I was elected a co-operationist — for united Southern action to demand further guarantees from the North, or, failing that, a Southern Confederacy. I feel it my duty, painful as it may be, to part from those with whom I have acted, and cast Warren county's vote for the Ordinance.
Original passage & context
"I was elected by a large majority, as what is known as a co-operationist--which means, as I understand it, one who was in favor of united Southern action for the purpose of demanding further guarantees, from the North, or, failing in that, the formation of a Southern Confederacy. [...] I therefore feel it my duty, painful as it may be, to part from those with whom I have heretofore acted, to assume the responsibility of casting at least one of the votes of Warren county for the passage of the Ordinance as reported."
The human face of the cooperationists' collapse. Brooke was elected to insist the South act only in concert — the very counsel Charleston's fire-eaters had attacked as 'delay' (ch2 se-009). On the floor as Mississippi votes to secede, he abandons his own bloc and casts a yes, 'painful as it may be.' The ordinance carried overwhelmingly; fifteen delegates held out. Verified against the Documenting the American South (UNC) transcription of the convention proceedings.
Read it in the original — Mississippi Convention proceedings, Jan 9, 1861 ↗