The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-03-17
RATES OF suBscRIPTIoN.
yindication of the Memory of a Dead Gen
tleYnan

Yindication of the Memory of Dead Ten
tleman.
The editor of tho Radical organ OF
Montgomery Ala, having interiaroeo nls
eulogy on Burlingame, with an assaule on
fbe memory of Preston S. Brooks, Gen.
eral CIanton retorts as follows:
20 the Editor of the Mail: =
,rhe State Journal of yesterday repuo'
fishes from the New York Tribune oio-
graphical sketch of the late Anson Bur-
Iingame. i'm which disparaging reference
is, made to the Gaming of Sumner by
Brooks in the Senate Chamber at Wash
ington-applying to the latter the cpl
tbets sbulfy,' ''poltroon," etc.
Where that gallant spirit is personally
known, living or dead, he needs no de-
fanse. T was one of those who disap-
proved of the place and aoeapon which he
selected to administer merited castiga-
tion to the physical giant from Massachu-
sletts for his Insulting abuse OF the iadies
of the South The street and co'oh'de
would have been more appropriate.
1t was my good fortune to be born
within few miles Of the birthplace OF
Preston Brooks, and to have been well
acquainted with his personal history. His
grandfather WIS revolutionary soldier !;
his father model citizen and gentleman.
when Young man he accepted chal
lense from Hon. Louis WigfaIl. He did
not. like Burlingame, select the Clifton
House, Canada, as the place OF meeting;
but i. little island in the Savannah river,
only ten or twelve miles distant from his
nlace of residence. In that combat both
narties were wounded. When the State
of South Carolina was called on for vol
pnteers for the Mexican war, Preston
Brooks was one of the first to respond,
and commanded companyin the gallant
Palmetto Regiment, under his maternal
uncle. Colonel Butler, who fell ut Cheru-
busco leading a charge upon the enemy's
breastworks.
An incident which occurred just outside
the walls Of the city of Mexico in May
1917, will illustrate the impctuons charac,
ter of our hero. Being officer Of the
guard he found it necessary 10 punish Il
Couple of delinquent senlneis "-long ing
to a Northern regiment, winch was CIR,
camped in convent between the S""'. :.
quarters" and the Palmetto reglmene
capt b. oe'hs s,ontncment. as he passed
released lcs ,hav had nreceded him, and
with a Iafsse hahber OF others. had taken
position on top of the building and be
hind the parapet wall, and as he passed
attempted To pclt him with rotten eggs. >
He halted when the first egg was thrown
deliberately drew his pistol, popped Il cap
at the head of the first man who threw
and drawing IL second all heads had dis
appeared. -,
If the vandals who burnt Columbia did
not steal or 2estroy the Cast monument:
erected by the Legislature of South Caro-
lima to the Survivors of thai regiment, the
name OF Preston Brooks may be found
inscribed in letters of iron on that roll of
fame.
The assertion that Burlingame ever in
tended fighting Brooks, is ridiculous. If
he had, he would have crossed the Poto-
mac to spot near at hand, where brave
men from every section, without moesta-
ton from the civil authorities, had fought
and fell. He preferred being followed a
thousand miles through the Northern
States, where Radical mobs, he knew full
well, would take good care Of his gallant
adversary. 1t was regarded at that time,
by all fair-minded men from everywhere,
asa cowardly subterfuge, on Bnrlingame's $
part. The editor of the State Journal.
who re-pubishes this slanderous article,
knew that there was not one word OF
truth in it, go far as Preston Brooks was
concerned. Until very recently bought
up, he boasted that although born in New
York, he had not one drop of Yankee
blood in his veins; that he WAS Calhoun
Democrat, and served four years in the
Confederate army. 1t may be treason,
Mr.. Editor, to make war upon the United
States Government. but it is not treason
to defend the reputation of onr fallen COM
pades through the press, and if made nee
essary. on the street and on the field.
When fail to do it, may my tongue cleare
to the roof Of my mouth, and my right hand
forget her cunning
In haste, your friend,
]. II. CLANToN.