The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-05-05
The Burlingame-Brooks affair

Mr. ]. w. Simonton, who was an int
mate friend of the late Arson Burlin
game, publishes an account Of the affair
some years ago, in which Preston $
Brooks was so prominent a character
He rehearses the attack of Mr.. Brook
upon Mr. Sumner, and then refers to thv
speech of Mr. Burllngame. Upon tin
subject he says:
always an eloquent and impreSsiv
speaker, on this occasion he surpasseG
himself Never shall cease to hear his
clarion voice as it rang through the hal,
that day in denunciation and invective
poured from a full heart Having brief
ly stated the facts of the outrage, h
stepped suddenly forward a pace or two
toward the chairman, and in tone and
manner earnest, dignified and cleo ric,
said: Sir, the act was brief, and my
comments on it shall be brief also. /
denounce it in the name of the ms itu.
lions it violated; l denounce it in tue
name Of the sovereignty of Massachusetts.
which was stricken down by the blow: !
denounce 1t in the name of humanity
denOunce it in the name of civilization,
which it outraged denounce it in the
name of that fair play which DULLES and
prize fighters respect. What! Strike
man when he is pinioned-wbere he can
not respond to blow! Call you thai
chivalry? In what code of honor die
you get your authority for that? Co
knows my heart desire to speak witt
kindness. | speak no sort of reveng
[ do not believe that member has a frlend
who must not in his heart of hearts con
denim the act. Even the member himself
IT he has left spark of the chiva!ry ana
gailantry attributed to him-he himseI
must loathe and scorn the act.
The demand for satisfaction by NJ
Brooks was sent to Mr.. Burlingame in a
few hours, aud Mr. BurlingAme express
cd himself ready to meet the consequen
ces. The friends of both parties tried t
prevent hostile meeting, and finally Nj
Burllngame consented to make sta G
ment, which tie friends of Mr. Brook
interpreted as rctractlOn Gin order
escape the alternative of accepting
challenge. Having satisfied hmsci
chat his conduct was misunderstood, am
believing that no good could be accom-
plIshed by compromising, Mr. Burliu-
mer statement, in which he said
lnasmuch as attempts, not altogether
unsuccessful, have been made to pervert
Its true meaning, | now withdraw Ii.
And that there may not be any misap
prehenslon in Che future, say explicitly
That leave my speech to interpret itself,
and hold myself responsible for it, with
out qualification or amendment"
Mr. Slmonton continues the narrative
In regard to this letter, he did me
the honor to consult me. Failing in
renewed efforts to induce him to aban-
don all idea of accepting a challenge, |
consented to go with him to the Office OF
the National Intelligencer, with whose
editor L was acquainted, to secure the
publication OF his card. The venerable
editor Colonel Seaton, living read tn,
paper, reminded Mr.. Burllngame that if
published, Mr.. Brooks would be COMPEL
ed to challenge him peremptorily. Mr..
Burlingame in rejoinder, asked Colonel
Seaton to say frankly and candidly
neither the card was clear, explicit, I'M
n'S'akable, and would place himself
p scisely in the position which he occu-
pied before the opening of any cores
ponuence with Mr.. Brooks. Colonel Sea-
ton replying in the affirmative, Mr.. Bur
l. 'game said, Then, sir, that is all de
sire, and beg you to publish the card in
I morrow's Intelllgencer.
MIR. Brooks Immediately challenged
Mr.. Burlingame, whose friends selected
rifles Tor the weapons, and Clifton,
Canada, the place for the duel. MI.
b"rllngame was an excellent marksman,
brving practiced with rife during his
early life in the west. Mr. Brooks friends
L. aimed this fact. 1t will be remember
ei that Mr.. Brooks declined the meet
lag, giving as an excuse that he could
lot travel several hundred miles across
= the enemy's" country.