Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-09-11
SPEECH
HON. JOHN A. BINGHAM,

,
Congress, rendered him by the
Conventions for the 10th Dis
trfCt, held In Cambridge, Au-
gust 2sth, 1862.
Mr.; Hesidentd ds1 Gentlemen ofhe Union
Convention. IN It
You have been appointed. without regard
to party associations, by the loyal citizens
who are in favor of the maintenance of the
tinued prosecution ofthe war, now carried
on for the suppression of the Rebellion
against the Government to meet in Con-
veution and in their name TO nominate
candidate for Congress, to be by them sup.
ported at the ensuing election. In dis
charge OF the duty assigned you, you have
been pleased 10 name me as the choice of
the convention and Of the loyal people whom
you represent for that responsible Office.
ln accepting as i do thi~ domination, con-
ferred as it has been upon me by the un
purchased and unburchasable suffrages Of
the loyal people Of this District, allow me TO
say that in the event of my election | shall
never betray the trust Higher or more sa-
cred trust never was committed by a conf
ding people than that which will be commit
ted TO your Representative in the next Con-
gress Of the United States. That Congress,
in the name Of the people and by the au
thority OF the yoeopie under the Constitu-
ton, will prescfsAesby Law what shall be
done and what sikall NOT be done for the
common defence and the suppression of this
rebellion. 1t would be unjust alike to my
self, to you and 10 the people who sent you
here, in view OF the fact that the dread is
sue shall the Republic live or perish, will
be committed in some measure to the next
Congress, if did not declare as | now do
that any citizen who doubts my devotion to
the Constitution and Union, or who sup.
poses me capable Of giving aid and comfort
in any way to the enemy of our common
country should not only withhold from me
his support at the ensuing election, but
should give hisySteand his influence against
my election. Having said this much. gen.
tlemen, may be allowed to say, that while
the unanimity with which have been Sc
lected by you this day as the candidate for
Congress Of the friends of the Union and
the Constitution in this District gives me
assurance oftheir support-the misrepre.
sentations and abuse to which have al
ready been subjected by the partisan organs
OF that body Of Ohio partisans who met at
Columbus on ttt Nh Of July last under the
lead Of Clement 4 Vallandingham, admon.
ish me that must meet their sternest op-
position. Already have they attributed to
me sentiments which l never uttered or ap-
proved, and which condemn. Judge me by
my record, not by the false statement of my
my political enemies and the avowed enc.
mics of the Administration. These parti-
sans, in this district and elsewhere, have
the audacity to proclaim themselves friends
OF the President and the Administration,
and to denounce those who elected Mr.. Lin
coin, and who have ever since his inaugu-
ration given him q constant and cordial sup.
port, as his opponents.
For myself, | declare in reply to this bold
remuneration, that all the measures recon-
mended by the President to Congress have
received my unqualified support both BY
speech and vote; and every measure intro
duced aud advocated by me of public ma
ture in Congress since his Inauguration has
received his officinl sanction.
- And vot Won JSys 40 ho told hy those who
stand by Their psrty who met in Columbus
on the 4th Of July last, only to aTaign and
delame the President and a majority of the
present Congress who supported him, that
they alone are his friends. Judge these
preenders by their words Where did they
avowedly stand at the moment when these
rebels now in arms were mastering their
legions to strike at the life of the Republic?
Ask those who ia that first dark hour were
present at the several meetings of the State
Delegations in the 36th Congress assert
what know, when say that these gentle
men who now Calm to be the only trust
worthy citizens ofyou State then declared
that they would resist any and every attempt
by the Government of tho United States TO
raise troops in Ohio to coerce seeding,
that is 20 say, revolving States. Since the
Inauguration Of President Lincoln what
measure demanded by him essential to the
defence Of your country and the suppression
OF this rebellion has received the support of
this very patriotic party in Congress? Not
one-not one. MSS Vallandingham, in his
speech at the Cooper Institute, repeated the
sentiment ofhis party which met in Colum.
bus on the 4th Of July last and nominated
their ticket, when he said in that speech
IF one or more of the States of this Union
should at any time secede for reasons. of
the .sufficiency and justice OF which before
God aad the tribunal OF history THEY
ALONE MAY JUDGE, Inever would as a
Representative in the Congress of the
United States, vote one dsllar of money
whereby one drop Of American blood
should be spilled in q civil war;" Right
well has MIR: Vallsndingham and bis party
kept their pledge. II the money voted by
Congress to support the war for the Union
had depended on him or any of his party it
would never have been veted. In perfect
consonance with this declaration Of his, does
bis party at Columbus arraign President
Lincoln and his friends as violaters of the
T.. Al