Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-03-09

gulshed in the attacks made upon the British
troops, on the 10Th of September and 18th Of
October, which led to the capture of Bur-
goyne. Colonel Brooks entered one of the.
entertainments of the enemy, at the head of
his regiment, sword in hand.
His talents, as disciplinarian, were early
seen and acknowledged by Gen. Washington; :.
and in this capacity he was second only to
Baron Steuben, one of the first tacticians of
the age Through the whole revolutionary.
war he was distinguished for his zeal as a,
Patriot, and his attention and bravery as q,
Soldier. After the death of Col. Alden, in
Nov. 1878, he took command Of the 18th Mass.
Regiment, which he retained to the close OF
the war.
In the year of 1888, before the Army was
disbanded, when an alarming spirit of discon-
tent and mutiny was manifested by portion
of the officers and soldiers, Col. Brooks united
with Gen. Washington, Knox, and others, in
quoting the minds of the disaffected, and in
suppressing a combination which threatened
the peace and liberty of The country. He was
member of the Committee appointed to-
obtain assurances Of full justice to the troops
from Congress, and 10 prevail on the Off
GERS TO submit to the decisions of the citfl au--
thority.
Soon after the peace, he was appointed Ma,
ior General of the Militia, in Middlesex and
he infused into the officers and men belonging
to the division, spirit both OF ambition and
su5ordmat:on, which gave character to the
Militia that they had never before exhibited.
When the unhappy instruction took place
in 1886, the Militia were called out from differ
entparts of Middlesex, for the protection of the
Courts, and the support of Government, which
gave much confdcr"e TO the Civil Authority.
and reflected great honor upon Their intelli-
gent and patriotic Commander. He marched
part of the division to Worcester, in January,
at the call Of Gen. Lincoln, who had command
OF the Militia at that critical period. At this
time, he was also member of the Legisla-
ture and gave his decided support TO the
firm and udicious measures Of Gov. Bowdoip.
for suppressing the rebellion, which then ex-
isted in the State.
Governor Brooks was an original member of
the Society Cincinnati; and by his prudence,
patriotism, and truly republican principles and
manners, has done as much as any individual
to remove the objections against the Society,
at the time it was formed, as to its tendency
or design to create an aristocracy in the coun-
try. On the death of Gen. Lincoln, its first
President, a man most highly and justly es-
teemed, as well for his private and civic viz
tues, as for his military and public services,
he was chosen to succeed him in 1910. From
that period to the present, he has been annu-
ally elected and generally, by an unanimous
vote. For several years after the formation
of the Society, it was customary to have an
Grafton on the Fourth of July, by one of the
Members. The first Orator was Governor
Rr0ols He oblo opJ ;uIicio,,o a
published.
Governor Brooks was eminent, also, as q
legislator and civilian. He was Member OF
the Convention to consider the Federal Con.
stitution, in January, 1888. He warmly ad-
vocated the adoption of the Constitution pre-
pared and recommended by Washington and
other patriotic Statesmen and through his in
fluence, with the Jealous Efforts Of other dis
tinguished characters in Massachusetts, that
excellent political system was finally approved
by majority ofthe States.
In the critical period of 1894 and '95, when
the pacific measures of Washington were CEN
sured and opposed by portion of the people,
and French Agents were endeavoring to hurry
the United States into war, Governor Brooks
was decided, like many of his revolutionary
compatriots, in support Of the policy and con-
duct of the Father of his Country; and in 1898
and '99, period Of equal alarm and difficult
ty, he gave all his influence in favor of Mr..
Adams's Administration, and was consulted
by him in the arrangements made for militia
ry force to defend the country against foreign
aggression and insult. IIc was always rank
ed among the politicians of the Washington
School; and he was alike open and decided
in his opinions of public measures. In 1912,
he was one of the Council of Gov. Strong.
When there was real danger of invasion, in
1914, it is known that he advised to put the
State in posture Of defence and that, thro'
him, an arrangement was made to place the
Militia, with certain conditions, under COM
mand of Officers Of the General Government
so, however, that they might not lose the
rights and privileges of Militia.
In 1916, he was elected Governor, and re-
ceived the sufrages of the majority of the peo-
pie of the Commonwealth for that honorable
and responsible office for six successive years
afterwards. As Governor, he was impartial.
disinterested, and magnanimous. Even those
who preferred some other candidates, on &C
count Of their political sentiments, are ready
to acknowledge their respect for his character,
and their convictions of his integrity and im-
Partially.
But we must not omit to observe, even in
this very imperfect notice, that the character
Of Gov. Brooks is not less entitled to our re-
spect, on account of his moral worth, his pr-
vate virtues and Christian department, than for
his public services as a Patriot and States
man. No man had more lively sense Of
moral obligation, or cherished more reso1ute
and uniform purpose to discharge the various
duties OF life. He early enioyed the instruo
tons and intimate acquaintance of Rev. Mr..
Haven, of Reading, where he commenced his
professional career in ITS. Thus favorablv
situated, he failed not to acquire just and ra-
tional views ofreligion. He was Protestant
in the true sense of the term; and his religious
views were accordingly enlarged and catho-
lie. But while he laid comparatively, little
stress upon the theological dogmas of any par.
tcular sect, no one was more fully convinced
OF the truth and excellence of Christianity, or
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