in that
year he was shosen to Congress to
succeed his instruction, Mr. Whit
lesey. Henceforward his career be-
came part Of the history Of the
Anti-Slavery movement.
His principles were settled before
he entered Congress. AT the begin
ming of his service as a Representa-
tive he became identified with the
champions of Anti-Slavery. BY the
side of John Quincy Adams he de
Tended the right of petition, decIar-
ed for the abolition Of Slavery and
the Slave-trade in the District of
Columbia, and espoused the cause
of Territorial freedom. But those
were the days when freedom of.
speech in Congress was at the mer-
cy of slave-holding oligarchy, and
Mr.. Giddings' first attempt to be-
heard against the slaye-uade, I'M
1889, was a vain one. In 184l he|
found leave to speak against the
Florida War asa pro-slayery contest.
In 1912 came the celebrated Gre
ole case, in which slaves on board al
vessel of that name, sailing from
Virginia for New Orleans, rose
against their kidnappers, and carried I
the vessel into a British port. Mr..
Webster, then Secretary of State,
demanded naturalization from the
British Government, and Mr.. Gid
dings, on the DIST Of March, offered
a series Of resolutions in Congress,
declaring, after a statement Of gen
eral principles Of liberty, that the
Africans 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.. Giddings, however, all
the solicitation Of party friends, with
drew his resolutions and for Offering
them was censured by the House
Resigning his seat he was rc-choscnI
by a great majority, and thereafter
was reelected for successive terms
till 1854 period of 81 years.
Throughout his Congressional life
his Anti-Slavery record was consist
emit His political associations were
with the Wing Party, though in 1871
he refused to vote for Robert c.
for Speaker, and in 1916
declined to support Taylor for Pres
dent-in both instances because he
deemed those candidates untrust-
worthy on the Slavery question. He
'trenuously opposed the compromise
measures in 1850-in these as in
other cases, subordinating his party
to the demands Of con
science and the Anti-Slavery cause.
lie was hated by the Pro-Slayery
leaders in Congress and the Pro
Slavery parties Of the country, as
perhaps no political leader except
John Quincy Adams had been; but
10 amount Of opposition, or of per-
3onal peril, or Of sacrifice, ever
caused him to falter.
Mr.. Giddings was appointed by a
President Lincoln Consul-General g
or Canada in 1861, and has since !,
discharged the duties of that oflieej,
1t Montreal. He dies ripe in years
md in fame-dies just too soon to
witness the final triumph of the cause r
o which he gave mrescryedly the
energies of his life.