Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-07-29

can scarcely trust myself to write. 1 owe it
TO truth to say that from what had heard
ana seen Of him, prior to his assault on Mr..
sumner, had formed a high opinion of him,
ana mat act, which have properly stigma
tlzed' did think must have been abhorrent
10 ms better nature. In remembrance of my
opinion OF MIN, and feeling that through his
conduct l could still detect traces of gal
i"u'5! when some day might cause him to
'"NueInn as heartily as others did his assault
on MI. Sumner, had larger charity for him
than did most of my friends indeed 7 have
been blamed Tor intimatno the oni1;o, LIT
IN spite Of that act he was vet bravo man
Even as late as my conversation with f4ep
Lane, when he stated that Mr.. Brooks dasirod
speedy meeting, felt glow of admiration
for him as gallant foeman, but I was ,,,,o,c,
in the expressions of kindness for him i5
which. following procyity of my heart
had INDUCED, were entirely misplaced.
Out of regard for his feelings, inasmuch AS
he was so tender of NINE, / will abstain from
any further expression IF my opinion, but
leave men of honor to determine his position
in view of his own conduct.
In response to his numerous insinuations,
let him take my reasons. Why did he linger
IN the District where he was exposed to ar
rest The intimation that my friends arrest.
ed him, is unworthy even of him. do not
know the man who did it. The dearest
friends had, could get no clue from me of
the affair. | thought Mr.. Brooks was in earn
est, and prepared myself to meet him sterny
and without fail. If he was afraid to 20 to
Canada, the nearest neutral ground, why did
he not name some other place. Was l not
equally with himself exposed to the hazard
OF foreign jurisdiction He could have
reached the place of meeting in a few hours,
Il r. IL,
Pennsylvania and Maryland, but this he
deemed " the enemys country" Where is
a friends country for me Is it here, where
my comrades are smitten down without warn
ing. Here, where to make the defense of
free speech etfectual, 1, against my early
teachings, and the deep sentiments of my
people, have been driven, that l might secure
little fair play, and an approach to an
equal chance, to go 10 the field even with Mr..
B rocks.
think Mr. Brooks should not have based
so many anticipations of danger to himself, ON
the possibility OF my falling. 1 have not heard
that anybody who had fair play, ever fell be-
fore that arm whose single blow IN the House,
its owner thought, would have brought on
revolution. 1t would have been happy cir
cumstance for me- had l shown half as much
regard for my reputation as my gallant friend
have been linked with enc whose adroitness
in getting out of difficulty is only equalled by
his shrewdness i'll securing from an unsus-
pechng man what he tried to construe into an
endorsement OF his courage l can endorse it
no longer, and now give him full notice.
1t is kind of MIR. Brooks to hand me over TO
the repro baton Of men, and then to propose to
admit me to the position of gentleman, pro-
vided l would clallen him. He seems to
have forgotten how, in his card, he had Just
stated it was said OF me that would not send,
although would accept, challenge. If I
cannot hereafter praise the gentemans cour-
age, can commend his prudence. This is
revealed to us in the fact that without seeking
another place Of meeting, he rushes into print
in such way as to make one forget my tri-
umph in tine shame feel at the conduct of
my antagonist, as if suspecting that l might
change the place, he closes the door against it
by stating that he should have no further de-
mands upon me-
now dismiss, SO far as l can, the ex mem
Der from South Carolina from my mind. Self
respect requires me to say that l can never
again recognize, save to do him kindness, if
it should be in my power, Preston S. Brooks.
| hand him over to that public, North and
south, which is ever scolnful of those who boast
much and perform little.
AND now hereby submit myself to the
public, whose convictions, l fear 1 have in
vaded. l pray them to remember that for
eiveness is a higher quality than justice. l
cast myself on their generous hearts, which
are always tender, and always loving.
Let them not forget when passing on NV
conduct, the sneers l have seen, and the
taunts L have heard-how the old State we
all love, has been insulted, and her cherished
Senator stricken down, and how he vet lin
gers in almost helpless illness.
AS you of my own State remember these
things, you will not entirely blame me, if. in
moment of indignation, was willing to
stand up at the hazard of my life, and what
is dearer than life, for the insulted honor of
those who have always been kind TO me. I
am no duelist. seek no mans life.
have but acted in the spirit of the speech
made, when said that there were men from
the old Bay State who would defend her hon
or and the freedom of speech, in whatever
field they might be assaulted. My course be-
came to me defense of liberty against slavery,
and struggle for freedom Of speech against
freedom of the bludgeon, and the only wav
which seemed to be left was here, by which
we could defend ourselves
A. BURLINeAME,
Washington, July o. 1856