Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-02-27
Contested Election from Saline County.
SPEECH OF
GEORGE G.. BINGHAM,
OF SALINE COUNTY,

DCteCGfCu m nC lIOuSC " IlCDFeStUCubttBS
Of the Missouri Legislature, Thursday.
December l7th, 1916, IN reply to Attorney
General b. r. Stringfello,O, the counsc!
for Mr.. Sappington, ,rho contested the
seat Of Mr.. Bingham.
Mr.. BINGHAM rose and spoke in cub
stance as follows:
Mr.. SPEAKER: Having passed the greater
portion of my life since | arrived at the
state of manhood, in the pursuit of quiet
and peaceful profession, | am constrained
to confess, that the position in which /
now find myself placed, is anything bnt an
enviable one. But | find consolation in the
fact, that l am occupying the post which
duty assigns me. l am here, not only to
defend my own rights, but the rights of
the honored constituency whose represen-
tative | claim to be; and so as far as my
abilities shall enable me, l will persevere
in the discharge of that duty, in despite
of my natural repugnance to the task, or
the obstacles which are thrown in my path.
In this contest, sir, have nothing to
guide me but the dictates of common sense,
and nothing to sustain me but truth; while
upon the opposite side, find pitted against
me gentleman whose office at least should
require the highest legal abilities of the
State, and who, if we are TO credit his
own statements, is certainly no ordinary
man. For he graciously informs this
House, that although, during the prelimi-
nary investigation of this case before the
committee, he frequently found himself
opposed TO six lawyers, he was not disposed
to surrender his opinion in Difference to
them all So find myself not only op-
posed by !awyer, but more than lawyer!
behold towering up before me legal
Colossus, and it may seem strange 10 this
House, that one so weak and feeble as
myself does not cover in such presence,
and shrink back dismayed from such an
unequal conflict
But in the midst Of my profound humi-
iaton, my mind fortunately revcrts TO a
story contained in the good old book, which
our mothers read to us in the days of our
childhood, and which, perhaps, small por-
ton of this House may still remember.
The story to which l alude is, that one
Golah Of Gath, whose immense physical
stature might justly be compared to the
legal dimensions of our Attorney General,
fell beneath pebble, slung from the arm
Of a stripping shepherd.
1t is true sir, that my arm may not be
strong with the sinews which gave energy
to that of the youthful David, but the skull
Of the giant with whom | contend, may
not perhaps prove so hard as that Of the
Phiistine. l do not, therefore, entirely
despair Of being able to lodge in the brain
of this modern Goliah, few OF those
shining pebbles, which may be picked up
even by an unskilful hand, from the Dor
ders of the ever-howing rivulets of truth.
The circumstances, sir, which have at
tended me during my short political career
from the time announced myself can
didate for a seat in this House. TO the pres
ent, have been, in many respects, peculiar
Upon the stump had to contend with the
abilities of others besides my competitor
Against me was arrayed. not only large
portion of the concentrated wealth of the
county in which reside, but found meet
ing me regularly at my own appointments
the great champion of our opponents from
the other end of our Senatorial district
! Opposed by such a combination; assaiet
both in front and flank, with an Er- Coz
ernor, whenever an occasion offered, bear
ing down on my rear, still found ysel
sustained by the consciousness of gooC
cause. The people rallied to my rescue
and, notwithstanding the fearful odd
against me, l conquered in their strength
and came off victorious.
But sir, have no cause TO rejoice in n
good fortune. Lucky indeed would it hav
been for me. had my enemies succeede
in procuring my defeat. II would hav
spared me the toll, the anxiety, and til
!, expense which / have since deemed it m
duty to incur. For though | have no pei
sonal interest whatever at stake in tn
contest, l feel bound in honor to those, t
whose favor | am indebted for the unfol
tunate position which | occupy in yol
presence, to persevere in the defence {
their rights to the very last extremity.
l have discovered, sir, in the course
this contest, feelings fraities, and impe
fections common to human nature, and TN
what in the human breast, ordinarily b
u gets luminosity, is likely to engender som
thing of a similar nature in my ow
- While l make this candid confession, HOY
ever, can state, in justice to myself, tn
: l harbor nothing like malice towards o
human being on earth: and if in the couI
Jet of the remarks which | deem it my du
lot to submit on the present occasion. a
thing that may utter, shall CRATE harsf
- on the ears of any individual present,
hope it will be attributed to no wanton d
position on my part, to give unnecessa
Ist pain, but to the peculiarly unpleasant pc
lot ton into which l have been forced, c.
. trary to my wishes, and after the reject
of the only proposition, which my /
mn. ,Juooapt cnn1A suUOest n settle the RI