Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-07-20
Correspondence Of the Kcowee Courier.
WASHINGTON. June 1854.

the speech of one of our South Carolina Repre-
sentatires on the Nebraska and Kansas bill,
| (Which, since last wrote, has become the law
Of the and,) the the Hon. Preston s. Brooks,
of Edgrtield District; and. with your permission,
purpose 10 give it 4 brief review, because there
! is an honesty and traight forwurdness in its
: tone and manner, that jumps with my humor,
and which can only be found emanating from
the statesmen of the South. do not know
| that there is any new arguments in this effort OF
! Mr.. Brooks-but those used are we'll put and
unanswerabc-and the whole production shows
! that the "oid Palmetto State" is still keeping
up her stock of clear-headed, constitutional
statesmen, and pure patriots. Mr.. Brooks has
evidently lighted his torch at the flame nurscd
/ by Mr.. Calhoun, and has, in this speech, shown
/ himsefa worthy political heir of that great and
good man. Without descending TO personali-
ties, he has manfully maintained the correctness
of the policy and rights of the South, while he
has repeed, with power, the assaults of North
crn hucksters upon those rights, the Conslitu-
ton, and all those great principles which should
be-must be-reliy yiously preserved and obser-
we'd, if we are continued nation.
1t is n matter of pride to ME, 10 find that MIR.
! Brooks comedies with me in opinion, that the
Nebraska bill was introduced at All inoportunc
time. He says
'' ] am frank to avow my belief that it would
have been wiser, and in better keeping with the
general interercst Of the country had the bill
providing territorial governments for Nebraska
and Kansas been delayed until the pressing
wants of the people of those territories had
caused them to apply to Congress for relief"
Politicians may say what they please about
its necessity, but it was 4 dangerous card to
! play in the very commencement OF an admins
lralion, before it had got hardened in the bone"
as it were, and firmly seated in, the affection of
the democratic party, and the Judgment OF the
American people. As it is, the success of the
measure shows the strength of the admlnistra-
sion-the bill, which has now become the law,
after one of the severest, most unprinciped, and
best organized opposilons that have ever wit
messed, has strang led that nefarious monster
the Missouri Compromise-an thrown the
question of Northern and Southern interest
back upon the Constitution and the Southern
members could not do better, perhaps, than
to seize the opportunity thus presented to cor
recta great wrong. | quote the Language OF
Mr.. Brooks:
"But sir, the bill is before us, and it becomes
III of the South to avail ourselves of the oppor-
tune OCCASION to bring back congressional legls-
lation within constitutional rcstraints-to re-
assert the great constitutional principle that as
the people are the source of all political power,
they have in the capacity Of sovereiS;n-stHtes.. sovereiSes.
regain our constitutional right to go with our
property of every description upon any part OF
the public domain"
| Now, then the North and the South stand on
constitutional equality in relation to those terri
tories, and with Mr.. Brooks say-"if the ma
tural laws of climate and of soil excludes US
! from the territory of which we are the joint
owntrs, we should not and we will not complain"
| The rich prairics of Kansas are now open to the
Southern STAKEHOLDER, and it only remains for
him to occupy it Immediately it he would Sc
cure them rs an Inheritance to his children, and,
rs IN offering 10 humanity and philanthrophy
for the interest and benefit Of the slaves, whose
welfare has been committed, by God, to the
keeping of the Southern master. This terrific
rv, am told, is the very best adapted to the
culture of hemp Of any in the United States,
and without slave labor hemp cannot be grown
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., let Southern interest move
speedily in this MATTER or they will be forestal-
led by the aboli,ionists and greedy spectators
of the north and east. There is every thing
now to encourage the South to go forward. The
constitution is with her-the law is with her
the administration is with her, and the great
northwest is with her, which Alr. Brooks thus
happily alludcs to:
awe rejoice to unite with our brethren OF
the west in so patriotic an enterprise; and we
rejoice that the stars of the Constitution and OF
empire are mingling their rays together in the
west. We rejoice upon this coincidence OF
opinion between the people of two great Sec
tlons, which are destined to grow together in
prosperity and wealth, and which God has uni
| led in common interest by that great highway
of commerce which brings the treasures Of tile
west into the lap Of The south"
Now is The day for prompt energetic action
on the part of the South-if they, thro' supine-
ness and want of energy, suffer this prize to
slip from their grasp let them forever after hold
their peace, and cease complaints against the
North.
like the following hit of the gentleman.
He says:
awe are now told that it was the policy of
the country to exclude slavery from all national
territory. Sir, there is suspicious sound in
that word national, which jars upon Southern
ears and when coupled with the doctrines it
inculcates, comes athwart the gale like the low
whistle of tho bandit, and admonlshes honest
men to look well to the security Of their estates.
MIR. Brooks has, in this speech, again brought
| forward, in clear and lucid manner, the whole
slave question, shown its advantages to the
North as well as to the South, exposed the hy-
pocrisy of the false prctendcrs of philanthropy,
who, to meliorate the condition OF the slave,
would restrict its enthusiastically in effect
more firmly riveting its claims, and increasing
| its evils. J cannot, for the want Of tlme take
up more of your space on this branch OF his
speech, but it is we'll worthy of republication,
that our youth may be strengthened in SOUND
principles.
One moro extract and have done, worthy
alike of the head and heart OF MIR. Brooks,
which il would do well for the cool calculating
men of the North to ponder upon, before they
lend themselves to the reasonable, incendiary
principles of the aboltionists:
aWc have country great in its history and
;ts institutions, great in its science and arts,
oroat in its statesmen and warriors, great in its
Wealth and the variety of its resources. We
will continue to have 4 great country--a coun-
try, continuing and increasing in grcatness-if
we are but true to the principles of the Consti-
tuition. 1t is distinct in letter and equitable in
in spirit. It is sauctifed by the blood and the
wisdom of patriots, and has stood the surest of
all tcsts-the test of time. call upon the good
and the true men of every section to array
themselves before it, and tell the assailants it is
q sacred thing, and not to be polluted by their
fanalical touch. The South asks for nothing
more"
hope gentlemen, the above may find favor
in your sight, and place in your columns;