The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-01
AN ANrI-sLAyERY HERO.
Some Incidents of the Life of Joshua Il.
Giddinss.

From Skotch by Walter Buell..
Those were the days III which it cost some
thing to stand up for the "rights of men"
Abuse and calumny were heaped upon Mr..
Giddings in public life, while he was unmer-
cifIlly snubbed in social affairs in fact was
almost cut off from social intercourse with
his fellows. The most stormy scene in his life
occurred in 1S43, during the debate on what
IS know! as tine Creole case. March 81 1843,
Nj. Giddings gained the floor, and, in bold
and telling speech, presented a set of reso-
lutions directed poin t-blank against the doc
trines and claims of the slavery men, The
House was profoundly stirred; never had a
member taken such risk of political and
bodily injury, and dealt the monster slavery
so staggering blow
In an instant all was confusion. Dawson,
OF Georgia, arose and shouted ON him.
I'll shoot him." while another Southern
member approached with a bowie-knife in
his hand and placed himself menacingly in
front of Mr.. Giddings Friends interfered,
however, in time to prevent trouble. Great
was the Indignation of the slavery members
and their Northern "doughface" symna-
thizers Bolts, of Virginia, offered a series
of resolutions severely condemning Mr.. Gid
dings'a action; and, allowing him no time or
opportunity to vindicate himself, the resolu
tons of censure passed by a vote of 125 to SO,
Immediately resigning Giddings started
for home. Everywhere he was received with
open arms and greeted as hero. At special
election to fill the vacancy he was reelected
by majority of 1900 though every means
that could be devised by villainlv and false
hood were used against him. The effort to
crush the bold Onioan was failure, and,
coming back with the prestige of indorse-
ment, his repute and influence were national.
In five weeks after being sent home in dis
grace he was back again, strengthened, more
than ever formidable, intrepid, effective. In
1SHQ Snaa-ipo bafora tho Nayu Work N
slavery Society, he said:
when | returned to that hall and
marched up to the altar, again to take the
oath to maintain the constitution of the
country, | say to you, in the presence OF
Heaven, that meant what I said. If l have
failed to maintain the constitution God for
give me! for, if | have failed it has been
through my want of intelligence and not
from any intention on my part. AS l looked
around upon those who five weeks before
had ga2ed upon me with such arrogance, |
could not catch the eye, in that vast hall, of
one of them who could look me in the face
Then felt the power of truth; / felt the
power of him who, clothed in it's panoply
maintains those doctrines of freedom which
lie so near to every human heart"
In humiliation and defeat for the domi-
nant pro-slavery party this disgraceful chap
ter ended For propriety's sake the journal
OF the House was toned down; and i'll Ben
tons thirty y ears IN Congress, though
the Creole case is mentioned, nothing is said
OF Mr.. Giddngs's censure, his resignation, or
his triumphal return.
At the birth of the Republican as a ma
tional party, at the Philadelphia convention
of 1856, Mr.. Giddngs assisted in the chris
tening. In 1857 he was suddenly stricken
down in his place in Congress, and was not
expected to live but rallied and served out
his term; then, shattered in health, he re-
tired from public life. In 1860 he was del
egate to the convention that nominated Lin
coin. In 1861 Lincoln appointed the old
veteran to the consul-generalship OF Canada,
which Office he held until May %, 1864, when
he breathed his last. He began History of
the Rebellion; Its Authors and Causes" but
death cut il short, and it was never finished
or published.