The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-06-03


duty ot every cirizru to discountouanco all
/ efforts to create eXctrmcni, dissatisfaction.
and division among the people OF tho United
Safes NJ such q time, under such circum.
stsuccs; and whereas, mutiuy aud murder
arc therein justified ard approved in terms
shocking to all sense OF law, order, and hu.
/ manityl therefore,
| Rrsolp,d, That this House holds tho con.
duct of the said mcmbor ms altogether un.
" ,rroutrd and unwarrantablo. and descrs.
ing the severe condemnation Of tho peopi,
of this country, aud OF this body in particu
| lar"
On this resolution n motion was made
to suspend tho rulcs---ycas l2s. NAYS 6S. -
Two-thirda not voting in the affirmative, tho
rules wore not suspended.
Tho call for resolutions still resting with
tho state OF Ohio, Mr.. Weller offered Mr.
Bou's resolution us his own.
Mr. Adams then moved to lay tho whole
subject on the tabIe-ycns ~, nays I'D
| Tho direct vote was ihnn taken on tho res
oluton consuring Mr.. GdOings-ycas l25,
nays 90.
/ During tho rcndcncy IF tho resolution of
sayed to speak, but the Pro. Slavery majority
in the House. with characteristic unfairness,
denied him hearing in his own defense.
lie Immediately resigned HE seat. and, bid.
ding farewell to his friends in the House. re.
turned to his constituents, who TO elocteg
him by an increased majority. MrrGid-
dings, much as ho abhorred SlaSSry, had
never questioned tho exclusive power of tho
States over that institution, within their own
limits; on tho contrary, no conceded that
power in tho very resolutions which thus
kindled tho wrath of the Slaveocracy. -
Ills resolutions merely embodied u few
obvious and wel!-cstablishcd principles of
Constitutional law, and that no was consurod
and silencod in tho House for introducing
them, will ever remain ono of tho most
striking illustrations of tho doop dcgrada-
ton TO which Slavery bad reduced the
nation. As member o: that BODY, so far
from denying am of tho Constitutional
rights of tho South, no oven admitted tho
power of Congress to lceislate Cor tho rem
dtion OF fugitive slaves but. because no
had tho sngacity 10 discern the wrong and
tho evil consequences of making tho Fudo-
raj Government tho patron Of Slavery, and
tho courage to expose and jcnounce tho Of
forts of Shareholders and doughfaces to that
end, ho was generally condemned, even by
tho people OF the Northern Stntos, who were,
as yet, in doplorable moral darkness.
| From tho time OF tho introduction of his
"Crcolo Resolutions" Mr.. Giddngs became
tho acknowledged leader of tho Anti. Slavery
movement in Congress and, for years,-es.
pecial'y after tho death of Mr.. Aiams,-he
contondod with tho Slave Power in tho
House, almost single. bardod and alone. A
less than Giddings would have faltered aud
failed. in view of tho difficulties and dangers
ho had to encounter. Condemned to both
social and political ostrncism in that centcr
OF corrupting Pro. Slavery influences, tho
National Capital regarded as mischleyous
fanatic and agitatOr even by majority of
his own party pursued by his cnomles with
nalignity and persistence seldom known
in tho most bitor partisan warfare; his life
mcDaced by tho herd of slavoholding ruff
fans by whom he was constantly sur
rounded; who but ono having great mis-.
sion TO perform, could survive Gl these trials
of his faith, and como off conqueror at last
With him, opposition served only to doycl.
op strength. 1t is no extrayagaut cr.
logy of Mr.. Giddings, end no disparage-
mcnt of'any Of our public mon, to say
that now, when tho battle of Freedom
seoms 80 nearly won, and it is becoming pop.
ular to speak tho truth ovon in Washington.
there is not in either branch Of Congress,
his equal in moral power; whilo there arc
many whom wo rank among tho good and
true, who would noyor enter upon such
work as his. MIR. Giddings was not a
mar of learning or grace, but no was, noy-
ortheloss, o man OF pcwer; and, ut times
when inspired by tho great theme of Iln.
man Rights, he was grandiy eloquent Ills
was tho simple oloqucnco of truth. How
torriblo were his donunciatons of tho sin of
Saveryl how scathiDg his rebukes Of tho men
who were devoiing their cnorgies and talents
to sustain II F.! how solemn and impressive
his admouitions of our gH,lt as u nation be-
cause of its existence and increase, with our
sanction aud approval No champion Of
Slavery ever mot him in debate, who wac
not vanqnishod; and, on somo occasions, as
tho records of Congressional proceedings
will show, no rose triumphant above a score
of opponents in tho House.
Mr. G'ddiugs was always truo to his Anti.
Slavery convictions. irrespective of tho nc.
ton OF his party. In lS47. though IL Wing
he refused to support Mr.. Winthrop for the
SPcakership, because that gentlemen would
not pledge himsolf to SO organize the Com
mittees OF the House as to favor Freedom
aud, in 1913, ho refused to support Gcnora
Taylor, because ho regarded him as unrola
bio upon tho question of Slavery. Whor
fully convinced that tho Wing party had DO
como hopelcssly rccrcant to Freedom, ant
false to its professions, ho separated hmse
from it; and, for this, no was bitterly do
nounced by his former party associates
many Of whom retained their enmity ill III,
| 4 Of