Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-09-03
from the Carolina Times, 3oth August.
ARRIVAL OF TIE HON PRESTON 8. BROOKS.
p,rprrc DEMONSTRATION

On Thursday afternoon, the Hon. Preston s..
Brooks being expected by the afternoon train on
the Charlotte Road, large number of citizens
of Columbia assembled around the Depot TO
greet him on his arrival; but unfortunately for
them, notwithstanding extensive preparations
had been made and a very handsome coach and
four with neatly decorated horses was in wait
ing, he did not reach the city until o'clock. A.
NJ, Yesterday morning, having been detained by
his friends and admirers in the upper Districts.
At an early hour on Thursday morning, the
arrival of Mr.. Brooks being known, many of his
friends called at his quarters, and committee
of citizens waited upon him, especially to urge
the propriety of his remaining oven one day.
notwithstanding his anxiety to reach home at rs
early period as possible. The annexed cor
respondence will show the result Of the action
Of the committee through their Chairman, the
Hon Mayor Arthur.
COLUMBIA, Aug. 80, 1856.
Hon. Preston S. Brooks.-Dear Sir-On be-
half of Committee Of the citizens Of Columbia,
am instructed to request that you will desig-
nate some hour at which it will sui, your con.
yenience to meet your fellow.citizens OF Coum
bin ut the City Hall, for the purpose Of receiv-
ing some testimonials of their appreciation OF
your gallant conduct in defending tho honor Of
our State.
take the liberty of suggesting 8 o'clock this
evening as suitable time, provided 1t suits your
convenience.
have the honor TO be, dear sir,
Very sincerely, your friend,
E. J. ARTHUR, Chairman.
COLLEGE, 90 August.
NV Dear Sir 1T will give me pleasure to
meet the citizens of Columbia, at the City Hall
tonight, ut o'clock.
have the honor to be, most truly,
Your friend and servant,
p S. BRooxs.
Hon. Edward J. Arthur, Chairman.
At o'clock, the City Hall was so densely
crowded that it was found necessary to move an
adjournment to the street in front of the Court
House, upon the balcony of which Mayor Arthur
presented to Mr. Brooks in presence OF the US
sembled mass of citizens, handsome Silver
Pitcher. Goblet and one of Mr.. Peckhsm's
finest Hockory Canes with handsome gold
head. Each article was selected with great care,
without regard to cost, by the citizens of Colum.
bia. intended as a present to Mr. Brooks as an
evidence Of their unqualified approval of his
course as a Representative, and especially for
the prompt and appropriate manner in which he
chastised the notorious Charles Sumner, for. his
wanton abuse and cowardly assault: upon the
Gasfoiina, Andrew PcEens Butler, and the fair
fame of his State.
The Pitcher and Goblet are bonutifa speci-
mems of the skill and taste of Messrs Radcliffe
& Guigrard, ut whose establishment they were
Mayor Arthur, on making the presentation,
delivered very handsome and appropriate
speech, as follows:
"Col. Brooks On behalf of the citizens of
Columbia, it becomes my pleasing duty to pre-.
sent to you this pitcher, goblet and cane, as
testimonials of our high appreciation of your re-
cent conduct at Washington City. They were
prepared some time since for presentation, but
supposing it would be more agreeable to you
TO receive them here in the midst Of your own
felow.citizens, they have been withheld for this
occasion. trust, sir, that may be permitted
10 add that it is not alone, that you have visited
with merited castigation the vile slanderer Of
the State which gave You birth, that we delight
to honor you, but because your conduct through
out tho trying scenes through which you have
since passed, has been such as to win the ap-
plause of all honorable men, and to justify our
pride in claiming you az one of Cardinals
nnblest sons It is needless for me to allude
more particularly to your noble bearing and gal.
liant conduct in maintaining the honor and inter.
ests of your State, for let me assure you sir,
they need no other record than the hearts OF
your countrymen, where now they are already
inscribed in characters which time cannot efface.
Allow me sir on behalf Of tho citizens, 20
welcome YOU to Columbia, and to tender to you
our warm congratulations on your triumph over
the malignant slanderers of your State and race,
and to assure you of our cordial sympathy and
appreciation"
After the conclusion of Mayor Arthur's re.
marks, Colonel Brooks advanced to the front of
the portico, amid the cheers and applause oft
multitude and delivered speech of nearly III
hour in length, brief, meagre, and very made
ouate synopsis Of which we give. He thanked
the citizens for the compliment paid him on this
occasion, and for the sympathy which his course
has received. 1t was the spirit which actuated
him to do the deed, more than the deed itself,
which deserved their commendation. 1t was n
deed which was the result of high sense Of
duty, and any man who held his honor above
reproach would have acted, under similar cir
cumstances, precisely rs he did.
An ordinary castigation was nothing to excite
people ms hsd this act of his excited the North.
Abolitionists, seek excuses for their vile Sian.
dsrs had made it pretext for more fauatcism
It was curious that the castigation Of Black
Republican should beget 30 extraordinary an
excitement. But they had used this act of his
-oxscp,ed nndpr the hiphest sense of duty-as