Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-07-24
AlistrlIarlrous laeaOinp.
From tie Ceve Leader.
The Great Speech of Hon. John A
Bingham, in the trial Of Mr. Brooks.


Editor Cleue. Leader.
Yesterday the case Of Brooks was brought |
before the House, and the discussion was open
ed by Mr.. Campbell, Chairman Of the Special
Committee appointed to investigate and report
the facts. He was followed by Clngman OF
North Carolina, who spoke in his usual style
of vituperaton and Misrepresentation. The
House was filed, galleries thronged, aud much
anxiety manifested in regard to the manner in
which the debate would be conducted. Nor
thern members were determined to call things
by their right names, and denounce the villai-
ny Of Brooks in just terms without fear or ia.
vor Of bowie knives, pistols and bludgeons,-
A large number of Senators were present, es-
pecially Of the Southern caste, to hear Mr..
Clingman. When his hour expired, Hon.
John A. Bingham got the floor, and l do but
simple justice to his speech when say it was
one Of remarkable 2ower;not surpassed by any
in that Hall this session, and, il fequaled by a.
ny, cannot point them out. He had the uDdi-
vided attention of :he whole House, and such
was the effect of that portion of his speech
where he described the tyranny of the slave
system, that members seemed to hold their
breath, and become unconscious of their iden-
lhty. Surely Ohio may well feel proud of her
gifted orator.
give you portion ofthe speech. but the
effect which it produced upon those who heard
it. as ii guShed forth warm from the heart, can
no. be conveyed by pen. To realize its full
power, as it came with crushing weight to o.
verwhelm his opponents, you should see the
man with inspiration upon him, and under
stand the occasion.
"History sir, the great aveuger of wrong
has recorded this crime upon the peoples life
and stands ready to record its dread condem
nation against this House if it refuse to infic
) the punishment which that CRIME deserves
Consider the subject Of this offence, the alIeg
ed provocation, the method, the place, the
vowed purpose, the approval, and the fit con
|, demnation.
The brilliant and distinguished Senator fror
Massachusetts is the subject Of this assault
That Senator who Notwithstanding the attemE
of the gentleman from North Carolina { Nj
.. Clingman) to defame him, holds now, and wi
hold. large place in the affection and admira
ton of his countrymen. That Senator. sir, de
nounced the audacous crime which is bein
committed in Kansas. In his place, as Sena
: tor, he made powerful and convincing argu
ment against the unparalleled conspiracy whic
is subjecting that young empire of the We'
to cruel and relentless tyrsnny--a tYrann
which inhicts death on citizens guilty of no o
fence against the laws which sacks their town
and plumbers and burns their habtations
which legalzes, throughout that vast extent {
IT, territory, chattel slavery, that crime Of crime
~ that sum of all vlainies, which makes me
chandize of Immortality, and like the curse
Kehama, smites the earth with barrenness-
that crime which blghts the human intelleC
and blasts the human brain, and crushes Il
Ks human soul-that crime which puts out u
light and bushes the sweet voices of home
which skaters its altar and scatters darkne
and desclation over its hearth -stone-that Grin
10 which dooms men to live without knowledg
to toll without reward, to die without hope
that crime which sends little children TO t
shambles and makes the mother forget her 10
for her child in the wild JOY which she fe
that, through untimely death, inflicted by /
ion own hand, she has saved her offspring FRI
en- this damning curse, and sent its infant sp
free from this horrid taint, back to the God t
gave it.
Against this internal and atrocious tyrar
upheld and being accomplished through s
penduous conspiracy, the Senator from Ma'
chusetts, faithful to his own convictions, ia
full to the holy cause of liberty, faithful to
country and his God, entered his protest,
uttered his manly and powerful denunciat
What was there in this to offend? Was it
cause he presented that terrible impeaChn
BY the great Roman orator Of the tyrant
ras as a fit denunciation of those new tyr
in Kansas, who but re-enact the brutal cr
= ties Of Verras? t
1t is not claimed that the Senator uttere
ny word which he did not believe to be Il
bat it is said that in his exposition otths
edness, he denounced the act, tie men and
States that aid and abet it, with an inten
ate violence OF language. He spoke with
with knowledge and power This. sir, i
head and front of his offending. Is moi
to be pardoned to the spirit of liberty9 I
great right of the people--freedOm of d.
plaze; in the Senate and House TO be restricted
'A'' exercise to the notions Of every man who
Al. il III