The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-08-10
ADDRESS
Orion. p. 8. Brooks to tho People of the
Fourth Congressional District.

of having received number of letters, from
gentlemen in various parts Of my District,
in WHICH they say that "many Of your (my)
friends and supporters are anxious to learn
your (my) views of the Know Nothing Or
der" Other gentlemen have written that,
"if the party is not shortly checked, it will
control Lexington District" and that "ma-
ny Of your (my) best friends have joined
the Order, and arc doing all they can for
its promotion"
That few inpulsive spirits should have
been led estray by the Native American
feature of the Order, was to have been ex-
pected but that they should be SO numer
GUS as to form Party, and that party SO
strong in any part Of South Carolina as to
dream of "control," in very truth amazes me.
I have upon this, as upon all political
questions Of the day, decided opinions,
which are regulated by fixed principles
My correspondents have, as has the hum
blest voter in my District, the right to know
what those opinions are; and would be
unworthy of my position as your Represen-
tative in Congress, did desire to dissemble
or suppress them.
Before proceed to express my views,
which are in opposition to the Order, can
dor constrains me to admit that "Ameri-
canism" is natural sentiment with our peo-
pie. de- ~ecate myself the appointment
Of mon roreign birth to represent our
country J.. or to preside over our Col
leges; III of the States would, by
common y mt, withhold the elective fran
chse from immigrants for ten years, the
agreement would receive my entire approx
al. But because I approve, in degree, Of
one teneeof party, it is no more unrea-
sonable to expect me to adopt all of its
principles, than it would be to require
man to eat all of every dish upon bill Of
fare, because he fancied one. Yet this sim
gle feature has caused thousands to attach
themselves to the Know Nothing Order,
without considering its other features; and
thus, for one sweet drop, they gulp down a
whole gallon of bitter stuff
According to the Know Nothing doc
trines, the birthplace of man is grave
political consideration. In my judgment,
the birthplace of political principle is in
tiniteIy more important; and to the Know
Nothing Order We will apply the Know
Nothing test. Where was it borna In the
State of New York. When? Very short
ly after the passage of the Nebraska and
Kansas bill, which restored to the States of
the South their lost right of equality in the
common territory. What has been the ef-
feet at the Northa To defeat every Demo.
crat who voted for this bill of justice to the
South, and to put in his place an Abolition
Know Nothing, who stands pledged to re-
peal the bill, and to give his vote and indu-
ence to the enactment Of others of greater
injustice and injury than the Act known as
the Missouri Compromise.
might here appropriately comment up
on the impolicy and ingratitude of counte-
naucing theenemies of our friends, but this
is sufficiently obvious.
Permit me, however, to direct your atten-
ton for an instant to the tergivesations of
the Know Nothings, who, at the North, are
: outrand-out Freesoilers, and everywhere
are opposed to the repeal of the Missouri;
Compromise, as is shown by the fact, a
mong others, that every Southern man but
one, (Mr. MILLsoN of Virginia, who voted
against the bill for the opposite reason that
1t was not strong enough for the South, J
who voted against the bill, is now men,
ber Of the Know Nothing Order. At the
National Freesoil Convention held in Pitts.
burg, in 1852, and which nominated the
Know Nothing Abolitionist, JNo. P. HALE,
for the Presidency, it was
aResolved, That the doctrine that ANY
HUMAN. Law is a finality, and not subject to
modifcation:or repeal, Is not in accordance
with the creed Of the founders of our gov
ernment, and is dangerous to the liberties of
eurpeople. .s;a -
This resolution had reference to the
. Compromise Measures of 1851, which the
Freesoilers desired TO repeal. They secuted
the idea that those measures were ainal-
ity,. and. eontended that they could and
I should be modified or repealed, like any
other law: Of Congress:, The Missouri Com
yy7S