Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-07

in the cards Of these gentlemen, L submitted
1t 10 MI. Burlingame, with the request that
he would look over it and say whether be
would approve it.
When he had kept it at least half. hour. I
applied to him to know the result of his ex-
animation. With a strong compliment TO INV
fairness, he said it was correct In his recent
card he says: "When had read the rst
part / thought it did me JUSTICE can but
presume that :" the first part as designated
by Mr. Burlingame, included his answer TO
Mr.. Brooks's question. He would hardly have
stopped short of examining that before an
| swering as to the correctness Of the statement
When he informed me thai it was correct,
he expressed desire to retain it longer in
order to show il to a friend
That evening he sought an interview with
me to say that he had looked at nv statement
more carefully, and while he could deny the
correctness of no expression attributed to him
In 1t, yet, by the grouping of them which had
been made, it placed him in an improper posi-
tion, and, II published, would probably do
him great injury at home.
We then attempted to agree upon such al
terations as would preserve the substance of
the statement in q similar shape, but were un-
able. Thus the matter stood, when on the
next day, the 18th of July, / addres sed him a
note from my seat in the House of Represen-
tatives.
The use that Mr.. Burlingame has made of
this note is the most extraordinary feature in
his very extraordinary card 1t strikes me
as very strange that he considers this note,
together with the fact of his unwiIlipgpess
to insert the word " honor'' in the last state.
ment, as IN no way private, while he seems to
| consider his answer to Nr. Brooks's first ques.
tion as being confidential. l forbear here to
suggest reasons or to make comments Strange,
however, as is this position, there is yet
stranger feature connected with his use of
| that note. He cuts from the context single
phrases to produce the impression that Mr..
Brooks, through me, was persuading him to
make admissions, when the note itself, upon
Its face, places Mr. Brooks in an entirely diff
| terent position. In the very beginning of il
L announced to him that had that morning
| heard from friend of Mr.. Brooks that he
bad reeOtUed to take some step in relation 10
the difference between them, and that could
no longer control the matter thus put Mr.,
Brooks in the position Of resolve and deter
mInation, not Of persuasion. This, l say,
would be evident from the whole note. When
l said that Dir Burlingame ought not to ob-
Ject TO saying, in answer to that note, that be
did not intend to reflect on Mr. Brooks per-
sonally, merely meant to say that be ought
not to object to put in writing what he lad so
often declared to me verbally. he says truly
that he did not answer in writing. I confess
L was struck with the apparent ease with
"hich be avoided writing. Had he written,
as he in fEankness might well have done, ali
question about his position then would now be
put to rest 1t would be comfortably or u,r.
comfortably clear.
He came to my seat and said, not what he
states in his card, but simply that he would
like to confer with friend, and he asked if
would have any objections to unite in that
conference.
1 made no objection, but suggested that I
might have friend along, also. The meet
ing took place very speedily thereafter in one
OF the rooms of the Capitol; but my friend
having previously left, was alone with Mr..
Burlingame and his friend.
In some conversation which occurred be.
tween Mr.. Brooks and myself that day, he |
had said that ne was willing to accept any
paper from Mr.. Burlingame which disavowed /
the purpose to reflect on mis- courage Ut honor,
and in the interview in the Capitol the only |
question Of difference was that l contended /
for the disclaimer in that very language, be-
cause Mr.. Burlingame's 8 disclaimer in our for /
mer interview had gone fully to that extent.
de contended that in disclaiming, as he was |
willing to do, any intention 10 reflect on the /
personal character" Of Mr. Brooks he in |
cluded everything that makes up character, |
and that therefore, it was unnecessary to in
sert the word hoN0r expressly; and he stated |
that, In consequence of the probable effect of |
1t elsewhere, he perferred not to use that |
word. After some discussion, being unable |
TO agree with him upon the phraseOlogy to be
employed, L rose to leave the room, remarking
that il appeared clear that the matter could |
not be arranged satisfactorily between us,
and that regretted to believe that nothing
was left but fOf Mr.. Brooks to send him a i
note, which he would probably do in the |
course of that evening. Mr. Burlingame asked /
me TO pause, and said that he preferred that /
the matter should not 60 out Of my hands, and /
himself suggested further conference at his
own room that evening. This expose of fact |
has been made necessary by the partial and i
delusive givings-out Of Mr. Burlingame about /
his refusal 10 allow the word honor to be in.
serted in his last disclaimer.
The conference called at Mr.. Burlingame's \
room was attended by himself, Mr.. Speaker /
Banks, Mr.. BOyce, and myself. In opening
up the matter on that occasion, gave the 1
history of my whole connexion with it, aud es-
pecially the first message Of Mr. Brooks and
MIR. Burlingames answer, the drawing up of
the original statement, its being placed in
Burlingame's hand, his declaration, after
keeping it some time, that it was correct, and
his subsequent objection to it on the ground
that the grouping Of bis expressions in regard
to Mr.. Brooks was such as if published would
do him an injury. L then stated the history
of our subsequent efforts to agree upon some
thing which would be equivalent substan-
TALLY to the first statement, and which might
be free from the objection made TO the group !
ing" of that one. All which was admitted
by Mr.. Burlingame. This brought up the
question whether the woIi honor shsuld be
inserted, as contended that it ought to be.
Mr. Burlingsme again urged that to disclaim
any purpose to reflect on the "personoI char
acter'' of Mr. Brooks covered everything.
Mr.. Banks thought it sufficient, and Mr. Boyce
promptly agreed with them / stated thai it
appeared to me enough, but apprehended
that Mr.. Brooks would take different view
of it.
, Mr.. Burlingame suggested that Mr.. Boyce
and myself, as friends of Mr. Brooks, should
advise him that it was sufficient, and that he
would probably acquiesce in our opinion.
The paper drawn up, as before stated, was
taken by Mr.. Boyce and myself to Mr.. Brooks;
and we advised him that he ought to accept
it as satisfactory. Several other friends being
called in, all united in that opinion, and Mr..
Brooks accepted it accordingly. Il
1t was published as an appendix to his
pad hefora fha nm Hin Il