The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-02-21
from the Charleston .Nercurs.
Letter from Hon. p. s. Brooks.
uousE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, }
February 7. 1855. {

StrinStellow addressed Il letter to myself
and others, giving a description of the
soil of Kansas, aud the average products
OF agricultural labor. That letter was
published in tho newspapers Of our State,
and every additional testimony confirms
the truth of the statements therein con-
tanned.
Gen. Whitfield is now at my side, and
in reply to the 9uc.i"n relative TO the
demands and rewards Of mechanical labor,
bids me say tlfa. the minimum Of wages
for labor in Kansas is fully double the
price in Charleston
But higher considerations tl,nn pecu.
mary profit are now presented to the
young men Of our State; ami they are
just the considerations which soonest
reach, and most excite the heart Of yruno
Carolina. They IRE tho considerations OF
patriotism aud honnr. Civil war has vir-
tualiy begun in Kansas. The lives of
such friends of the institutions of the
South and of the Constitution, rs have
gone to Kansas to disseminate our princi
Piles, strengthen our institutions and pro-
tect your rights, my rights. aud the rights
Of every slave owner, are in peril. BY
the fat Of "Aboliton Aid Societies, )"
money and men are pouring into Kansas.
The spirit of popular sovereignty is being
crushed, and the principle of nol,-intervcn-
ton circumventcd by law.css fa,lati
cisnl.
With the permission Of Gen. Whitfield,
l make the following extracts from a let
ter dated " Lccompton. january o." and
written by gentleman in high position
aud OF intelligence unt integrity, whose
name (fur REASONS whic!, YOU would con-
cur with me in regarding satisfactory is
withheld:
About six days ago, six men were
sent to Iowa to conduct 500 fi.llling men,
who are to he here l,v the last Of Fclru
airy. They will tc here without doubt.
Yesterday, wagons We're sent to meet
tran with two cannon and five ihurdred
Sharpc's rifles from Illinois, which are be,
ing sent to Lawrence.
These things go to show that the
traitors are Industrious anl are working
by the lst Of March they will have 100
or 1900 men more than they have now,
and be better provid I'd with arms and mu-
nilions.
"On the 4th of March next, they put
their Government iu;o operation, and if we
are not strong enough to put down them
and their military organization, We will he
driven from the Territory.
"For myself, think that no man, in or
out Of the Territory, is willing to risk more
Of everything that is dear or valuable, az
cordiug to his circumstances, than | will, if
the cause is appreciated hy the South, and
they show their appreciation t'y sending
men and money To help. But if the slave
owners of the South content themselves
with temporary luxury and ease. AMI make
no effort 70 save M"ir institutions, they
may take care of themselves i'll their own
way, AMI | will of myself in mine. If
there is ~ man who is enlisted more deeply
in the cause Of the Snuth than myself, I
don't know where he is to be found.
am fortified in my position by principle
and feeling | hnfe the adverse cause, and
and my property, which arc now in daily
peril.
"The South must act with energy and
promptness. They must do the entire thing
or give it up-acknowlcdge them selves
whipped.
"Our friends must he here on the 2Slh
of February, or the few pro-slavery men
in this part of the Territory will be
burned out and driven off AZ refugees.
men by the 2sth OF February next. and
double that number 10y fall. and in time
for the elections, they need not send a
man."
Such is the State of affairs in Kansas,
IS represented 10y one who is on the
ground.
Tie admission Of Kansas into the
Union as slave State, is now a point of
honor with the South. Every assistance
which legislation can render, was given by
the last Congress, when the Missouri pro-
hibition WAS repealed. What more can
Southern chivalry ask Of Congress An
open field and Il fair fight was all that our
ancestors ever asked of an enemy. Has
the spirit of the sires departed from the
boso,ns of their SONS Shall the page of
South Carolina history, which records the
lofty sentiments and glorious deeds of
Gads'len, of IIayne. and Of MouItrie, grow
pale when reading Of us? Aud shall it
be written that their blood was transmit
ted without their virtues and of their
spirit thai the "grace Of the fashion of it
perishetli."
Inc last Congress gave to the people OF
the South a fair field, and the Abolition
lists have thrown down tho glove upon it.
Who in all the South will take it up.
1t is my deliberate conviction that the
fate of the South is to be decided with the
Kansas issue. If Kansas becomes hire
ling State, slave property will decline to
have its present value in Missouri as soon
as the fact is determined. Then Aboli.
tionis,n will become the prevailing senti-
ment. So with ArkaDsas-so with upper
Texas. While we are thus decreasing in
political power, the North will increase
War with England is now desired by
Seward, who is the most dangerous man
in America. And why? TO exhaust
the South Of men and money, and with
our blood and our treasure tU acquire
Canada as frecso territory; and, then
with freesoil power thus augmented, to re.
duce the South to provincial dependence