Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-30

went home ana appeele1 Ion the hOusS
to his constituents, his course being sp- |
proved by them BY sending him back to
Congress.
It was from this dste that Mr.. Gidding's |
became cOnspiciOus SIS an Anti Slavery |
leader, and his career became a part Of
the Anti-slavery history Of the country,
although he had been known as an Anti
Slavery man from boyhood.
Side by side with that old man elo-
quent, John Quincy Adams, Mr.. Gidd-
ings opposed the sggressions of slavery,
SIS is seen by bis speeches, showing up the
pro.slavery character of the Florida wsr;
in favor Of the abolition Of slavery in the
District Of COlumbis; in favor of the right
Of petition; in favor Territorial freedom;
and subsequently in opposition to the Flu
gitive Slave Law; the compromises Of
1850, and the repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise in 1866, snd his speeches de-
ncunciDg the invssion Of Kansas BY DEM
Oorstic Border Rufhsns from Kansas in
ls56-6-7. Hsl
In 1s47 he refused to vote for Robert C.
Winthrop for Speaker Of the House, be-
cause that gentleman refused to pledge
himself to constitute the committees SO as
to have them srrayed in favor Of the right
Of pc itions. For this he was denounced
without stint by the Whig press from one
end Of the Union to the other. He was
hated universally by Pro Slavery men and
Conservatives for ais manly Anti Slavery
characteristics, and many men, even to
this day, although protesting to be "gOOd
Republicans, and figuring for Office, and
who would not object to receive Anti Sls-
very votes, would bolt his nomination for
any position we're he alive and nominated
Mr.. Giddings has had his life threatened
by several Of the aBully BrOOkses" of The
South, on the floor of Congress, but no
smount Of intimidation, or personal peril
or sacrifice ever made him fslter in his op-
position 70 Slavery.
Tho rOIIOwIng extract from speech de-
livsred by him on the floor of the House,
December, 1856, will give one an idea o.
his Ani-slsvery sentiments:
"Why, sir never saw painting fugi-
tive speeding his way to land Of freedom,
that sn involuntary invocation did rot
burst from my lips, thst God would aid
him in his fghtl Such are the feeling Of
every man in our free states, whose heart
hss not bacone hardened in iniquity.
90 not eoRhne this virtue to Republicans,
nor TO Ani-Slsvery men; | speak OF all
men, Of sli parties, in all Christian com.
munities. Northern Democrats feel it I;
they ordinarily bow to this higher law Of
their natures, and they only prove recre-
snt 10 the law sf the Most High when
they regard the interests Of the Democratic
party ss superior to Gods law and the
rights Of msbkild.
Gentlemen will bear with me when
assure them and the President that have
seen ss many ss nine fugitives dining st
one time in my own house-fsthers, moth
srs, husbands, wives, parents, and chill
dren. WRen they came to my door, hung
~ and faint cold and but partially clad,
did not turn round 70 consult the Fugt-
tive Law, nor TO ask the President what
n uId do. knew the constitution Of my
country, ard would not violate it.
obsyed the divine mandate, to feed the
hungry and cloihe the naked. fed them
clothed them, gave them money for their
journey, and sent them on their way re-
ioicing. 1 obeyed God rather than the
President. 1 obeye1 my conscience, the
dictates OF ny hesrt, the Law Of my NOR
al being, the commands Of Heaven, and,
will add, Of the constitution Of my ooun
try; 70 no man Of intelligence ever be-
Heved that the trainers Of that Instrument
Intended to involve their descendants Of
the free states in any act that should vio
ate the teachings of the Most High, BY
se zing q fellow being, and returning him
to the hell Of slavery. II that be treason,
make the most Of it.
"Mr. Bennett, Of Mississippi. l want
10 know il the gentleman would not have
gone one St p further2
"Mr. Gidjings Yes, sir; would have
gone one step further. 1 would have driV-
en the vecatcher who dared pursue
them from ny premises. would have
Kicked them from my door-yard, II he had
tuhQE MS bpDbhEaAGE tAGAD OAf hHA nc at
tempted to enter ny dwelling, would
have stricken him down upon the thres
hold OF my door.
az do not speak these things 10 give the
President unb ppiness. l mention the
to show the people OF our free states the
rights which hold to be clear and sacred
under the constitution There is neither
constitution or law That forbids them to
speak their opinions in regard to slsvery.
As already stated, the master holds the
power Of life and des over the slaves;
De not only rObs the slave Of bis earnings,
his intelligence, his manhood but murders
him if be refuses to be fogged-s tyranny
revolving in every sense Of justice to
every dictste Of Ohristianify-s tyranny
more unmitigsted than any despotism Of
the Old World Hon. j. e. GiddiBgs, IN
81 use If RsprsIentatiVsI, FirIt SessioH, S4th
CongTeS5.
From 1912 to 1852 Cuyahogs county was
in sir. Giddings' district, and was proud
Of his services.
Mr.. Giddings was appointed by Presi-
dent Lincoln United States Consul General
for Csnsds, an Office worth $4,000, and
has since discharged the duties Of that Of
fee. He died, like Moses of ol Z, in sight
Of the promised lAsd lsnd Of freedom.
Mr.. Giddings leaves wife and Eve chill
dren-three sons and two daughters. One
Of the daughters is married to the Hon.
George ". Julian, Of Indiana.
Presidential Prophecies
Aa the time drawa near fnr The Ralti