True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-24
POLITICAL MATTERS.
!. The LecOmpton Conspiracy.
dbog ,4s5f SPEECH OF
HON. JOHN A. BINGHAM
OF OHIO.

HON.JOHN A. BINGHAM,
OF OHIO.
Del;uered in the House Of Representa-
rsE tives, January 25th, 1858.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: Il is not my purpose
to say anything Of the neutrality act Of
1918. Enough has been said in this de-
bate, both on this side Of The House and
upon that, in vindicatiOn of that law
Enough has also been said of Gen. VIM.
Walker and his raid upon Nicaragua.-
Enough, and more than enough, sir, has
been said in denunciation of the gallant
Paulding, for his fidelity TO duty in ares
ting this culprlt and refugee from justice,
and sending him back to answer to the
violated laws of his country. The Pres
ident, sir, has pressed upon the consider
alton Of this House question Of graver
significance, Of mightier import, ques
tion which concerns the nations honor
and the nations life-a question which
to-day challenges the profound attention
of the whole people Of. this country-a
question upon which, if the official organ
of the President is to be credited, this
House will soon be required to pronounce
its final decision. 1t is useless TO waste
the time Of the House in demonstrating
the position Of the President upon this
great question. The President and his
party not only endorse the Lecompton
Constitution, bu! by argument, by entrea.
ty and by threat. seek to induce Congress
to endorse it, and thereby give to it the
sanction and the force of law. That
journal which is said to be in the favor Of
the Executive, and to reflect his opinions,
has told US recently that the question Of
adoption or rejection Of this LecomptOn
Constitution will be question between
,law and faction. think, sir, it would
have been more accurate to have said it
is a question between Executive despot-
ism and popular liberty.
I do not recognise the righ! Of the Ex'
ecutive 10 dictate 10 this House the man.
ner in which it shall discharge its official
duty. 1t is his province to give to Con.
gtess information Of the state of the
Union, and to recommend to its couside-
ration such measures Of public policy as
he may deem just and proper. but not to
control its legislation.
I trust that no member Of this body
will be influenced in The discharge Of his
official duties here, and more especially
in the discharge Of that duty which he
owes 10 himself and his country in the
settlement Of this great question by any
consideration other than his sense of righ,
and Justice. For myself, l am free to
say, that notwithstanding the Presidents
solicilude in this behalf; Notwithstanding
the reported announcement by a distin-
guished senator. that if Congress rejec
this slave Constitution, his State will Sc.
cede from the Union +; Notwithstanding
the clamor Of the party Of the President
here and elsewhere-I cannot and will
alot give my sanction to this Lecomptor
Constitution. This instrument does moi
emanate from the people of Kansas. Il
is not their will. lis provisions are in
direct conflict with the Constitution Of the
United States, and with the principles O.
eternal Justice. .. a.
IL is conceded, i! cannot be denied
that The reason why the Convention which
framed this instrument refused to submi
tito the people for their rejection or ap
prevail was, that the people would have
voted it down. The proposition. tht
monstrous proposition, is now made BY
the President, and by gentlemen on thi'
floor, to establish this instrument as tht
constitution Of Kansas by act of Congress
anu against the will Of the people of lha
territory. Sir, titis the first time in The
history Of the republic, that the atemp
has been made to establish by Fedora
authority, a State Constitution and Gov
eminent against the will Of the people
and without their consent. State Con
siitutions have been framed, and sent tt
Congress for ratification, without any
formal submission thereof to the pop
ular vote; but it was oaly in case
where the people, beyond all question
made the Constitution. by their legally
appointed delegates. This has no. beeI
done in Kansas. No delegates have beer
legally chosen there nor have any dele
gates been chosen there at all BY tn
great body ofthe people.
aThe delegates who framed this instru
ment were chosen by body Of men no
equal in number 10 one fourth The who'll
number Of the qualified voters in Kansas
and by virtue Of an election law passe,
by usurpers. The Constitution thus fra
medis the joint product o( local aud Fed
eral usurpation. Let him deny this VIII
can, or who dare. But for Federal intel
vsntion, the Missouri invasion Of Kansa
would not resulted in the election of th
fist Legislature in that Territory an
In the enactment by that body Of cod
oflaws, so attrocious and unjust that n
man can or dare approve it. But for III
Federal intervention, the delegates to III