Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-03-26
Speech of John A. Bingham, on the Kan
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sas Election Case.
Wegive abrief extractfrom the speech
Of Mr.. Bingham, member Of the House
of Representatives, from the twenty. first
Congressional District in this State. Il
is worthy the attention of our readers.
"We have seen that this act of the
Territory of Kansas makes it a felony for
a free citizen of the United States to
maintain that persons have not a right
to hold slaves in that Territory. deny,
sir, that the Territory has the power con-
feried upon it by its organic law to make
such an enactment. l insist upon it that
it is restrained by the very words of the
statue from doing it ; and that any ter
~ritorial enactment which makes it a fel
ony for a citizen of the United States,
within the territory of the United States
.to know, to argue, and TO utter freely,
according to conscience is constitution
ally void, because it is not consistent with
that provision of the Constitution which
declares that the Congress of United
States shallnot pass any law abridging
the freedom of speech or of the press
1t has conferred the power of legislation
on that Territory [; but as, at the same
time of comforting that power, it said, in
terms plain and clear to the comprehen-
sion of any man, that such Legislation
should only extend 10 such rightful sub
iects of legislation as were consistent with
the Constitution. Congress has the pow
err to restrain and prevent any such leg
islation. By permitting it to stand. Con-
gress approves it, and. in fact, enacts it.
What Congress does by another, it does
itself, in effect.
Ay, sir, Congress is to abide by this
statute, which makes it felony for a citi-
zen to utter or publish in that Territory
anu sentiment calculated to induce slaves
to escape from the service of their mas
ters.' Hence it would be felony there to
utter the strong words of Algernon Sid
ney. Resistance TO tyrants is obedience
to God ; , a felony to say with jefferson,
d have sworn upon the altar of my God
eternal hostility to tyranny in every form
over the mind and body of man : a fell
ony to utter there. in the hearing of a
slave, upon American soil. beneath the
American flag, the words of flame which
shook the stormy soul of Henry, Give
me liberty, or give me death ! a felony
to read in the hearing of one of those
fettered bondmen the words of the Dec
laration, All men arc born free and
equal, and endowed by their Creator
with the inalienable rights of life and lib
erty > a felony to utter there those otLer
words, blaz ng in letters of living light
on the great written charter of our Ma
tional Government, I'VE, the people of
the United States, in order to establish
Justice, the attribute of God, and to Sc
cure liberty the imperishable right of
man, do Jordan this Constitution > a
felony to harbor or aid a slave escaping
from thraldon /; a felony to aid freedom
in its flight; a felony to shelter the house.
less, to clothe the naked, to feed the
hungry, and to help him that is ready to
perish ; a felony to give to the famishing
a cup of water in the name of our Mas
ter. Oh, sir, before you hold this enact
ment binding upon an American Cen.
gress, tear down hat banner of freedom
which floats above is, for stirring remi'
niscenses linger in its folds, and the stars
upon its field of azure have cleaned upon
the field of poised battle where the
earthquake and the fire led the charge,
and where American virtue and Ameri-
can valor maintained the unequal conflict
against the mighty power of British
tyranny and oppression. Before you
hold this enactment to be law, burn u
immortal Declaration and our free writ
ten Constitution, fetter our free press,
and finally penetrate the human soul
and rut out the light Of that understand
ing which the breath ofthe Almighty hath
kindled."
The closing words were uttered with
such thrilling effect, that several South
ern members Involuntary started from
their seats /; while the uneasiness of some
the more shameless Northern pro-
slavery members told but too plainly
their consciences would not let them
rest.