The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-04-01
zen. Clanton on Burlingame anc
Brooks.

Gen. Clanton on Burlingame and
Brooks.
The death of Burlingamc (says the
Montgomery MaiD revivcs the story
OF his difficulty with the late Preston
5. Brooks. All tho radical papers are
once moro chuclzling over his appa-
rent acceptance OF q challenge to
fight duel. These samo papers are
equally ready to dcnouncc some one
tomorrow for accepting challenge.
They hold it to be cowardiy to fight q
duel, and they jump about like monk
eys in ecstacies whom one Of their
crowd pretcnds to fight. Hero is
what the State Jounal, edited Jy a
man who boastcd of being a Calhoun
Democrat only q few months ago.
quotes from the Now York Tribune ::
"Mr. Burlingame was first brought
prominently into public notice in the
year 1856, when his scathing dcnunci-
ations of Preston S. Brooks, for the
preparation Of an outrageous assault
upon Charles Sumner in tho Senate
Chamber, drew forth challenge from
the 'bully,' which he promptly accept
ed, proposing to 60 TO Canada and meet
him with rifles. Brooks faltered and
hesitated pretending TO fear violence
in making trip through the North.
ern States to Canada, and was arrest
ed, as, also, Burlingame. The honors
rested with the latter, and the bully
was generally regarded as poltroon."
AS juet commentary upon the lam
guage which the Radical press are
now holding towards the dead Brooks
we take pleasure in publishing the fol-
lowing note from Gen. Clanton:
To the Editor Of the Mail The
State Journal Of yesterday republishes
from tho New York Tribune biogra-
phical sketch of the late Anaon Bur-
lingame, in which disparaging refer
ence is made to the Gaming of Sumner
by Brooks in the Senate Chamber ct
Washington-applying to the latter
tho epithets "bully," "poltroon," &c.
Where the gallant spirit is person
ally known, living or dead, hc needs
no defence. I WAS one Of those who
disapproved of the place and weapon
which he selected to administer q mer-
tied castigation to the physical giant
from Massachusetts for his insulting
abuse of the ladies Of the South.
The street, and cowhide, would
have been more appropriate.
1t was my good fortune to be born
within a few miles of the birthplace Q
Of Preston Brooks, and to have been
we'll acquainted with his history.
His grandfather was revolutionary
soldier his father model citizen and
gentleman. When young man he
accepted challenge from. the Hon.
Louis Wigfall. He did not, like
Burlingame, select the Clifton House,
Canada, as the place Of meeting; but
q little island in the Savannah river
only ten miles distant from his place
of residence. In that combat both
parties were wounded. When the
State Of South Carolina was called on
for volunteers for tho Mexican war,
Preston Brooks was one of the first to
respond, and commanded company
in the gallant Palmetto Regiment, an
dor his maternal uncle, Colonel But
Ter, who fell at Churubusco leading q
charge against the enemy's breast
work. "
An incident which occurred Just
outside the walls of the city Of Mexi.
co in May, 1s47, will illustrate the
impetuous character Of our hero, BE.
ing officer Of tho guard, he' found II
necessary to punish o couple Of deiiu.
quent sentinels belonging to a North
ern regiment, which was encamped in
a convent between the aguard quar-
4 ters" and the Palmetto Regiment
Z Captain 3. boing relieved, and these
fellows released fromi confinement, Q.
he passed the convent, they had pro
decided him, end; with q large nnmbe,
of others had taken, postsoh on Ii,
top Of q building and behind tho par
, or,af ,ra1T ord oa Nn ,.a..od a<xo,nnf.x