, 1870-08-02
JOSHUA r, GIDDINGS.
Dedication OF a monument-Adtlress
by the Hon. J. A.. Garfield.

NoVtAse0k @<A '44ts W. w. aCA0A*t 0VfE4uo
JOSHUA B, GIDDINGs.
Dedication OF a Monument-AdtFess
by the Hon. }. A. Garfield.
A monument erected over the grave Of the
late Hon. Joshua n. Giddlngs, ID Jefferson.
ABhtabula County. Ohio, vAs publicly unveiled
last Monday. Tho monument is 4 massive
lloek Of granite, with a medallion bruLxa
likeness BY the late Joseph Carew, Of Boston,
The Hon. J. A. Garfield. lii. Gihfngu' present
AtcceAsot in Congress, delivered an address.
He first review ed the life Of NJ. Giddiags, who
Vas BON October 6, Its, It Athens, Rrsiford
from England III l650. When he was 10 vea5s
old he came to AshtabulA County, whese Ge re-
tided during The remainder OF his e7entful
hfe. His educational privileges were only
those afforded By the log school house OF
ms district dnI3nG portion Of tue winter
the revolution, and 1t his fasher,s d1eside
yonng GiddinEs leArIed to respect the sixhts
OF man, and that humxn liberty uAs worth dy-
lng for: In 1s17, he studied Law With Hon.
Elisha Whitslesey, was admitted to the bar in
1870, and elected TO the Legislature in 1896,
He declined = re-election, aud pzactised law
until elected to CongresA in 1888, where ho was
continued until the end OF the NxNVth Com
gEese, in 1855. r 1879, II years Of age, he
volunteered to serve in the army, against ths
t44Esu. ae LUX Pklt IN Iae expedition 10
Sandutky Bay, in which onr forces lost in two
battles occurring on one day one-fifth their
number in killed aud wounded. Mr. Garfield
continued with glance at the political situa-
ton - i existed At the time OF Mr.. Gid
dera of the government belic1e1 thew
hAd 60 adjusted AGai1e that slavery
would slowly but surely disappear. They
had provided for the abolition OF the foreign
slave treaty, and prohibited its extension into
Territories then free. CnforReeu eyents, cs-
lccially thc invention Of the cotton gin and
the acquisition OF Louisiana from tie French,
eet in motion I great reaction the spirit Of
avatlce guided tho ambition Of politicians, per
vetted tho wisdom OF statesmen. and seized
al tho places OF power xnd influence in the
esrc,uazies Of religion, and converted tbs
great mass of American churches into bull
wa1kA Of slavery, In the summer OF 1854 tho
American Anti-Slavery Society was organized
nt Philadelphia, with II members, and begin
to make protest against slavery. During The
ten or twelve succeeding years, tho appeal had
20 reached tho public conscience tflat both
political parties, taking tho alarm, determined
to suppress agitation ly every means possible.
In order to ti1 the place which Mr. t;iddings
occupied in this great movement against
issf t to gss ~ Of
ton. There we're. ttet, the followers Of viii
liam Lloyd Garrison. who insisted on inn,e,3i-
ate, unconditional emancipation: eecond.
those Who believed the constitution to be an-
ii slavery in spirit, and could, therefore, sup
port ard defend it, and who ultimately formed
the liberty party third, those who were thor
oughly and-slarery in sentiment, but thought
1t best to remain in one or other OF the great
political parties and carry out the rcfo17u by
electipg men who wonld oppose and limit
slAvefJ by ~ constitutional means. In the
beginning Of his political career, Mr. Giddines
belonged to the third Of these classes. Hc
was Whlg, and acted with that party, except
on questions pertsinihg to elayeE, during the
first ten years Of his political life. He
xas elected IN 1893 to fill IN uuox-
%hittlesey. Martin Van Buren, was President
and James T. Polk Speaker OF the House OF
Representatives. President Iackson-s insac-
uni had referred to Ant,-Slsyery publica,..ns
IN the free States, and declared Tint they ve1e
calcnl'ted 10 stir up insurrec.ion and produce
found but two men il Congress- who haa MADE
any public demonstration against slavery
These were tie venerable John Quincy Adkins
Of fMassschus etts and lEtlliamSlade Of ie1mant.
Even M. Adams, though thoroughly anti
slavery IN sentiment, had cherished the desire
tbat AL debate on the subject OF slavery IN the
District Of Columbia might be avoided. The
speaker hero gare Eli account OF the agitation
IN Congress, resulting from the presentation
by Mr. slade. with his approval, OF memorial
praying for the aboitiun Of slavery i'll the Dir
..Athezton. Gag lsesolationa.' oa the
John Quincy Adams voted nay almost
tlone, titus declining 10 esy that Congress had
no liSht over slavery in tic Stalcs, aud ex-
plained Lis vote to Mr. Giidipgs by ~, ing that,
In case OF VA. Congress md the Executive
Kon!d have full power over slavery, and might
abolish it, il deemed necessary 70 saye the
government From t1at day Mr. Giuliuvs
vas the devoted friend of Mr. Adams, and hon-
oze1 BY the confidence aud friendship Of that
great man. The spectacle Of -ixty slaves
driven in shackles through the capital, the
elase-dcaaer on horeeback, armed with pistols,
koN5c-kuiyes, and plantation whip, made
iatting impression on Mr. GiddinSn mind. A
resolution OF inquiry, offered ty AI. slade.
w.. i1b.S n1der % re gae rules MI Giddngs
propri.tion Of money paid ty a free constitu-
slavery"
The exciting incidents attending the early
efforts Of AE. Giddlngs to be heard on the
speaker continued; From that day to tho
end Of his life Alr. Giddings was hated by the
slave power. His works, The E1ikes OF
florida and Tho Causes of tho Rebellion
were valuable contributions to the current hia-
tory. His speech aSatuet the Seminole wxr
created \ profound sensation. and was the
first successful step toward the restoration OF
freedom Of debate, but 1t cos. its author What
ever Of influence he may have hoped 10 exeE-
c1se With the incoming 2dmi -istration Of Cen
eIal Harrison, whose election he had favored
The resolutions Of censure, and the consequent
resignation Of Mr. Giddings, because be
bad offered resolutions ii Congress Of
kneiEe TO tho slave power, re-
suited in his triumphant Reelection. Ne
resumed his seat after an absence OF less
than sir weeks from tie vote Of censure, and
,htn. in speech on the creole, took ground
sgainst the night to hold Slaves on i6e high
Rtaf. or elsewhere outside the jurisdiction of
State Laws. The position, though heroic, made
slave interest dominated in society, ~ we'll ss
il. the government. 2ir. Giddings appears to
practical ground on which members Of Con-
g1eEs and the people sustaining them could
si1ectuslly resist the institution OF slave.y.
This statement Was made IN = speech deliy-
cred in the Houee of Representatives Febru-
asy IS, ls4!- His first position On the ques-
tion vas taken without waiting TO learn how it
would affect his standing with his constituents.
md vas noely sustained BY them in the sd-
vanced Graund he Ind chvsen ~ their repre-
sentative"