The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-01-16
MISCELLANY.
Speech of the Hon. p. S. Brooks in the
House Of Representatives.

mr.. Speaker IL have waited until
my friend from Indiana Mr.. English had
finished his speech, to reply to his question,
whether or not he was correct in stating
that southern Democrats would vote for the
admission OF Kansas rs free State, if that
was the clearly ascertained wish Of a majority
Of her people, as would the Northern Demo
Gratis TO admit her rs a slave, State, should
that be the will of the majority? I did not
interrupt my friend while he was speaking
because it breaks the thread of ones remarks,
Introducing irrelevant issues, and squandcrs
the time Of the occupant of the floor. There
was taclt admission Of the correctness of his
position. Lis subsequent remarks, however,
caused inc to doubt whether l, for one, could
respond afiirmaively to his Interpretation Of
the Kansas and Nebraska act and to his prop
osition exactly as he had statedit. Nv posi-
ton, and the position Of the South generally,
as understand it is that, whenever it shall
be legally ascertained that the Territory Of
Kansas for any other Territory Of the United
States has population Of nincty-thrce thou
sand four hundred and twenty, it is then in
condition to form a Sote constitution and
that the will of a majority Of the actual resi-
dents, as expressed in that constitution, shall
obtain, aud the Territory be admitted into
the Union as State, without reference to
any constitutional provision it may contain
IN regard to negro slavery. This now
understand to be the proposition of my
friend. We now concur thus far, and an
nounce distinctly that, should the people Of
Kansas comply with the terms of the Kan
ahrac 10 7 4 - I
apply for admission as free State they
will encounter no obstacle in my vote.
But my friend went on to say that, in his
opinion, Territorial Legislature had the
power to pass laws prohibiting the intro
duction Of slaves. If it has that power, why
may not the Legislature also manumt such
slaves as chance 10 be in the Territory? /
would ask the gentleman from Indiana what
amount Of population is requisite for terri
torial government? No specified number is
required. Then, according to the gentle
mans doctrine, a Territorial Legislature,
representing ten thousand people, may pass
a law forever prohibiting slavery. If ten
thousand may make such law, why may
not five thousand If five thousand, why
may not five hundred? Why not fifty?
Why not tena And with such doctrine
prevailing, what security have I, as southern
snan, in emigrating to any Territory with
my slaves dissent in toto from any such
doctrine. not only rcpudiate the doctrine
of my friend from Indiana, but also repudi-
ate another which has been here taught
and which is, virtually, that we of the
the South are to be excluded from Terri
tcy until the judgement Of the Supreme
Court is rendered inrregard to the effect
upon our peculiar property Of laws passed
BY Territorial Legislature.
do not claim that the Constitution car
ries slavery into Territory but I do claim
sha, as citizen, have the right TO take
my property into any Territory of the
Unaed States, and that the Constitution
which protects, me. also protects my proper
IT,. IT. 10 the exercise Of my rights as a
citizen, my right Of property should be ques-
toned, j will appeal to the, legal tribunals
Of the country and abide their ,dseisionshut
will not bathe Grst to ,distfust nay ;cetsti-
sniional rigkA Ind will content myself with
defending Them when naaeaiied. We are the
srosa iaw5makers Of the land, and are pre-
samed to be as regardfhl of our coustitp-
doAss obligations as are the Judges of the
suprspaa Bench. It IS but q sorry, COM
usataty upen law made by a;tnsjorfty,