, 1870-04-28
BURLIHGAME AND PRESTON
BROOKS,
ecfsonA1 "Reminiscences OF The AZ.
antf Between Them.

1htf between Them.
MI. J. ". Simonton, who held intimate per.
sona fo1AtIons with Mr. Butlngame 1t the
time he accepted the chslienee Of Pre.ton
bfooks. writes to the SIN Francisco Buustin
e,vlng the details OF that remarkable episode
Q. our Political history. After roeounting the
assault on Alr. Sumner, which kroused the in.
dignAtion of Nj. Burineame, liz. sinontou
5efers 70 the speech Of June &c, 1856, which
brought out tho challenge frpm BnooIr !.
Always IN eloquent and impressive Bpcaker. n
says no W1'teF, ION this occasion be sur
assea nl1neel. Never shan I cease to hear
that day in denuneiation and invectiye pouroJ
from full heart. Having briefly stated the
iacts OF the outrage, he stepped euddenly for
Ward pace OF two toward the Chairman, and
i n tone md manner earnest, dignided, aud
electric, said: 'siF. the vet waa brief, and nv
conments ON 1t shAN Be brief also. I d.
nounce it IN the name Of tho inatitutions II
Violated; denouhee it In the na,ne OF tbs
sovereignty OF Massachusetts, which vas
stricken down by the blow; denounce it in
the name Of humanity; I deaounce it in tho
name OF civllization, which it outraged de-
ponnee 1t IN the name Of thst fair play which
bulliea and prize-fghters respect. What!
str1ke mtn when ho Is pinioned-vhen he
caunot respond to blow! Csn you that
chiSAlryl In what code Of honor did you get
your authority for that? God knows my hesrt.
dea1e to speak with kndness I speak no
sort OF revenge do not believe that mem
per haa friend who must not in his heart Of
hearts condemn tho act Even the member
himeelf, il he has left spark OF the chiyslrT
And Eall4nsTE attributed to hm-he himseif
must loath and @corn tho act.'"
Mr. Hrooks sent = demand, within few
hours. for withdrawal Of tho aboyo language
Q! personal encounter, NJ. nusli,,samc d..
cllned withdrawal, and expressed himself
really to meet any consequences which might
follow. friends OF both parties labored to
prevent meeting. Mr. E,montnu, himself.
among others. urged on Mr., Durlingame the
principles OF New England which hs would eet
at deaAnce by duel. He did not deny th,s.
but thought the occasion v1s exceptional.
southern man needed MI example, showing
them that It Hls not lack OF physical cour-
age which made Northern men lesd
Iseklcsa re Of lfe tLAn themselves.
w,s Maan Ss of si The po.s be
POLITICAL life or fall On The field, my personal
sacrifice will be nothing II tho causa 10 have
u heaH prospe1s; and have IN abiding faith
that it VII profit by nv eacriace." The }iiends
who acted for Ar, Brooks suggested An e1pla-
lngame 1t last aseented to 4 menaorsndum,
Stating in substance that ha had, in his re-
marks, no purpose to insult OF degrade Nj.
brooks At least this wAs the view Of its
meaning presented BY Mr.. Brooks friends
" we'n tha hnrs'ng ga;n,. peaceful settlement
pals. D this rsoeesding the fsispds af '5i MI:
Erooks achieved diplomatic triumph They
h4d saved their principal from exposure to the
fihe Of Mr. Dullngame, which they had, mean
TIME. discovered was not apt To miss its marx
It's owner M having become very export with it
oaitng A ny early lie m the West. Tho writer
says tbat steadier hand or huer eye with
Hhc, i had never been his fortune 10 SOC,
Mr. Btooks' friends could not conceal their
e1ultAt1ont and within few days there
vas general understanding ii wash
ington that Mr. Durlneame had " "finch-
e." and had "retracted tho objoctipnA-
bh,;la bia language IN order To- escape tho alter
lsook8 Mr. Durlngsrne soon became sens1-
tive and impatient under this discipline, He
saw That while this xt1sus prevailed, hin do
cided stand in publicly rebnking the assault
upon MI. Sumner, and indicating readiness
had produced precisely tho OPP
poslts effect TO that which ho Intended. Final I
y no obtained dodnite and positive eyideuce
that somc OF Mr. Brooks immediate friends
we're engaged in the work Of mistepresentjng
and dlStorting his conduct,
AZ once h1s course was determined, and he
wrote card briefly and modestly stating the
EetFe1slcn Of his memorandum, Aud adding
Bnt, laasmuch II attempts, not altogether
have been mado. to perycrt its
true ne1ning, now withdraw it. And that
there may NOT be any misrepresentation in the
future, tay explicitly that fleaye nv speocb
TO interpret itself, ard hold myself reaponsible
iur it, without qualification or amendment"
I'm regard to this letter." says Mr. s.,
- he did me tho honor TO consult me- Failing
in renewed efforts to induce him to abandon
az IDEA q accepting challenge, consented |
to So with Linn to the Office Of Tbs National !
lfaeNs9fnefr. with whose editor I was ac-
ne venerable editor, Colonel Scaton, having |
read the paper, reminded Mr. Bu1lmgarne thsf
n published, M Brooks wonA be compeI1cd TO |
chaltcnCc him peremptnri1y. Mr. Hurfingkmc. |
IN re(oinder, aakcd Colonel Seston to eay
frankly And candidly whether the card wa
clear, explicit, unmistakable, and would plAco |
himself precisely in the position which be oc- !
crIied before tho opening OF my cor1espon-
tcncc with Mr. nrooa8. Colonel Seaton ~
plying in the Affirmative, Ms. B said, s.Tten,
FL, That 10 Al deaire, and beg you 10 pub
lleh the card in to-morTov'e {n:elligenepr."
A ,perenptory challenge followed from
Brooks: Rules were indicated - the weapons
by HnfltnEane'a friends, and Clifton, C.nada,
= me place Of meeting. Ar. DurliugAms
nmeen objected to the place, fearing that aIr,
lsoois might object to 60 there, and express
ne n1nsel1 willing to 60 to South Cxzolinx. II
vas pointed out, however, that If the duol oc- |
,ur7ed within the United States, the laws
urn, and 80 end hia political carec. II he sur-
'7ved. Nr: Brooks friends, AZ ID well re,uam-
'cscd, declined to travel "eeva1a1 hundred
niles acroes tho cnemy.s scountv--Haryland,
lvaniA, and New Tork-to keep the xp.
continent which they had thom8elTea fnyitrd 4