The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-12

| snake ana tTenDtO VnTOuRn tNtTy nerve
| and Joint while he arrayed before thcm
| their political and moral sins. The power OF
his eoouence has exceeded anv conception
| which have heretofore had OF the force OF
| words or logic. lie has. in my opinion. opened
| n new era in our political history. l entertain
| not the least doubt that moral revolution in
this nation will take its date from this session
Of Congress. lam confident that the charm Of
tho slave power is now broken" Mr. Julian
points out that events confirmed the judgment
OF GiddinCs ms to the far-reaching conse-
Guences Of Adams's speech 1t was appar-
emily the deliberate purpose OF the slave hold
crs to make an example Of tho great leader Of
political abolitionism They meant to humili-
ate and crush him. and they dill not doubt
their ability to do it. Had they succeed "A. tho
efforts of smaller and lass favored men would
have been crippled. IL not pnralyHed.
The champions OF slavery. however. were in
no mood To- profit bv tho failure of their ut
| tempt to muzzle Mr. Adams. ana their next
chosen victim was Giddings. ApropUs o. the
case OF tho brig Creole. he had introduced reso-
! lutons to the effect that when shin belong
ing to citizens OF any state Of tho Union had
entered upon the high seas. the persons on
board ceased to be subject to the laws " the
State and all attempts to rean slave them were
unauthorized by the Constitution. For these
South severely censurcd Mr.. Gildincs without
permitting him to utter word In his defence.
He forthwith resigned the Office of Represcn-
tativc and left Washington for his home.
At this time he was determined to retro
from public life. and 1t was only in compliance
with the entreaties Of his friends that he con-
sented to return to Congress He was weary
OF the strife insep arabic from his attitude on
the slavery question. hut he was to sec a great
deal more Of it. He found on his return to the
House Of Representatives, that the Southern
members had become moro overbearing and
insolent than ever. bill was letorc the
Twenty seventh Congress authorizing the
Treasury to turn over to the claim
ants some money paid by the British
Government for slaves made free under the
operation Of British laws through the wreckinc
Of certain slave ships near tho British West
India Islands. Giddings had opposed this bill,
and after his motion to reconsider it had been
laid on the table he rose to n question of nriv.
ilegc. touching nm occurrence which had taken
place during the proceedings. 1t seems that
while speaking he had noticed several persons
standing in from. OF the Clerks desk, one Of
whom was Mr. Dawson OF louisiana Tho
moment he closed his remarks he was vic.
lenty pushed by the elbow of n man pressing
against his side. Recogniyjnp Dawson AS he
passed, he pronounced his name in nm under
tone, hut SO loud as to be heard, Ther,unon
that member turned around. md. Selling the
handle of a bowie knife, advanced toward
Giddings until within striking distance
Looking him in the eye GidlinCs said;
did you push me in that rude manncr9" Ho
answered "Ycs" For the purposo of insult
ing mc?" Yes" said Dawson, as he martial
ly removed the knit, from tbe sheath, Gid.
dings rejoined, NO gentleman will wantonly
but turn you over to public contemnt as inca
pablo of insulting n n honorable man" Bythis
time Moore of Louisiana and other m.mbers
had seized Dawson and took him from the hall.
Giddings stated to the House that he felt It
due to the members as n body to Law these
facts before them wishing il distinctly under
stood that he asked no protection from the
House. but left that body To- rrotec. its own
dignity. The fact that the House omitted TO
take any cornizance of the matter PRODUCED Mt
the North widespread feeling of indignation
and disgust
In the national campaign OF 1874 Henry Clay
was supported by Giddings. although the lat
ter had become. next to John Quincy Adams
tho most conspicuous representative OF anti
slavery sentiment in Congress. Tho con-
iidence of Gddings in the anti slavery lean
ings OF Henry Clay is one Of tho remarkable
facts Of his public life. His son law. Mr..
Julian. thinks that it may be partially ac-
counted for by his admiration for the great
leader, which he shared with all his fell
low Wings, and by the indescribable power
Of Gays personal magnetism, which was
even more potent in the social circle than in
his public speeches. Giddings firmly believed
that CIay's election in 1874 would AVERT the
calamities OF war and the ascendancy of slav-
cry which was expected to follow the acauis-
TT Il -
ers SO firmly concurred with him in this belief
that they for their part did their utmost to in
sure the success of Polk. Giddings was
sorely troubled 10y the Alabama letter
written by CLAY to appease tho discon-
tent OF his Southern supporters and there
is no doubt that this document proved
disastrous 10 inc Nihg caEuihate III Ihe
north. GlddlngS. however. ala NOT Slacken ms
laborS for the Wing cause and il was on the
Wing majority obtained largely through his
efforts in Ashtabula county. that the vote OF