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I am induced to address the voters of the Fourth Congressional District, through the columns of the "South Carolinian," because it is a paper having an extensive circulation in my District, and because of the shortness of the time that will elapse before the election to supply the vacancy created by my resignation, which I have observed is on the 28th inst.
When I accepted, fellow-citizens, the commission to represent you, I felt that you had committed your honor to my care, together with your interests. Upon the instant of my first election, the responsibilities of my new position weighed heavily upon me. I found relief, however, in the reflection that, although a beneficent Creator had vouchsafed great intellectual endowments to comparatively but few of his creatures, yet that he had constituted every man of common sense with power to be just, loyal and true; and I silently vowed that, though nature should deny me the privilege of adding even an humble intellectual flower to the chaplet of South Carolina, I would be a sentinel to her honor and guard the glories, with which better and abler men had graced her brow.
On the 19th and 20th of May last past, a Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts falsified her history and defamed her character. I remembered my resolve, and performed my vow. For this act, with which you are familiar, the House of Representatives endeavored to expel me from that body. The vote on the resolution to expel was 121 yeas and 95 nays—less than two-thirds, which is the number required by the Constitution to expel a member. There were circumstances of gratification attending this vote; but there were also circumstances of displeasure. Every member from the slave-owning States voted to sustain me but two, and they were Know-Nothings—the one from Maryland (Mr. Hoffman) and the other from Delaware (Mr. Cullen). Thirteen gentlemen from the free States also voted against the resolution to expel.
But a majority of the House has pronounced me, because of my act, unworthy of a seat in the American Congress. I could not, as the representative of a high toned and gallant constituency, rest with this imputation upon you and myself. I resigned my seat, and, kicking the black dust of a Black Republican majority from my feet, I left the Hall in indignation and disgust.
My appeal is to you. IF I HAVE REPRESENTED YOU FAITHFULLY, THEN RE-ELECT ME WITH AN UNANIMITY WHICH WILL THUNDER INTO THE EARS OF FANATICISM THE TERRORS OF THE STORM THAT IS COMING UPON THEM. IF IN AUGHT I HAVE FAILED TO REPRESENT YOU AS YOU ARE, THEN IN GOD'S NAME SEND SOME MAN WHOSE BLOOD IS MORE SLUGGISH THAN MINE.
It was my purpose to have made my appeal to you in person, but there are circumstances, not necessary now to mention, which have induced me, under the advice of discreet friends, to remain "on the ground." For nearly two months I have been in daily receipt of many letters, threatening my life, whether in the Capitol, in the streets or in my chamber. Though seemingly undisturbed during the time, now that the crisis is past, I realize that I have been in condition of continuous excitement, and that I need repose. I could be but one week in the State even if I were to return, and of necessity could see but a few of my constituents.
While I am here, though I may not represent you as a member, I can and will, as a private gentleman, defend the honor of our good old State from assaults proceeding from any and every quarter.
I herewith couple an extract from the "Journal of Commerce," which is published in New York City, together with the comments upon it by the "New York Daily Times."
P. S. Brooks.—We are glad to see that the first impulse of approbation expressed by some of the Southern papers [of Brooks' attack upon Sumner] has passed away, and that nearly the whole South, in common with the whole North, now condemn the assault as unjustifiable and brutal—Journal of Commerce.
"We shall soon have an opportunity of testing the truth of these assurances. Mr. Brooks has gone home to appeal to his constituents. If it be true; as the Journal of Commerce and other papers of the same stamp assert, that his conduct is condemned by 'the whole South,' or by any considerable portion of it, as 'unjustifiable and brutal,' they will manifest that displeasure by refusing to re-elect him. Under the circumstances of the case, his re-election would be the strongest possible endorsement of his conduct. And if his constituents are desirous of having it understood that they do not approve of it, they have a very simple way of making it manifest. This will be the only issue presented in his case. Upon all other subjects others may readily be found who will be quite as acceptable representatives as he. If he is re-nominated and re-elected, it will be solely and exclusively because his constituents desire thus to endorse and applaud his assault upon Mr. Sumner."
"Now, does the Journal of Commerce believe they will re-elect him, or not? If it does, it can hardly pretend also to believe that they condemn his conduct as 'unjustifiable and brutal.'"
The issue involved is distinctly set forth in the above extracts, and it is for you to say which of these editors is the Daniel in judgment.
I have the honor to have been your servant, and am respectfully your fellow citizen.
P. S. Brooks.
Washington City, July 18.
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Copyrighted
by Hugh Dubrulle, 2002
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