Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-01-07
REMARKS OF HON. P. S BROOKS
OFs SOUTH CAROLINA


In the House of Representatives, Dec. II, 1856
On the question of referring the President
Message to the Committee of the Whole Q
the state of the Union, and the printing {
!. ten thousand copies thereof. -
Mr.. BROOKS said
Mr.. SPEAKER: haze waited until my frien
from Indiana Mr. English had finished hi
speech, to reply to his question, whether or nj
he was correct in stating that southern Demo
Gratis would vote for the admission Of Kausas a
free State, if that was the clearly ascertaine
wish of u majority of her people, as would th
northern Democrats TO admit bcr as a sar
State, should that be the will of the majority
did not interrupt my friend while he wa
speaking because it breaks the thread of one
remarks, introducing irrelevant issues, ali
squanders the time of the occupant Of The fuol
There was a tact admission of The CORRECTNESS
of his position. His subsequent remarks, how
ever, caused me TO doubt whether l. for ono
could respond afirmaiively 10 his interprclaiin
Of the Kansas and Nebraska act and to his prn
position exactly as hs had stated .t. My posi-
ton, and The position of the Suuth generally, n
| understand it, is1hat, whenever il, shall b
legally ascerlained that the Territory of Kansa
Cor any other Territory of The Unilcd States
has population of nins!y.lhree Thousand fou
hundred and twenty, il is then IN II condition L
| form n State constitution and that the will o
majority of HE actual residents, as expressrc
| in that constitution, shall obtain! and the Terri
tury be admitted into the Union as q State
without reference 10 any constitutional proyi
sion it may contain in regard 10 negro slavery
This nav understand to be The proposition o
my friend. We now concur thus far, and an
nounce distinctly that, should the people oil
Kansas comply with The terms of tie Kansas
admission us 4 free Slate, they will cucounlcl
no obstacle in my vote.
Eul-my friend went on to shy that, in hi>
opinion, a Territorial Legislature had the power
to pass laws Prohibiting Tie introduction OF
slaves. lfit has that power, why may not the
Legislature also manumit such slaves as cl,dnce
TO be IN The Terriiory3 | would ask The geu.
tleman from Indiana what amount Of population
is requisite for aicrritorial government? No
specified number is required. Then. according
10 the genlleman's doctrine, Il TERRITORIAL Lrgis.
slaiure, representing len thousand people, may
pass a law forever prohibiting slavery. lflen
thousand may make such law, why nlay not
five thousand ffveihon<and, why may not
five hundred! Why not fifty? Why not ten
And with such a doctrine prevailing, what secu
II! 7ai g
from any such doctrine. ! not only repudiatc
The doctrine Of, my friend from Indiana, bnll
also repRdilte another which has been here
taught and which is, virtually, that we of the
South are to be excluded from aTerrilory until
the Judgment of the Supreme Court is rendered
in regard to the effect upon our peculiar proper
.ty of laws passed by Territorial Legislature
do moi claim that the Constitution carries
slavery into Il Territory; but ! do Claim liiat, as
a citizen, have the right to take my property
into any Territory OF the United States; and
that The Constitution which protects me, aIs"
protects my property. II, in the exeicse OF
my rights us n citizen, T;y right Of property
should be questioned. will appeal toslhe legal
Tribunals of the coan;ry and abide their decl-
sun; but will not be the FIRST TO dislrusl my
constitutional rights, and will content myself
with defending them whca aSsalicd. We are
the swo.n Lawmakers of !hc land, and are pre-
sumed to DC as rcgardful Of our consltSl ional
obligations as are the judges Of the Supreme
Bench Il is but sorry commentary upon *
law made by Il majority. yhcn that majority
disagree us to its legal effect. Ii is said thai
there are many roads 10 heaven aud that gen.
.l!enieu were led TO the smfpnrtof The Kansas.
Nebraska bill by&s many different roads. There
is but one heaven, and bnl Nic sound, cnnsll'u
lional, and national prucip!e in the Nrar"sk1 a
ace; and the sooner We all agree~io stand upon
that principle, and approach it blythe same road.
the better will it be for the Democratic party.
Mr.. Speaker. the di.cuS,inn which has occur
red upon the Presidents message, particularly
that portion of il which relates TO matters in
Kansas was not unexpected by me. 1t was ex.
pcced, because Of the deep hostility which J
knew TO exist at the South, rs well as at the
North, towards the President and the Democrat
ic party To be frank, | expected it because OF
our weakness in certain points, which exposed
us to attack, and even invited it.
The presiaential election has resulted in n
rcpuIsc of the Republican party froEl the de-
cayiug citadel Of the Constitution but not in a
ruut of lis forces They. have been beaten, but
they are yet uncunquered. 1t was evident, even
before The meeting of Congress, that they were
marshaling their hosts for another onset Their
organization is undis;urbed- moral of Their
troops prcserved-their leaders confident, and
still trusted " The smoke Of the battle had hard.
ly arisen from the field before observations were
taken OF our ne win me saa'ioi anu s"sacr d
OF pr"c'cea slraegs.s an" II Is III Aa,'' - ''S
gulse ll--our week poi"' ''"S oee" o,'te.s"'
lalso. expected thls dlscasSlon' because OF
the prying vigilance OF another organ'za!ioa
which, Lecause of its having its hand against
every other party and parlrHl"rly Ina. "n,s, ,,,
at this lime happens 10 oe IN lns ascendant may
appropriately DC called W a.AmaetEaa ,s . parry parry