Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-08-08


reflect on Mr.. Brooks, personality
Again-"I am sure you ought not to OBJ
iect to the latter course" These few
words disclose the desire of Mr.. Brooks,
through persuasion, to get something
which might satisfy his friends for ne
glecting me in his liberal calls on gentle
men for personal satisfaction. did no t
reply to the letter in writing, but stated
to Mr.. Bocock that as the matter seemed
complicated, it might be better for both
of us to hold our future conversations in
the presence of others.
In consulting the Hon. Geo. Ashmun,
and Mr.. Speaker Banks, stated to them
as nearly as | can remember, that | OBJ
served in my speech the rules of person.
al and parliamentary decorum-tl t
should not qualify or ratract any portion
of it. and that held myself responsible
to any man aggrievcd by it. To avoid
misunderstanding, desired my friend,
Mr.. Ashmun, to reduce my views to wri
ting, which he did, approving the posi-
ton taken by me, as also did Mr.. Banks.
Mr.. Bocock said Mr.. Brooks would not
deem ,..y position satisfactory, as it yield
cd nothing.
Another interview was had, when l
adhered to the form substantially as
drawn by Mr.. Ashmun, which was copied
by Mr.. Banks. When the friends of Mr..
Brooks left, it was not known whether
it would be satisfactory or not. under
stood Mr.. Bocoek to say he thought it
would not be. | must not say | was
surprised when | saw the memorandum
the next day, in the Union, not having
received notice that it was satisfactory,
anu appended to the speech of Mr..
Brooks, in such a way as to give the i'm
preston that 1t was satisfactory, and ap-
pended to the speech of Mr.. Brooks, in
such Il way as to give the impression that
it was extorted and not persuaded from
me. That it was liable to misconstruc-
ton soon asccrtaincd.
Still, | think | should have left it as it
was. had not heard, on what | deemed
good authority, that Mr. Brooks and some
of his immediate friends were claiming
that had yielded to his menace-that he
had ..backcd down the North, and con.
quered Massachusetts. Knowing in
my soul that such was gross pcrversion
Of what | meant by my statement, | de-
termincd at once to make myself under
stood.
Here followed Mr.. Burlingame's card,
published about the 22d July.
On the same day I received a note
from Mr.. Brooks. which will be found
elsewhere, from the hands of Gen. Lane.
From this point, the history of my con-
nection with the transaction is most clear
ly and truly stated by my esteemed and
gallant friend, the Hon. Lewis D. Camp
bell. His statement appended thereto,
of the conduct Of Mr.. Brooks in this af-
far, can scarcely trust myself to write.
| owe it to truth, to say that from what
had heard and seen of him prior to his as
sault on Mr.. Sumner, had formed high
opinion of him, and that. which | have
properly s.igmatizcd, did think, must
have been abhorrent to his better nature.
In remembrance ofmy opinion Of him
and feeling that, through his conduct, l
could still detect traces of gallantry,
which, some day, might cause him to
condemn as heartily as others did his as
sault on Mr.. Sumner, had a larger char
ity for him than most of my frie Is; in
deed have been blamed for intimating
the opinion that in spite of that act, he
was yet brave man. Even as late as
my conversation with Gen. Lane, when he
stated that Mr.. Brooks desired speedy
meeting, felt a glow of admiration tor
him as a gallant foeman, but was wrong
The expressions of kindness for him, in
which, following a proclivity of my
heart, l had INDUCED, were entirely mis-
placed Out of regard for his feelings
inasmuch as he was so tender of mine,
will abstain from any further expression
OF my opinion, leave men of honor tc
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 arrest: The intima'
ton that my friends arrested him, il
Unworthy even of him. l do not know
the man who did it.
The dearest friends had. could get nc
clue from me of the affair. | thought
Mr.. Brooks was in earnest, and prepared
mysclfto meet him sternly and without
fail. If he was afraid to go to Canada
the nearest neutral ground, why did hi
not name some other place Was no
equally with himself exposed to the haz
ard of jurisdiction. He could have reach
ed the place of meeting in few hours
keeping most of the way in the States o
pennsylvania and Maryland, but this hi
deemed the enemy's country.
1t is kind of Mr.. Brooks to hand mt
over to reprobation of men, and then te
propose to admit me to the position OF
gentleman, providing l would challeng'
him. He seems to have forgotten how
in his card, he had just stated it wa
said of me that l would not send, al
though would challenge. If l canno
hereafter praise the gentleman's courage D.,
| can commend his prudence. This Il
revealed to us in the fact that withou
seeking another place Of meeting, HI
rushed into print in such way as tt