Year: 1859

The following is the concluding portion of Gid
dings' letter to Corwin, on his Xena speech.


You cannot have forgotten the conversation be-
tween US when you were about to enter the Cab
met of Mr.. Fillmore. / then gave it as my opin'
ion that Mr. Webster would bo the ruling spirit OF
that Administration, and stated to you in emphat-
10 language that his subsereiency 10 tie SlacePouer
tcoud ruin any administration. told you what l
kneu when stated that you were selected express
ly for the purpose Of giving popularity to Mr..
Websters subscrviency. speak OF these things
sin sorrow, and not in anger. You were ia
yorite son of my own State. We had stood to-
gether in many hard fought battle. This fugi-
tive law, however, under threats and Intimidation
pa ssed Congress, by aid of the previous questions
which cut off debate AID prevented exposure.
opposed it to the extent Of my powers, and de-
nounced it as unconstitutional Gespo;ic, barbarous
and disgracefM. You as a member of the Cabinet
officially approved and sustained it, and used the
army and navy of the United States to enforce it.
At that time ICE separated. Ten years have passed
away Mr. Webster has departed; the stigma OF
spproving that law rests upon his memory From
Russia you hear the voice of her mperalists boast
ing that no act so barbarous that law ever in
suited her people. From philosophic Germany
you have listened to the voice of her greatest phi
iosopher her purest patriot and most exalted phi
lanthropist, Humboldt declaring that he hated Mr..
Webster on account Of his completely oih that
la,o. And he spoke the voice of christendom.-
Pardon me when l say that you cannot roll back
the tide of reproach which is so rapidly oblerat-
ing the memory of New Englands most talented
statesman. / had hoped that you would seize up
on the first opportunity to declare your conviction
of the infamy of that measure and place yourself
On the side of freedom. ads ed


In your late speech at Xenia you say it is the
sacred duty Of ere'y good citizen to obey the la'o
tvhen the Legislature and Judiciary hare decided IL
such. The doctrine of submission is unsuited to
our age. 1t condemns Jefferson, Franklin, WASH
ineton Adams and their associates, who refused to
obey the "stamp act," although the Legislature
and Judiciary had decided it to be constitutional.
So also Of the act levying duties on tea They
slew the minions of Government who attempted to
enforce those unconstitutional laws. Republicans
hold it the sacred duty of every good citizen to re-
sist despotism in every shape, although approved
by the legislature, and by the judiciary. They
look upon that man as already enslayed who fears
to speak, and act his own enlightened convictions.
Submission to despotic power has become the dis
grace of our nation. The doctrine has become Of
fensivs to every friend Of liberty.


You further say if men disobey the law you cal
bring their heads to the NOck-provided the law
should require it. This declaration is hostility to
Republicans generally. was unnecessary and un-
kind Had it come from STAKEHOLDER, or servile
democrat it would have excited no attention.
The Republicans of Lorain county trampled upon
that law, rescued fellow being from slavery and
set him at liberty. They indicted the men who re-
captured him and would have sent them to the
Penitentary, had not the administration receded
from its attempts to punish the rescuers and per-
mtted the fugitive to enjoy his freedom. Tou
scould bring their heads to the block. If you speak
Republican sentiments we are not united party.
You would hang the men who now import slaves
from Africa but when the same slaves escape to
Ohio, you would cothe the slaye-hunter with oil
the power of an army or navy to capture him, and
take him back to bondage. Republicans would
hang the save-hunter. if found in Africa or Ohio.


When Federal officers recently attempted to
pupsh thirty citizens of Oberlin, for reseuing
man from the hands of mscreants who had recap
tured and was attempting to re-enslave him, pub
lie attention was attracted to the subject. People
regarded those who enacted the law, those
who retained Office and thus voluntarily sought
to enforce it. and the miscreants who. under
IL, attempted to enslave innocent mon,
as equally gully. The popular mind was for a
time dssuaded from executing retributive justice
but give it as my opinion that if the prosecution
had been continued in the spirit previously mani