New-York tribune., 1868-05-05
THE FULL REPORT.
MANAGER BINGHAM's ARGUMENT.

MANAGER BINGHAMS ARGUMENT.
The ceremonies of the opening having been
finished Manager BINGHAM rose aud SAID
Mr.. President AND SENATORS: protest, gentlemen
that in no mere partisan spirit in no spirit Of resentment
or prejudice do to the argument of this great
issue Representative of the people, upon the obga
ton Of NY OATH by order Of the peoples Representatives
in the name Of the people and for the defense OF their
Constitution and laws, this day speak pray YOU
Senator's to hear me for my But yesterday the
supremacy Of the Constitution and laws was challenged
by armed Rebellion To-day the supremacy OF the Con
stItuton and laws is challenged by Executive usuIpa-
ton and IS attempted TO be defended in the Senate OF the
United States For four years millions Of men disputed
by arms the supremacy Of the American law ana Amen-
can soil Happily for our common country happily for
our common humanity, OH the 9Th day OF APRIL
in the year Of our Lord 1866 the broken
battaions Of treason, the armed resistance 10 law,
surrendered TO the victorious egons OF this country
On that day. Senators, lot without sacFnce not "tnot
Gated On that day the word went out over our sorrow
stricken land, and every nationality tha ths kepuDHe'
tie last refuge OF constitutional liberty the last sanctu
AIRY Of nyolabe justice was saved Orever-saNeu Dy ne
sacrifice the yrtue the yalor OF us children Oh Tue 4
day OF April 1865 here IN the Capital amid the joy ana
gauneSs Ui te & ridet t ~ The United States slam
not for his crimes for his virtues and especially for
man nv the death OF Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson
the Vice OF the United States became President
upon taking the prescribed oath, faithfully 10 execute
The constitution United States The great people,
bowng with uncovered heads in the presence Of that
strange grief aud which upon them. forgot
for the moment the disgraceful part which Andrew
johnson had played upon @ and 6 as Ss U
cessor OF Abraham Lincoln, and credited ms aihrmau0n
faiihfny eXrcuted IL H. Senator'S with the people
intuitiye Judgment the highest conviction OF the human
president and preserve protect and defend the Const
tuition Of the United States, means and must forever
that the President win himself obey. and
compel others by the whole power OF tne peO, 60,
the people through their Representatives IN C0ngfess
uhi me same shall RAye been auy repeaeG " te IA Nv
the Supreme Court Of the United States within the limit
ations OF the Constitution itself For the
purpose OF tins argument, Senator'S accept this
as the general Judgment Of the people OF this country
Is above the laws, and beneath them that the
President himself IS as much the subject Of law the
hunblest ctzen IN the Temotes frontier Of your
advancing civilization need not say IN this presence
God except the laws enacted by themselves obi gatory
alike upon each and ALL official aud unofficial the obga
ton Of which only with their repeal OF their actual
reversal the mode prescribed by the people themselves
In SAVING IT, but this is one Of the traditions OF
Republic and is understood from the Atlantic to tbs
Pacific shores by the five and thirty millions OF people
who dwell between those shores and hold In their hands
today the greatest trust ever committed in the prov-
dence OF God 10 any political society feel myself iui-
hed entirely justified IN saying that rests not simply
upon the traditions Of the people but is embodied in
began the field Of Lexington to this hour Is II not de-
eared In that immortal Declaration which whi live as
against Britain that lie had permitted the
Governors OF these Colonies 10 Withhold tile execution Of
tie laws O the land until they should have received his
assent aud that they should be suspended furthermore
use the words the Declaration which, Ike the words
OF Luther, half battlesl, that they should DO
Suspended until they had received ms assent.
And that was the first voice Of those immor-
"a men with whom God walked through the
night aud storm, and darkness OF the Revolution ana
whom lie taught 10 lay here 10 the going down OF the
the foundation Of those institutions OF civil ana re-
nnoas liberty which have since become the hope OF the
sod quote that written record further still asking
euos OF the Senate praying them 10 remember thht
ms day not simply In the presence OF Senators
~ Ue presence OF xpectant and waiting people,
S nave commissioned you 70 discharge this high trust
VINO Rave committed, 10 you, Senators, the Issues OF
eksAlugtD, fret Of Americans aud foremost OF men,
aied that the Constitution, which at all times
unless changed by the act OF 1he whole people ~
'"y obligatory upOn ALL" refer next tO higher