HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.
![handle is hein.slavery/spbiemslv0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
SPEECH
H-ON. JNO, A. BINGRAM, OF 0HIO,
1N REPLT TO
HON. JOHN J. ORITTENDEN, OF KENTUCKY,
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
APRIL 11, 1862,
)N THE BILL TO EMANCIPATE SLAVES, AND TO PROHIBIT SLAVERY AND PER-
PETUATE LIBERTY FOREVER IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The house being in Committee of the Whole paid as ransom for these bondmen. Another
on the state of the Union- section makes an appropriation of $1,000,000
Mr. BINGHAM said. Mlr. Chairman, I had for ransom money, and another an appropria-
hoped, in the view of the many days which lion of $100,000 to aid the voluntary coloni-
have elapsed since this bill was first presented zation of such of the freed men as may de-
in the other branch of the national Legislature, sire to emigrate from this cbuntryto some other.
in view of its full discussion in the Senate, and These are the provisions of the bill.
in view of the opportunities which have been Mr. Chairman, I had supposed that a bill
given to gentlemen here and to the country at so plain in its provisions did not require
large to consider the propriety of its provisions, much time for consideration, especially in
that this House would have gone direct to the view of the fact that the power to legislate
question whether the bill should pass, without as proposed is conceded by the venerable gen-
further debate. tleman from Kentucky, and will not, I presume,
I have been disappointed in these expecta- be questioned by any gentleman on this floor.
tions. I say this without any disrespect to the The grant in the Constitution is as comprehen-
venerable gentleman from Kentucky, and my sive as words could make it:
rema-:k does nat &rise so much from the fact 11 Cogres shall have power' 7 : '* to
exercise i('e'isic legislation in all rasee wli locz, over
that he has felt it his duty to address the com- such district ' * * * as may, by cession
mittee at great length on the merits of the or particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become
bill as from the other consideration, that it was 'he seat or the Government of the Unied States.
the pleasure of tho House not to close debate Subject to this condition, this District be-
upon it. came the seat of the national Government. The
This bill, Air. Chairman, is very sinap'e. Its gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. CRITTINDET]
first section contains all that is important in it, had the candor and the good sense to acknov-l-
or that requires a moment's consideration. It edge that the exclusive power to leislate, as
is proposed by this bill, over this District, was in
1 Thatall persons hold to service or labor 'iLi rho Dim the Congress of the United States. All, then,
trict of Columbia. by re,son of Arican desc,ot, are hereby that remains for the consideration of the House
discharged and freed of and from all clai to such Cr' , 1 is, is it policy, is it wisdom, is it just, under
,r labor ; and fron and after the pas.aic e1 til at r-i s, j tr
laverynor involuntarysrvilude, exceptfrrcre, V rcf I the circumstances, to exercise the flower ?
the Ir),ity shall be duly coi vted, shall heratier exist .t, I That was the point made by the gentleman
said District. from Kentucky in his argument. Hesaid that
Another provision of the bill is for compen- this was an inauspicious time to exercise this
,sition, to be assessed by a commission, to be admitted power. He deemed it an inauspi-](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.slavery/spbiemslv0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)