Speech of Hon. J.P. Benjamin, of La., Delivered in Senate of United States, March 11, 1858

This is a speech delivered by Judah P. Benjamin in the United States Senate on March 11, 1858, regarding the Kansas Bill and the issue of slavery. Benjamin, a Louisiana Senator, eloquently defends the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision and refutes Stephen Douglas's Popular Sovereignty doctrine. He argues that slavery was part of the common law of the thirteen original colonies, supported by historical legal precedent and customs. This first edition pamphlet, printed by Gideon in Washington, is a significant contribution to the debate surrounding slavery and its expansion in the United States. It showcases Benjamin's legal acumen and foreshadows the escalating Southern demands for Congressional protection of slavery in the territories.

Associated People/Businesses

• Benjamin, J. P. (Judah Philip), 1811-1884
• BENJAMIN, JUDAH P.

Geography

• Washington, D.C.

Subjects

• Slavery--United States
• Politics and government

Physical Location

Arc.MS.56, Box 9, Folder 3