True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-08-20
Mr. Burling.aIme,s Gard.

in relation to his difficulty with Brooks,
in which after recapitulating the facts be
says:
Of the conduct Of Mr.. Brooks in this
affair, l Can scarcely trust myself to write.
| owe it to truth to say that from what |
had heard and seen of him prior 10 his
assault oil Mr.. Sumner, l had formed a
high opinion Of him. and that act, which
some day, might cause him to condemn,
as heartily as others do, his assault on
Mr.. Sumner. 1 had larger charity for
him than had many of my friends. In
deed have been blamed intimating The
opinion that in spite of that act he was
still brave man, even as late as my con-
versation with Gen. Lane. When he
stated that Mr.. Brooks desired speedy
meeting, | felt glow Of admiration for
him, as a gallant foeman, but l was
wrong. The expression OF kindness for
him, in which following proclivity oI
my heart, | had indulged were entirely
misplaced.
Out Of regard for his feelings, insomuch
as so tender of mine. will abstain from
any further expression of my opinion,
but leave men of honor to determine his
position in view of his conduct. In re-
SPONGE to his numerous insinuatlons, lei
him take my reasons. Why did he lin.
ger in the District, where Re was exposed
to arrest =! The inlimation that my
friends arrested him is unworthy even oI
him. do not know the man who did it,
The dearest friend had could get NO
clue from me of the affair. 1 thought
Mr.. Brooks was in earnest, and prepared
myself to meet him s,ernly and without
fail. If he was afraid to 60 to Canada,
the nearest neutral ground, why did he
not name some other place? Was !
not equally with himself, exposed 10 the
hazard of Il foreign Jurisdiction! He
could have reached the place of meeting
in few hours, keeping most of the way
in the States Of Pennsylvania and Mary
land, but this he deemed the " enemy's
country" Where is fiend's country
for me! Is il here where my country
men are smitten down without warning
Here where 10 make the defence Of free
speech efftctual |, against the early
teachings and the deep seated sentiments
of my people, have been driven; that |
might secure little fair play, and an ap-
proach to an equal.ahance to go to the
field, even with MEBrooks! | think
Mr.. Brooks should not have based so many
nnticipations Of danger to himself Oh the
possibility of my falling, l have not
heard that anybody who had fair play
ever fell before that arm whose single
blow in the House its owner thought
would have brought on a revolution.
1t would have been a happy circum-
stance for me, lad | shown half as much
regard for my reputation as our " gallant"
friend did for his life. Then, my name
would not have been linked with one
whose adroitness in getting out of difficult
ty is only equaIled by his shrewdness in
securing from an unsuspecting man what
he tried to construe into an endorsement
of his courage. | can endorse it no long.
er, and now give him full notice. 1t is
kind Of Mr.. Brooks to hand me over to
the reputation Of men, and then 10 propo e
to admit me to the position Of gentle
man provided would challenge him He
seems to have forgotten how in his card
he had just stated il was said of me l
would not send although | would accept a
challenge. If | cannot hereafter praise
the gentleman's courage. l can commend
his prudence. This is revealed to us in
the fact that, without seeking another
place of meeting, he rushes iuto print in
such way as to make me forget my triumph
in the shame | feel a: the conduct Of my
antagonist. Asif suspec'ing that | might
change the place, he closes the door
against it by stating that he should have
no further demands upon me. | now
dismiss as far as can, the ex.member
from South Carolina from my mind
Self-respect requires me to say that l can
never again recognize, save to do him a
kindness, if it should be in my power,
Preston S. Brooks. l hand him over 10
that public North and South. which is
ever scornGul of those who boast much
and perform little. -.-