The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-27
REMARKS OF "a. sRooxs.

W INV iVAs1..h ~ r..f.
IL the House Of Rspressmlaiivss. APra %. 1852.

Ia The House Of Representatives., APTd %, 1852.
Personal EXPLANATION.
MIR. BROOKS mud long article IN the Congress
sional Globe, which undoubtedly has reference TO me,
and rise TO ask the indulgence oil The House 10 make
personal explanation
MIR. STANLY object, unless the understanding is
that members OF the House involved in this explanation
shall have the same privilege in reply. want lar
field.
Mr. BROOKS The gentleman from North Carolina,
trust, will not object would not request this indu
gence of the House, if il were possible for me elsewhere
than in this House TO make an Official record OF my
explanation in reference TO the speech have alluded TO.
MIR STANLY. ii il rs the understanding that mem.
bes of the House implicated in the gentlenans explana
ton shall have also The opportunity OF explaining do
[Cnes OF " Certainly !" /" Certainly @l
Mr. STANLY. Very well with that understanding.
MIR. BROOKS. Mr.. Speaker, did not believe that the
Time would arrive when should be called upon to
exhibit the bad example OF rsng to interrupt the or
binary course oil business as TO ask IN personal expa
naon, to refer 10 my own private aairs or 10 speak oil
matters, which, II they interest members OF the House,
can have immediate influence pubc affairs or with
business beforeit has been my pride and ambition,
while have been member OF Congress- TO devote my
sell exclusively 10 public business and upon all occa
sons and at all tines whenever topic before the
House, 10 conne myself and my attentions II had any
thing 10 say upon IL TO the discussion OF that topic and
that topic only. My excuse now for this deviation in
ths House from the proper practice, and my excuse to
my constituents is what said before-tha here, in this
Congressional Globe, TO 90 down to poseTty record
ed salesmens against me, which, il make an appeal
through newspaper in the form OF card otherwise
al the bar of This House, is impossible for to
send like record Of down TO those who may possibly be
interested IN my humble reputation, or who may wish
attack upon me-
Before go further. will say that have taken
sion in this House before to remark that have but little
respect for that chvay which, before assaults
Der OF Congress, carefully consuts the lines Of latitude
and Longitude, in order TO direct lis assaults, and which
has billing. coong tones for every man south OF the Po-
M ruu fnra uarv ms North
| need not, however, have made this remark in this
case, because The speaker OF this article before is OF
an age and in position to protect him from any per-
sonal assault OF mne-rom any assault here or else.
where-for should as think OF indicating myself
in that way, from his remarks, ii assaulted by
my own grandfather.
There are in this article Mr. Speaker various allega
lions, and the first which propose to notice, but
which have before noticed in this House. is that
tain letter which appeared in the New York Express
written or indled by me. That, in the most solemn
manner, have already denied upon the floor OF this
House, and any further contradiction would be unaSa-
My position here editor of public newspaper at
home, and as a member of Congress, has often embar-
Tassed me; and upon becoming member OF the last
Congress- took occasion then publicly to say, that in
political or personal Matters in anything apperanng
10 persons would have concern whatsoever, and be
IN no degree responsible for what was in my paper be-
cause loresaw, II did not adopt that COURSE should
be holding personal relations with gentlemen of opposite
politics or political relations, which, from the greater
freedom OF newspaper discussion than that which exists
NAeoi "
That course have faithfully kept, and former cores
pondents who have been writing for the New York Ex-
press-some OF whom may be now in the sound OF my
voice--f called upon here or elsewhere, WILL under
solemn oath, testify that to them, upon all occasions
have said, show none OF your letters; let me hear
nothing Of them; tell me nothing you may write for
do not wish TO know anything Of the record you make OF
the proceedings in Congress" That ORDER which had
previously been gwen embarrassed me in the previous
session Of Congress- exceedingly, because there were
often personal aitacks- perhaps, use harsh express
sion in saying personal atacksbut personal comments
upon members OF the House. which, in my own heart,
did no, approve, and which would wish to correct if 1
had been at home On account of this felt ii necessary
TO say 10 the correspondents OF that paper the opening
oil this Congress- whenever there is anything in your let
tiers IN the nature OF personal attacks assaults upon
members OF Congress, before your letters go to New
York, at least bring them TO and while will be
responsible for what you say, single sentiment you
may utter yet will not approve OF anything which may
embarrass my social relations by attacks in the
paper with which am supposed 10 be connected This
letter, TO which the honorable gentleman from North
Carolina Mr. SrAsLY alluded the other day, brought
to me. No inconsiderable portion OF that letter struck
out Indeed, all the personal matters wished 10 strike
OUT but remonstrance was made TO that The
which were put forth IN that paper rumos which
were IN the mouth OF almost every man--rumors OF
course, but the existence Of which could deny in
the form they stated The letter went before the
public and but yesterday, the day before yesterday.
disciamed all personal responsibility for its statements
facts, or allegations.
There is also connected with this letter an editorial ar
tcle said to have been written by me- This editorial ar
tcie bears evidence upon its face, in misleading the
homes OF members OF Congress, that il could not have
been written by And to add TO the strength OF this
statement before God, say in the presence OF you all
that never saw one word or one item Of that editorial
article. until IL reached in the New York Express
and never read il in full until first read in the "Con
gressona Globe" reported here in the paper before me
These the facts OF the case which state fully and
frankly But II is said that there renarkab SINH
afity OF language between that letter and The language
which used In the in the Senate chamber the
other evening. Having the letter, and having been
bred by such oil lis sentiments felt be Just and
true, IS but natural that in the warmth and excitement
OF controversy, | should have given utierance TO the
same thoughts IN the same style for the ener-
getc language and indignant thoughts such deep
y impressed when written-and they were the Ian
guage and the thoughts OF many Others associated with
me- Amazement wonder, astonishment and passion
breathe, and thoughts that burn" spring from the tongue
OF every man when astonishing events occur. Hence
this identity Of thought This accounts for It, and moth
ing more
Now, MIR Speaker, there oher insinuatons in this
article OF the Congressional Globe in the main amusing
though enough insulting; and the first is that am no
gentleman. No gentleman Well, that would indeed
be severe verdict against my reputation II The person
who renders Il was some Beau Brunmel, the head OF
some fashionably constituted board which had right 10
pass upon what constitutes genuliy and TO adjust the
ing earth more difficult 10 descrbe-hough every one
has the idea in his mndthe beau ideal Of what cons
tuies gentleman but when you approach the language
OF definition OF what constitutes gentty there is moth
ing upon which mankind will more disagree But as TO
what constitutes not gentleman, there is really very
little difference OF opinion among mankind ard all the
world will agree in saying that he who comes fresh