True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-03-26
KANSAS CONTESTED ELECTION,
SPEECH OF
HON. JOHN "A. BINGHAM
OF OHIO,
hhe House Of Representatives,
March 6, 1856.


Onthe Resolution reported from The Com
millee of Elections, in The Contested
Election case fYm the Territory oil
Kansas.
Mr.. BINGHAM: Mr.. Speaker, |
agree with Ihe gentleman from South
Carolina, Mr.. Boyce, that in the inves-
ligation of this question we should have
regard to the law Of the land; that we
should ask nothing, and that we should
take nothing in violation OF the law. |
am impressed with the propriety of that
remark; and, sir, it is because | would
have the law vindicated--it is because |
would 90 as far as he that goes Iurthest
in the support and maintenance OF the
supremacy of the law, that | ask The
House to confer upon the committee the
power TO send for persons and papers,
The committee, in making this request
of the House, only ask that they may be
permitted 10 show tue truth in regard To
the great questions arising out Of the
Kansas elections, which aGilate the pub
Iicamind. The truth can wrong no man.
The interests of the nation, the suprema-
Ier0f thslaws, which have been violated
Kin tile elections in Kansas, demand that
the truth Should be known in this case;
and it's for that reason that ask TO have
this power conferred upon the commit
tee.
do not understand the gentleman from
South Carolina as questioning the power
of the House TO give authority TO the com
mittee to compel the attendance of wit
nesscs before il for The purpose Of inves-
ligating these questions. 1t is power
that has never been questioned, and one
that has been exercised before, 1t is not
claimed on the pant of tie minority Of
the committee, as understand it, that
the power is not within the discretion OF
the house. The only question, then, is
whether i case has been made out which,
in the judgment Of the House, woul au'
! lhorize Ibis investigation, and whether
the mode proposed is the best for conduc'
ting that investigation! That is all there
! is Of it. That's the lrngih ard breadth
Of the entire question.
, Mr.. Speaker, tie fac, is apparent, thai
one or Ihe ether Of he Delegates here
claiming seat as the representative of
the people of Kansas is here in violation
of the organic law OF the Territory. That
fact, take it, is apparent and seIl-evdent
The most credulous man in this Hall can
not believe that free and intelligent peo-
pie knowing their own rights and dar-
ing to maintain and vind,cale them. would
so far forget themselves, ana so far forget
! the laws under which alone they are Sc
cure in the protection Of their persons
and property, as TO violate them so gross
/ ly and hagrantly as to hold two elections
for congressional Delegates in the same
year and the same month, when by the
laws of the Territory they should hold
but one. The most simple and the mos
credulous will not believe that the people
of the Terri ory of Kansas, knowing
that by the organic law Of the Territory
they have the right 10 elect but a single
Delegate TO Congress, have, in violation
of the express letter of that law underta-
ken to elect two Delegates in the same
near and 10 The sane Congress. No
man will dispute the fact, lhattw distinct
elections for congressional Delegate
were held during The last year within that
territory, nor will any one be bold enough
TO dispute the flrhel fact, that at each Ol
|, these elections arote cqual in number 10
The entire legal cot of Mat Territory
,ras cGst. The sitting Delegate comes
here clai0iug vote Of some twenty
nine bundled. He who is cai!cdthe con
, lc5lant but who is not the contestant a
r ail--the other claimant of a seat-comes
here sustained by some twenty.eigh! o.
twcntv-nnc hundred votes. 1t is il no,o
rious fact thata greater legal vote thai
that did not exist within the Territory o
: Kansas on either of the days on whicI
2 these elections were held, to wit, the Is
! and 8 h o! October. And is any man Il
be told hll the people OF that Terrllor.
assembled on the first day Of last October
and cast all the votes within their cor
c troll for the sitting Dtlrgatc, and The
went through the farce only eight day
afterwards of meeting again and castn
:, all their votes Tor his opponent! No ma
II sir, ran be made 10 believe that.
e 1t strikes me, on this view of the case
o that it must be seen and felt that, in one {
other Of these elections, the organic la
Of tie Territory was wan only lrample
on and disregarded. Ii must also be n
parent that, at one or other of theses-let
le TONS, the election was Superinicnded al
!. votes cast by a different penplc all toget
a. er from that which SUperintended al
:. cast the votes at the other election.
concerns all the people of this land to kno
,f the truth of this; to know whether the O
ganic law for the government of that Te
: ritory has been .defed, set at naught, u
. overturned by armed invasion! Have t
|, people of Kansas chosen the sitting De
'r' gate, or have they been conquered by
is invading army! Is the sitting Delegc
a here without the consent of the people,
violation Of law and by the act of lawlt
n. invaders! Is he here by the decision oft
#. sword and not of the ballot! These, S
n are the questions which we seek to have
j. vestgatcd-and these are the questit
which arise upon the facts stated in
g majority report, and to investigate VIII