The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-03-29
THE LANCASTER LEDGER.
R. S. B ALL E Y,
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
SPEECH OF HON. P. S. BROOKS,

l'"t pOc'N'tJ - ~ ''N''N' "N''' N-
nsnty 1or Nebraska and Huasas.
Mr.. Brooks said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN II desire to express
my views upon the bill which is engros
sing the thoughts of every member on this
floor, and | wish to do SO before the
ground is altogether covered by the army
OF speakers who are holding themselves
in reserve. Should aught of ntemper-
ance o. language escape me in the re-
marks | am about to make, trust that
1t may be regarded as directed towards
principles and positions, and not to the
persons from whom they proceed.
have iivel long enough to learn, that
to DO justice to the opinion even prejudi-
ces OF others, is the surest way to secure =
just consideration Of my own.
Nor, sir, does it jump with my humor
or my appreciation OF honor to assail those
who, in obedience to local sentiment,
are averSe to a rcsvrt but too common in
u warmer latitude. Il is a cheap display
Of chivalrY to insult when no risk is in-
curred; AMI, for my own part, would pre-
fer the condition OF him who bears the
wound than OF him, by whom it is, under
such circumstances, necdlessly inflicted.
| am frank to avow my belief that it
would have been wiser, and in better keep
ing with the general interests of the coun-
try, had the bill providing territorial 90
nments for Nebraska and Kansas been
delayed, until the pressing wants of the
people of those Territories h,d caused
them to apply to Congress for relief.
The friends OF the bill maintain that
the so,caiIed Missouri compromise line,
has been superseded by subsequent acts
OF legislation which are inconsistent with
1t, and that 1t is therefore virtually an
nuled. | would have preferred to contin
uc in this attitude. 1t would have riven
us the advantages Of defensive position.
But, sir, the bill is before ls, and it be-
comes us OF the South, to avail ourselves
oi the oPportune occasion, 10 bring back
congressional Legislation within constitu-
tlonal rcstralnt'--to reasSert the great
cons .itutional principle, that as the people
are the source OF all political power, they
h'Ne, IN the capacity of sovereign States,
the inherent right Of self-government, and
TO regain our constitutional right to 90
with our property, of every description.
upon any part of the public domain.
We rejoice TO unite with our brethren
OF the West in so patriotic an enterprise,
and we rejoice that the stars of the Con.
St!tuu1n and of empire, are minging their
rays together in the West. We rejoice
upon this coincidence of opinion between
the people of the two great sections
which are destined to grow together If
prosperity and wealth, and which Coo
- ....-~.. i"sVrUst, 10y -riIa
great highway of commerce which bring
the treasures of the West into the lap o
the South. Was the Wimot Proviso in
corPorated into the bill, apprchend tha
TO obstacle would be interposed to it
passage by those who now oppose it,
But sir, certain fraternity, who will
humble pretensions, have assumed to b
the only reliable expounders of the Consti
tution-the discoverers Of higher law
than the law of God, III obedience to tn
peculiar tenets of which they are requires
10 love their brethren in black more tha,
those OF the same color as themselves
tell us IN sanctimonious tones Of senatorial
dignity, to maintain plighted faith."-
They object to the bill
lst. Because Of the assumption that i
was the original policy of the country t,
exclude slavery from the territories hel,
IN common by the States.
2nd. Because Of an act of lepisatio
in 1920, the consideration Of which hs
been enjoyed by the slave Slaves, and tn
benefits of which have not yet accrued t
the free States.
Sd. Because Of the assumed an!apon
Ism OF the free and slave labor, and tina
the admission Of slaves into these terrific
ries will result in the exclusion of foreipr
emigrants. And,
4th. Because of the immortality an
inexpedency Of slavery.
propose to reply to the objections in til
order in which they are stated, and invit
your attention first, to that which is base
upon what is assumed to have been IN
original policy of the country. 1t is no
surprising that among a people who hav
just emerged from wasting ard protrac
ed war, waged in the defence of their owl
liberty, that, in the first enjoyment Of tha
liberty, many should have been precipi
tated into extravagancics of opinion an,
ot act There was an exultant feelin,
OF triumph, natural, yet dangerous, whicI
Pvi'ade1 every rank Of society; and III
prosperity Of the American States wa
never more critically pcriIled than at tina
period OF time which intervenes betwee
the termination Of the war of Indepeu
dence and the adoption of the Feiera
Constitution.
While the States were employed in
common resistance to q common enemy
they were secure against riyaIries an,
JeaIousles amongst themselves. But will
the relaSations Of peace came the intoxi
cations OF liberty. We were then in 9Th
infancy OF tho science Of constitutions anc
of confederaoies; and never was our vic
tory complete until the liberty we bac
achieved had been regulated by law. and
the rights of the States in their relation.
! With each other and to the General Gov.
eminent, then about to be established
had been defined and guaranteed by q
written Constitution.
That the light Of liberty during this in.