Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-01-22
sIr. Bingham's Speech.
fcoSclrprp FROM FIRST PAGE. /

0fthe New England states, New YORK,
Pennsylvania, aud New Jersey; while the
section Of the South was to consist Of the
fifteen slave States, one half the area Of all
the States east Of the Rocky mountains, |
and more than three times the area Of the |
empire Of France. And yet these gentle |
men talk to me about sectionalisml A
proposition like that was enough to disturb
the repose Of the dead Father Of our Coun- |
Try,
Mr.. cox. Does my colleague undertake
TO hold this side Of the lI,use responsible |
for that measure of my colleague from the
Dayton district?
Mr.. BINGHAM Sir, I have not said
that. / have only said that that side of
the House uttered no word Of denunciation |
sgainst it.
Mr.. cox. Well, then, what does he
mean? Now, say to the gentleman that
do not hold him responsible for proposition
that came FROM a gentleman m that side
OF the House during the session of 1861,
" bich proposed to allow these States to 20
out Of the Union, although the gentleman
afterwards voted for the very man who
made that proposition for Lieutenant Gov
srnor of the State of Ohio.
Mr.. BINGHAM Who is that?
Mr.. COX Mr.. Stanton.
Mr.. BINGHAM. | do not think he
made any such proposition as that.
Mr. COX. l can prove it from the
Globe.
Mr.. BINGHAM. He may have
made such speech, but never offered such
proposition; but my colleague cannot divert
me in that way, and he may just as we'll
s'is NJ !" aGPox. Think it is very diverting
70 see my colleague go on in this way.
Mr.. BINGHAM. The gentleman knows
full well that denounced my then colleague
MIR. Stanton, at the time that he made
bis speech, and appealed to him to with
draw the demand for the previous question
that, he knows, also, that recorded my
vote against the measure which he advoca.
ted, and which, with the aid of my col
leagues vote, Mr.. Cox. passed. He
knows that before Mr.. Stanton uttered any
such words, had excluded any conclusion
that was favorable to any such sugges.
ton.
Mr. cox. But I want to know if the
gentleman did not vote for Mr.. Stanton for
Lieutenant Governer attewarjs2
Mr. BINGHAM. The point make is
that gentlemen on the other side of the
House sat here silent, and allowed the
proposition of my colleague Mr.. VALLAN-
EfdHAMl to be introduced, and said nothing
against il; and yet they talk now about
being for ''the Union as it was, and for tho
Constitution ny it is" The United States
were to be divided into four sections, the
eastern section to comprise the New Eng
land States, New York, Pennsylvania, and
New Jersey; the western section to consist
Of the free States between the Rocky noun
sains and the Alleghanies; the paufc Sec
tion to consist of the States west Of the
Rocky mountains; and the southern section
to consis. Of all the slaveholding States.
Mr.. YEAMAN. Will the gentleman
yield to INC for moment
Mr.. BINGHAM. l will, sir.
Mr.. YEAMAN. | understand his argu
ment TO be that there was once party in
this House--I was not hero then-whc
made themselves inconsistent; that they
now say they are for tho Constitution as il
Is, whereas they were once for the amend
ment Of that Constitution. desire tc
know Of the gentleman if he has forgotten
that that Constitution contains an express
provision by which il can be amended?
Mr.. BINGHAM. I was perfectly aware
Of that fact; but, at tho same time, it does
not contain provision by which it can
rightfuly be destroyed.
Mr.. YEAMAN Oh no.
Mr.. BINGHAM. Well, that is the
point an at now. This was proposition
to destroy the Constitution under the pro-
tense ofamending it, and there is no dodg
ing the fact.
Mr. YEAMAN, It was proposition to
amend tho Constitution.
Mr.. BINGHAM. No, sir; it was pro
position to destroy the Union and to ..destro,
the Constitution. l speak of the legal effec
Mr.. PENDLEroN. Will my oolleasu,
slnw me single question:
Mr. BINGHAM Yes, sir.
Mr.. PENDLETON. Will you 20 OF
and state to tho House for what purpose
il was that this division of the Union was
to be made into sections, whether for the
purpose Of dismembering the Union, or for
the purpose, in certain contingencies, on
tho demand Of a certain number OF Senators
and Representatives, to require concurrent
votes Of tho Representatives and Senators
from those sections.
Mr.. BINGHAM. Mr.. Chairman, I am
surprised that q gentleman 80 astutc Us my
colleague should ask me to define tho pur.
pose for which any gentleman introduced O
measure.
MT. ICNDLElON. simply ask you 70
give definition OF its provisions, which
you have not dono.
Mr.. BINGHAM. Isay the effect Of the
bill was TO dismember the Union. I shall
show this very clearly presently and shal
also append the amendments proposed tc
my speech in full, that the people may
know what was their effect.
Mr., PENDLErON. No, sir, you are
mistaken.
Mr. BINGHAM. say tho bill stated
on its face that these United States were tc
be divided into four sections that it legal
lied secession, and that tho effect of it wa.
TO destroy the Government. l do not "a,
what tho purpose was; that was the effect
Mr.. PENDLETON. l desire TO ask m,
colleague further, ii there was not an OK
press prohibition of secession in the amend
ments proposed by my colleague2
Mr.. BINGHAM. No, sir.
Mr.. PENDLETON. Yes, sir.
Mr.. BINGHAM. There was an expires
provision for secession in the amendment,
"a provision that no State should seced
without the consent OF the Legislatures o
all the States of the section TO which th
State proposing to secede belongs. Tha
WAS a Dlain proyision TINT anv State NJ th