Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-10-09
Rr.sonntor Rinrlnm

The telegraph has announced the death of
o. S. Senator Bingham OF Michigan. No
truer man walked the earth, or sat in the
halls at Washington than Senator Bingham,
aud in ability, he was fit to stand with
the best The Detroit Advertiser gives the
following sketch Of his life;
Mr. Bingham was of revolutionary parent
age. His ancestors, it is said, served in thst
immortal band of heroes who, under Stark
at Bennington, achieved the first victory of
the Revolution. His father immigrated TO
Onoudaga county, n. Y, where he was born,
in 1903. His early education was such only
as could be obtained at the district school
and village academy, in comparatively new
country, but be was dilligent in study and
stored his mind with the knowledge that
was necessary to it him for business and in
dustriai pursuits. He also spent some time
as q student at law, but never entered upon
the profession. In 1884 or 1885 be removed
to Michigan, and, we believe, settled on the
tact of land where his homestead now is,
and followed farming for living. His gen.
eral intelligence and popularity among his
neiQhbors soon induced them TO elect him to
the Legislature of the State, in which be
served some four or FIVE years with great
credit to himself and satisfaction to his con-
stituents. BE was. elected speaker Of the
House and served a such for two sessions
and, though party politics then ran high,
gave, as we are informed by his political op-
Donents, the most perfect satisfaction by the
! correctness OF his department, his aptness in
business, and his impartiality. As a presid-
ing officer no successor has surpassed him
In ls46, Mr.. Bingham was elected to Con
gress from the Northern District and served
through the 29th Congress. he was again
elected in 1s4s, and served through the Both
Congress, by which the famous compromise
.eaasures Of 1850 were passed. In conse-
Suence OF his voting against the fugitive
| decided repughanee 70 tBe eEJghBIsjulssuSaA
II into the territories, as he was instructed to
90 81 his democratic constituents, be was
ruthlessly prescribed by the then leaders OF
! ~ his party. and another terminated and elect
Democratic friends, or rather their voluntary
desertion Of him and the principles they had
instructed him to act upon, did not for a mo-
ment cause him to relax his exertions in ia
yOr Of the freedom of the territories and
against slave holding despotism. he had
fallen victim to the influence of that des-
pOtism, and his defeat only impelled him to
make still hrmer stand against it.
In the spring of 1854 he was put in nomi-
nation for Governor by the free soil Demo-
cratic convention of the State, then repre-
senting a party highly respectable by its
numbers, patriotism and talents; but on the
organization of the Republican party by the
jackson convention of July 9th, 1854, the
former party united with the Republicans,
and both parties put him in nomination for
Governor. He was elected that tall by
majority Of some 5000 votes; and served as
Governor curing 1855 and 1856. In 1856
he was reelected Governor and served as
such during 1857 and 1858; and as the SEN
storial term Of Hon. Chas. E. Stuart of Kal-
amazoo was about to expire, Mr.. Bingham
was elected to the United States Senate at
the session of 1859, for six years from the
4th of March, 1859.
During his brief senatorial career, in the
midst of appalling public events, he did not
fail to exhibit the same steadfast attachment
to his principles that had ever distinguished
him; and his ardor in promoting every
measure to put down the present pro-slavery
rebellion has been conspicuous both in and
out of Congress One of his sons he sent as
a volunteer at the first cal of the President
to defend the capital; and had he supposed
that be himself could have better served the
cause Of the Union, the cause of liberty and
good government by going TO the wars, his
heroic feelings would have impelled him to
''mount the breach" The blood ofthe brave
Asrtin Scott nan in his veins, and he seemed
70 partake Of the dsuntless spirit of his rela-
live.