Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-08-09
The Last of Mr.. Brooks.

There is an old proverb, often administered
10 chi dren, which warns them that they lean
not cat their cake, and T. ~ 1t too" Colonel
Brooks seems 10 think the thing can be done.
He has beer anxious, ever since his assault up
on Senator sumner, to secure a personal en-
gagement with any Northern man, who might
take the liberty of expressing his sentiments
concerning that assault in manner offensive to
him His purpose was at last accomplished.
Mr.. Burlingame made speech in which he
said that Mr. Brooks entered the Senate Cham
Der and "smote Mr.. Sumner as Cain snoie his
brother" Being afterwards called upon by
friends Of Mr. Brooks be directed their attention
10 the obvious fact, that this expression related
TO the assault and not to the personal character
of the assalant. 1t was, of course, the right
of Mr.. Brooks to take advantage oflhis dstnc-
ton, nice as II was, II lie saw III 10 90 so. liz
availed himself of that right and somewhat os-
tentatiously paraded The memorandum in which
it was recorded as an explanation by M Bur
lingane, of the obnoxious remark contained in
his speech. Finding it thus used to his injury
and hearing, moreover, that Mr. Brooks had
privately boosted of having again conquered
Massachl sells" Mr. Burngame promptly with
drew it,-and left his speech to interpret itself
Mr.. Brooks, thereupon challenged him. Mr..
Burlingamo accepted the challenge and fixed
the place the meeting at Niagara Falls. on
the Canada side, and the time Saturday next at
IL o'clock In all This he exercised an unques-
toned and unqnesiionabe right. Col Lane,
the friend of Col. Brooks, expressly comedies
this in his note to his principal, giving an ac-
count OF his interview with Mr. Buringame.-
There was not the slightest shadow Of oblga-
iion on the part Of the latter to select either
time or place with view to the convenience of
Col. Brooks. Yet upon receiving Mr.. Builin-
games reply, withou, word Of remonsirance
OF complaint addressed 10 Mr. b. himself, with
out even submitting to him The nature Of his oh
Iectlons 10 the place selected and the prnprie-
~ Of changing it, after Mr. b. had lell the city
for fear OF arrest, Col Brooks refuses the meet
ing he had himsclfinviled, and iushes into print
as if for the express purpose ofmakne it il i'm
possible! The reasons which he assigns for
this conduct are quite as extraordinary as the
conduct itself He says il was $50 miles,
Through the enemy's country, TO tho place
OF meeting,-that he could not reach it with
out being logged by cons,ables, and tha, he
could not return. if lis adcers,,y .borrI al,
without peril Of his life. All this belokens
regard for his personal safety quite unusual in
man under such circumstances. Nor has il
the slightest foundation in fact Distance is |
now measured by time and not by miles and
Niagara is Just lwenty-four hours fro Wash. /
inaton. Col Brooks, with such precautions as
persons seeking meeting of this kind are ac-
cusiomed to take, could have reached the Falls
and returned, il he returned at all, iacogaifo. !
The pursuit OF cunslables could not have been
more brisk, and it certainly could not have been
more successful so far as he was eoncorned in |
this State than il was in Wasbioo,on md ,ha
fact that the place selected was "wi,han, , ,,
jurisdiction Of the Uni,ed So, "''"'us '''e
ilo strongest recommendation 7" ali ' '%eso