New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22
JOSHUA REED GIDDJNGS.
A GREAT ANTI-SLAvERY CHAMPION.
THE LIFE OF JOSHUA Il. GIDDINGs. By George
w. Julian. evo. Pr. *. 4'3. Chicago: a. u
mcclure e. Co.

W. Julian. svo Pr. *. 473 Chicago: A. L
NcClurg Co.
The life of Joshua r. Giddings is intimately
associated with the long and arduous struggle
against the slave power. For wears it wa
q fight against apparently overwhelming odds. Wit
swarming foes North Us well rs South fight not
only against Southern aggression. but against
Northern subservicnce social ostracism and ecclesi
astical denunciation But il ever man was born
for his work il was this man. He came 10 II natur
ally and he chung to it with indomitabe persistence
Thiugh born in Pennsylvania he was reared IN
Wayne Township, Ashtatula County. Ohio. and
during the twenty years Of his Congressional
career he was nobly supported by the Western
Reserve constituency whose sterling virtues
alone made it possible for him TO maintain
the independent position which was necessary
to the success OF his mission. Living
on what were at the end Of the eighteenth
and beginning Of the nineteenth century.
tho outskirts OF civilization. young Giddings
went through all the usual rough pioneer en-
pcrience. lie developed into powerful. athletic
man, six feet two inches in height, and broad in
proportion. lie was fond OF outdoor sports, and
almost to the last passionate lover Of the Ameri
can game baseball
His education was much like that Of Abraham
Lincoln. and, also like Lincoln he contrived to
extend it to fit himself for the practice of
law. lie was admitted to the bar in 1921, and
soon obtained sohd reputation, being particu-
larly successful irf criminal cases, of which his
son-in-law, Mr.. Julian gives several instances.
In 1881 he went into partnership with another
young lawyer also destined to be famous namely
Benjamin F. Wade. After serving term in the
Ohio Legislature and gaining local laurcs, he
was reduced to ruin by the panic of 1887, and
his health failing under the pressure Of financial
distress he for some months victim TO
bypochondria A journey on horseback, however
prescribed by his physician, did him much good
and the Hon. Elisha Whittlesey. in whose office
he had studied law, having resigned his seat in
the XXVth Congress. Giddings became a
candidate received the nomination, and the
Wing party being in the ascendant
of a Congressional career which lasted without
break from s3S to 1850, and during which the
real work Of his life performed
When Giddings entered Congress slavery had
not yet become political question. but it had
grown into formidable power, and for years had
been aiming at the mastery of the Union. There
were then very few Abolitionists, and they were
despised and hunted. The mob both North and
South, was proSlavcry In S37 Lovcjoy was
murdered at Alton, Illinois, because he would not
obey the behest of pro-slavery rufans; and
Philadelphia mob had burned Pennsylvania Hall
a few months previously. To suppress free dis
cussion the most audacious violations of the mails
were rcsortcd TO. The slave power had settled it.
self in the saddle, and already resolved to ride
down whoever got in its way. The Ordinance of
1887 had been tramplcd under foot in the Florida
and Louisiana cases iniquitous Indian wars had
been undertaken for other reason than the
extension of slavery. At Washington the slave
Ind tbe NJ tin
was subscrvient to it; the Whig party theo-
reticaly ant-slaycry, but had done nothing to
formulate any scheme for opposing it. 1t was
under such circumstances that Joshua X. Gddings
took his seat i'll the House Of Representatives
and began that attack upon slavery which was
maintained until the Republican party had been
organized, and had by its success made it plain
that the beginning Of the end was in sight
Giddngs for some time kept journal Of his
Congressional experiences, and it is TO he regretted
that he failed to follow up this practice, as the en-
tracts given by his biographer are full of interest
and throw much light upon the politics of the
period He soon became impressed with the
growing dominance of the slave-power. and in
looking about for allies in resisting it he soon
found that he must expect to stand almost alone.
There indeed one venerable member who OPP
posed the South with indomitable callantry. The
his services TO the of freedom priceless. To
him Giddings inevitably turned and became his
disciple and his helper and when the old states
man fell in his place, with all his harness on. his
mantle descended upon the shoulders Of his younger
friend. The latter adopted a policy which he
conceived to be the most likely to educate the
North TO realization of what the domination Of
slavery implied. lie was perfectly we'll aware
that at this time any attempt to overcome
Southern influence was hopeless and futile;
and in the first place because the North
did not see the danger which threatened
it, and thought the placation Of the
South the most important matter. II is indeed
curious that the moral wrong of slavery had be-
come so invisible to the people of the Free States
since the signing of the Constitution. The com
promises of that measure no doubt reacted mis-
chievousy upon the general conscience. But pub
lie sentiment had become very calous when the
sight Of coffles Of slaves driven through the
streets Of Washington. and the voice Of the slave
auctioneer. audible at the Capitol Offering human
beings for sale. did not produce the slightest
impression.
1t was the object Of Giddings to make such
things tell. and therefore he never ceased to pro-
test against the continuance Of slavery in the
District Of Columbia. His watchfu eve more
over caught every instance in which the Admins
tration went out OF it's way to and support
the slave-power; every case of a lawless claim
for compensation for slavcs-scores Of which grew
out of the Florida war-ond of seizures of slaves
at sea by England. Congress was always ready
TO vote for the payment Of these claims. matter
how clearly bascless iniqutous they might be
At times Southern members clustered stormy.
threatening with England if she did not
cease from carrying ont the law which gives
freedom TO the slave who sets foot on
British soil But Giddings. always remarkable
for his presciencc. laughed at this menacnS
talk and told the blustercrs plainly that
they dared not go 10 war with England.
since II they did, their peculiar institution"