Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-08-02
Ube Anti- -9Iaperp BuoIe.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN A. BINGHAM,

Congressional nj
district made capital speech in favor of freedom
VI peoa'e' on the proposition for expellng Preston
. Brooks from the House. From it we select tbe
following extract:
il 1 conclude, sir, that there can be no question
.usV .nlS iiouse mas tho power to punish and ex.
pei Its members for breach of its privilegns e.,
contempt OF its authority, and for such high
crimes ana misdemeahors as are inconsistent with
their public trust and duties as members. wbeth
er committed in the presence of the House. and
curing Its actual session, or not. The opinions
OF Jurlsts and the decision of our highest Court
which have cited most clearly establish this
l consider that, beyond question, the act COM
mitted by the member from South Carolina (Mr
brooksl is contempt of this House, violation
OF his duty as member thereof and high crime
against the people and their right of representa-.
ton. ~
We have seen, sir, that Senator for an act in.
consistent with his duty as Senator, but not com
united against any member of that body nor dur
ing Its session. nor in its presence was expelled
that Duane, not q member was imprisonel for
printing lbel-an offence not committed in the
Senate, nor to the disturbance of its proceedings
and tor which the offender was liable to Indictment
ana punishment in the Courts; and that Randall
hota member was imprisoned by this House for
secret attompt to bribe one of its members. In
administering justice here, will "recognize no
privileged class" If Blount could be lawfully
expelled, and Duane and Randall lawfully imprs-
4ned' | insist that. for like offence, the member
from south Carolina may, and should, be dealt
with in like manner. History, sir, the great aven-
ger OF wrong has recorded this crime upon the
peoples life, and stands ready to record its dread
concentration against this House. if it refuse
to in6ict the punishment which that crima do
serves. Consider the subject of this offence the
alleged provocaon, the mothed, the place, the
nYowed purpose, the approval, and the fit condem.
nation.
The brilliant and distinguished Senator from
massachusetts is the subject Of this assaut-that
Senator who, notwithstanding the attempt of the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Clinchaml
to detame him, holds now, and will hold, large
place in the affection and admiration of his coun.
trymen That Senator, sir, denounced the auda-
cous crime which is being committed in Kansas
ln his place as Senator he made powerful and
convincing argument against the unparalleled
conspiracy which is subjecting that young emnire
oil the West to q cruel and relentless tyranny-a
tyranny which inflicts death on citizens guilty of
no offence against the laws; which sacks their
towns and plumbers and burns their habitations :
which logalizes thr0ughou that vast extent OF
territory, chattel slavery, that crime of crimes
that sum of ali yillanes, which makes merchan-
disc OF immortality and like the curse of Kehama
smltes the earth with barrenness-that crime
which blasts the human intellect, and bghts the
human heart, and maddens the human brain, and
crushes the human soul-.hat crime which puts
out the light and bushes the sweet voices of home
-shatters Its altar and scatters darkness and desc.
dooms men to live without knowledge to toll with.
out reward to die without hope--that crime
which sends little children to the shambles and
makes the mother forget her love for her child in
the wild Joy she feels that, through untimely death
Inflicted by her own hand, she has saved her off
spring flom this damdng curse, and sent its infant
spirit, free from this horrid taint back to tn. God
who gave it.
Against this internal and atrocious tyranny, up
held and being accomplished through stupena
Gus conspiracy, the Senator from Massachusetts,
faithful tU his own convictions, faithful to the holy
cause Of Liberty, faithful to his country and his
Tod, entered his protest, and uttered his manly
and powerful denunciaton. What was there in
this to offend? Was it because he presented that
terrible impeachment by the great Roman orator
of the tyrant Verres fit denunciaton of those
new tyrants in Kansas, who but re-enact the bru-
tai cruclties of Verres?
1t is not claimed that tie Senator uttered any
word which he did not believe to be true; but it is
said that, in his exposition of this wickedness, be
denounced the act the men, and the States, that
aid and abet 1t, with Incorporate violence of
language. lie spoke with zeal, with knowledge
and power. This, sir is the head and front Of his
offending. Is nothing to be pardoned to the spirit
OF Liberty? Is the grea. right of the People
freedom of debate in the Senate and Iouse-to be
restricted in its exercise to the notions of every
man who chooses to constitute himself the Judge
OF what may and may not ghtfuly DC said? TIE
fact, sir, that the Senate permitted the words to
be used 10 its body, without objection, is conclu-
sive evidence that it was the right Of the Massa-
chusetts Senator so to speak; nay more, the Sen
ate is the only and final ar5iter OF what may THERE
be rightfully said in debate. That sir is the nee
essary sequence fiom the constitutional provision
that each House may make rules for its own gov
ernnent, and no member of either House shall, for
any speech or debate. be questioned in any other
place. For his speech, under the Constitution,
therefore, no earthly power had the legal right to
question the Senator but the Senate of the United
States. | dismiss this inquiry as to the provoca-
ton, with this additional word-that man can
righfully find provocaton for, and justification or
excuse Of an assault upon the peoples representa-
hVes, because OF any speech or debate made by
any member in either House. The doing of law
tul act the exercise Of lawful right, or the
discarge of lawful duty, never furnish
apology or excuse for the commission of a crime.
NOW, consider the place and method and avowed
purpose of this assault. The rerpetrator of this
act says his object was to punish the Senator for
words spoken in debate in the Senate-and thus
conieSes his crime against the people. Every
personal consideration, sir, sinks before the mag
nitude Of this offence. A Senator of the United
States. in the Senate Chamber, in the felt presence
OF the people, is struck down, and well nigh mur-
dered, for words spoken in debate-and this, toO
by member Of this House, who, like all of us,
had sworn that he would support that Constitu-
'tlon which declares that the person of tbs Sena.
Sor and citizen alike shall be inviolate, and that
the Representatives of the People shall not.
for any speech debate in either House, be
questioned by any other person or body what
ever.
Sir. Notwithstanding this oath. notwithstanding
this constitutional inhibition of violence to the
persons of all the citizens and their representa-
lives notwithstanding the sacred presence of the
people in their own halls of legislation, the Sena'
tors way of approach to the Capitol was beleaguer-
ed aad watched; and while in his place in the
Senate Chamber armed with no weapon Of a
Christ;a, civlzation--tae member from South
Carolina INF. Brooks) deliberaly. and with the
advice of another member Of the House. proceeds
10 the Hall of the Senate, ana there, with q blud
gson in utter disregard of the place, OF the life
OF the Senator from Massachusetts, end OF .h'
,rered rights Of the people whose Representative