New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-30
JOSHUA II. GIDDINGS.
DFDIC ALTON OF 4 MONUMENT-ADDREsS BY THE
HON. j. A. GARFIELD.

A monument erected over the grave OF the
late Hon. Joshua H. Gddings IN jefferson, Ashtapmla
County, Ohio, was publicly nhyshed ~. MG Mon
lion likeness by the late Joseph Carew OF BosOn
cessor in Congress- delivered an address He first re-
viewed the life of Mr. Giddings who was born october
ancestors came from England in 1850. when he was 10
wears old he 10 Ashtabula County, where he re
sided during tho remainder of his eventtul life. His
educational privileges were only those Afforded by the
log schoohousc of his district during portion OF the
Winter months. His father Lad fought IN the battles OF
the Revolution, and at his fathers fIeslde
Young Giddngs learned to respect the rights Of
for In 1871 he studied law with the Hon Elisha Whit
tesey was admitted TO the Bar in 1900 and elected to the
Icoisl1turc in 1926 He declined reelection, and prac
ticed until elected to Congress IN 1883 where he was
continued until the end OF the AAANth CONGRESS, IN
the army against the British He took part IN the eXpe-
battles occurring on one day oneffh their number in
killed and wounded. Mr.. Garfield continued with a
ce NJ fhe uoliticaI situation as il existed at the time
of Mr. Gidiingss advent into Congress- The founders
of bc Government believed they had adjusted affairs
tbat slavery would slowly but surely disappear They
d for be abolition OF the foreign slave treaty
and prohibited its extension into Territories then free
unforeseen events especially the invention of tho cotton
Gin and the acquisition Louisiana from the French,
set in motion great reaction. Tie sprt OF ayarlce
guided the ambition of politicians perverted the wisdom
of statesmen and seized all the places of power and in
duence in the National Government 1t even entered the
sanctuaries of religion and converted the great
mass of American churches into bulwarks OF Slavery.
I'm The Summer OF 1924, the American AntiSavcry So
cety was organized at Philadelphia, with IL members,
and began 10 make protest against Slavery During the
Ten or twelve succeeding years, the appeal had so
reached the public conscience that both political parties
taking the alarm, determined to suppress agitation by
every possible. In order to fix the place which
Mr. jiddugs occupied in this great movement against
slavery il is necessary to give an analysis Of the forces
at that time opposing the institution. lheIe were, Irst,
the followers of william Lloyd GARRISON VINO insisted on
Immediate unconditional emancipation second those
who believed the Constitution to be antiayery spirit
and could therefore support and defend IL, and
who ultimately formed the Liberty party; third,
those who were thoroughly anti-Slayery in sen
ment but who thought 1t best TO remain IN one or other
of the great political parties and carry out the reform by
elcCing who would oppose aud limit slavery by all
constitutional means In the beginning Of his political
career Mr. Giddings belonged To the thifd OF these
classes He Wing and acted with that party, eN-
cept questions pertaining 10 slavery during tho nfs
ten years Of his political life He was elected in 1873 to
mn an une xpred term Of his old law preceptor Elisha
Whittlcscy Martin Van Buren, President and James
polk Speaker of the House Of Representatives Pres-
Implications in the free states, and declared that they
we're calculated to stir nsurrecton and produce all
men in Congress who had made any public demonstra-
ton against slavery. These were the venerable John
ouincy Adams Of Massachusetts,, and William sade OF
Vermont. Even Mr.. Adams, though thoroughly
anti-slayery in sentiment, had expressed the
i'm the District Of Columbia might he avoided" The
speaker here gave an account OF the agitation IN Con-
rss resulting from the presentation by Mr. Sade, with
his approval Of memorial praying for the abolition OF
slavery the District of Columbia and the adoption OF
hc fthcrtOn Gag Resolutions" On the first OF these
resolutions MIR. John Quincy Adams voted nay almost
alone thus declining To- say tna CGnsrSSI ad no rSt
Giddngs by saying that, In Of war, Congress and
The Executive would have full power over Slavery, ana
might abolish it, If deemed necessary 10 save the Govern,
Inrnt" From that day Mr. Giddlngs was the devoted
friend of Adams, and hOnOred by the confidence ana
friendship that great The spectacle Of GO slaves
driven i'm shackes through the capital, the slaNedeaer
On horseback armed with pistols, bowie knife ana pan
ration WHIP made lasting impression on Mr.. Glddlngs
mind resolution of inquiry, offered by MI nade, was
tablcd under the gag rules Mr. Gddings steadfasy adj
hrred the position that appropriation Of money pad
Ly Free constituency should be made by Congress IN
| aid of slavery.
THE exciting incidents attending the early efforts oil
Nr Gddings lie heard the question IN tongrt
,cre detailed, and the speaker cOntnued FROM tnat
ay M the end of his life Mr. Giddngs was hated by the
| lave power. His works. The EXiles Of Florida ana
.Tbc Causes of the Rebellion were valuable conrib
tions To the current history. His speech against lhc
Seminole war created profound sensation, ana was the
rt ssfu step toward the restoration Of freedom oi
debate but il cost its author Whatever Of influence ne
may have hoped to exercise with the incoming ahh
| trnfion of Gen. HARRISON whose election ne had
| tavorcd . The resolutions Of censurc, and IN con
! scnuent resignation OF Mr.. GiddiDgs, because In
! h,b offered resolutions In Congress offensive 10
| The slave power resulted in his triumphant re-
ec,ton He resumed his seat after an absence OF less
don six weeks the vote Of ccnsure ana then IN
neech ON The Creole question, took ground against the
,iybt Ia hold slaves the high seas or elsewhere OUT
de The Jurisdiction Of state laws. The position though
hr,i made him social Outcast at the Capital wh,re
~ slave interest dominated In society well AS in the
Governuent. Mir. Giddings appears To have been the
Gr IA state the rational and practical ground on Whcn
',Icrs of Congress and the people sustaining tlein
d tually resist the institution of slavery Ihl'
tnrnt was made In speech delivered IN the HOUSE
Observation-Disclosures February 49, 1874. HIS first position
"a question was taken without waiting ~ learn now
w"r1 affect lis standing with his constithcht-' an
- noly sustained 10y them ~ the tdN Nccl sIOuua ~
! I,a1 ci,o,cu AS tlcI IepIC " A.alIse.