Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-05-29
SPEECH OF MR.. BINGHAM,

The following is an extract from the speech 0
Mr.. Bingham, made a few minutes before thu
English Swindle" was passed in the House.
Sir, this is the first instance in which the Con
gress of the United States has attempted by form
al enactment, to give Pe'pctuiy to this institution
OF slavery within the limits and jurisdiction of Q
sovereign State. As State rights man, standing
here pledged as | am to maintain the right of the
people and the rights of the States protest against
tins dangerous assumption of power, and claim
that it is the right of of the sovereign people with
in the limits of State to abolish the institution OF
slavery at their pleasure. Does any Representa-
tive from the South assert this power to be in Con
gress?
do not object to restraints upon States in favor
OF liberty and to the end that the. Constitution Of
our common country may be upheld in full force
and that the great and sacred rights of human ma
ture ma not be infringed but 1 protest agains
this Lecompton conspiracy, which denies the righ
ct self government and ignores the will of th,
majority if expressed. attempted to be expressed
pganst despotsm. Let gentlemen beware how
they attempt even under the power and shelter Of
a great central Government more than imperial
in its resources, to crush out she heart and
conscience of the people. COP is IN HlsToRY-
Let gentlemen give heed to its lessons of the terri
bic retribution which some times oversake those who
seek to establish odious and hate despotism over
the minds and conscience, the brain aud heart of
lreemen.
This instrument declares that the right of prop.
erty in slaves and their increase is not within the
control of the m9Joriy Of tie people of the State
that this right is before and higher than any con-
stitutonal sanction. This instrument asserts an,
Other provision the brutal despotism of which fcan
hardly be equaed except by that recently exercised
10y Nicholas, whose hands were red with the blood
of murdered Poland aud tho assinated liberty OF
| hungary. 1t is the provision which dooms free
men, guilty OF no crime to perpetual exile Such
are some Of the provisions OF this internal instru
ment framed at Lecompton, for which we are call
ed upon to vote.
! What, sir, are tho arguments addressed to us tc
induce US so give assent to this instrument p
The President of the United States slOops from the
position Of his great office, hitherto made illustri-
GUS by Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madi-
son-he comes here into the Hail of this House of
Representatives, and tells us that this Lecompton
constitution with all its a5rocous provisions, is
eminently reasonable and proper, because Kansas,
says he Is ut this moment much slave state as
Georgia or South Carolina. And he does not stop
with this. The President has officially declared to
us that these slave provisions are Just and reason
able. Justice, sir, to sell mans wife? Justice
to sell chilG's mother? Justice to drive man,
guilty OF no crime, away from the land of his birth
from the scenes of his childhood, from the graves
OF his kindred? Justice to deny man the enjoy
ments Of his own home? Justice to deny to man
the convictions Of his own soul? Justice Justice,
1t is the attribute Of the great God of nature; ; it
dwelt with him before worlds we're; it will abide
with him when worlds perish BY the judgement
OF the Pagan and Christian world il is INJUsTIC CE
to deny to any man his right.
MIR. Speaker, it is not justice to wantonly sub
ject men, women, and children, at the arbitrary
will Of another to stripes and imprisonment. to
hunger and thirst, to cold and nakedness. robbery
and murder To enslave man is to murder him
by slow torture This will not pass Cor justice
among men, until men forget the distinctions be-
tween right and wrong, good and evil, virtue and
vice.
By this bill, sir we are not only to sanction the
monstr0us Gtrocity of chattel slavery, but we are
to say, II the majority will accept the bribe, that
atrocity shall be perpetual. We are to agree that
the children of wrong and oppression in Kansas
snail have no dslverance in the future; that thoy
and their children shall, from generation, toll on h
In the house of their bondage;n the words of this in
strument,ithat no alteration shall be made therein 10
dDect The oone'Shipof property an stdres. Sir, the
American Congress, by this enactment is to declare
lnat II the majority will accept the6yi6e Congress
Of the United States will perpetuate that .one man
may OF right sell his brother for thirty pieces Of
silyer-as Judas sold our Lord
say TO gentlemen you may pass the bill but
you cannot make the lie perpetual. A lie cannot
iivc forever It has no vitality in it. Sooner or lat
er 1t must perish. Perpetuate the atrocity that Il
majority may of right ensave the minority or
or drive them into returnless ezile Make this
rule of wrong perpetuail There is nothing perpet
uai but God, His truth, His justice, and the crea.
lures OF Ills hand. say to gentlemen on the
other side you have it in your power to save your
country from this foul dishonor. why do you hesi-
tate to deny your assent TO this great wrong? 1,
Is because you believe with the President "that
slavery exists in Kansas under and by virtue Of the
Consultation of the United Stated?" Is it because
you believe with certain political economists Of
our day,t slavery is the natural and normal
ditlon OF the laboring man? If that be your
conWction, act 1t ou: say so in wordS 1t is your