The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-26
BURLINGAME.
The Affair with "BulIy'' Brooks Of south
Caroln nn--PersOnaI "Reminiscences of the Re
nnrknbIe knlsOde.

MIR. j. w. Simonton, who held intimate
personal relations with Mr.. Burlngame at the
time he accepted the challenge of Preston
Brooks, writes to the San Frd0cisco Bulletin,
giving the details of that remarkable episode
of our political history. After recountiug
the assault on Mr. Sumner, which aroused the
indignation of Mr.. Burlingame, Mr.. Simon
ton refers to the speech of June 20, 1856,
which brought out the challenge from
Brooks:-''Always an eloquent and impress
sive speaker" says the writer, ''on this occa-
sion he surpassed himself. Mover shall
cease to hear his clarion voice as it rang
through the hall that day in denuncation and
invective poured from full heart.
Having briefly stated the facts of the out
rage, he stepped suddenly forward pace or
two towards the chairman, and in tone and
manner earnest, dignihed, and electric, said:
Sir, the act was brief, and my comments
on it shall be brief also. L denounce it in
the name of the institutions it voated
denounce it in the name of the sovereignty
of Massachusetts,, which was stricken down
by the blow; | denounce il in the name of
humanity; denounce it in the name of civil
lzation, which 1t outraged; l denounce it in
the name of that fair play which bullies and
prize-hghters respect What Strike man
when he is pinioned-when he caanot respond
to blow! Call you that chivalry? In what
code Of honor did you get your authority for
that? God knows my heart. l desire to
speak with kindness. speak no sort of re-
venge. / do not believe that member has a
friend who must not in his heart of hearts
condemn the act. Even the member himself,
if he has a spark of chivalry and gallantry
attributed to him, he himself must loathe and
scorn the act. }"
MIR. Brooks sent demand, within few
hours, for withdrawal of the above language
or personal encounter. Mr.. Burlingame
declined withdrawal, and expressed himself
ready to meet any consequences which might
follow. Friends of both parties labored to
prevent meeting. Mr.. Simonton, himself
among others, urged on Mr.. Burlingame the
principles Of New England which he would
| set at defiance by duel. He did not deny
/ this, but thought the occasion was excep-
! tional. Southern men needed an example,
! showing them that it was not lack of physi-
! cal courage which made Northern men less
! reckless of life than themselves When re-
minded of the political prospects he was
sacrificing, he said whether L fail in poiti-
cal life or fall on the field, my personal sacri-
fee will be nothing, if the cause we have at
heartprospers; and have an abiding faith that
! it will profit by my sacrifice. " The friends who
acted for Mr.. Brooks suggested an explana-
| tion of his language in debate Mr.. Burlin-
game at last assented to q memorandum,
stating in substance that he had, IN his re-
marks, no purpose to insult or degrade Mr.
Brooks. At least, this was the view of its
meaning presented by Mr.. Brooks friends
when urging peaceful settlement of the diff
fculty by exchange of notes between the
! principals By this proceeding the friends of
MIR. Brooks achieved a diplomatic triumph.
They had saved their principal from exposure
to the rifle of Mr.. Burlingame, which they
had meantime discovered was not apt to miss
its mark-its owner having become very ex-
xuif h aorl1, ~, tl,o
The writer says that steadier hand or truer
eye with rifle it had never been his fortune
to see. Mr.. Brooks friends could not conceal
their exultation, and within a few days there
was a general understanding at Washington
that Mr.. Burlingame had ''fiinched, " and had
''retracted the Objectionable language in
order to escape the alternative of accepting
challenge" from Mr.. Brooks. Mr.. Burlingame
soon became sensitive and impatient under
this discipline. He saw that while this status
prevailed, his decided stand in publicly re-
buking the assault upon Mr.. Sumner, and in
dicating readiness to accept all the personal
consequences of such denuncation, had pro-
duced precisely the opposite effect to that
which he intended. Finally he obtained def
mite and positive evidence that some of Mr..
BroOkss immediate friends were engaged in
the work of misrepresenting and distorting
his conduct.
At once his course was determined, and he
wrote a card briefly and modestly stating the
peryersion of his memorandum, and adding:
''But, inasmuch as attempts not altogether
unsuccessful, have been made to pervert its
true meaning, l now withdraw it. And that
there may not be any misapprehenslon in the
future, say explicitly that 1 leave my speech
to interpret itself, and hold myself respon-
sible for it, without qualification or amend
ment." SIN regard to this letter, says Mr..
S., ''hedid me the hOnOrto consult me. Failing
in renewed efforts to induce him to abandon
all idea of accepting. challenge, I con
sented to go with him to the Office of
the National Hlte6geaccr, with whose
editor / was acquainted, to secure
the publication of his card. The
venerable editor, Colonel Seaton, having read
the paper, reminded Mr.. Burlingame, that if
published, MIR. Brooks would be compelled
to challenge him peremptorily. Mr.. Burliu-
game in reiOiuGer, asked Colonel SeatOn tC
say frankly and candidly whether the card
was clear, explicit, unmistsEable, and would
place hilnself precisely in the position which
. he occupied before the opening of any cor
respondence with Mr.. Brooks. Colonel Sea
ton replying in the affirmative, Mr.. Brook
: said, ''lhen, sir, that is all desire, and
beg you to publish the card in tomorrow
InteAigeHc6r.'
y peremptory challenge followed from
+ Brooks. Rifles were indicated as the weapon
by Burlingames friends and Clifton, Canada
as the place Of meeting. Mr. Burlingam
o himself objected to the place, fearing tina
Mr.. Brooks might object to go there, ant
. expressed himself willing to go to South Caro-
lima. Tt was pointed out, however, that i
- the duel occurred within the United State
the laws of Massachusetts would disenfran
chise him, and so end his political career if h
c,1rviyad Mr. RYoplyg' frian6g 10 ,,a