, 1874-03-22
The Brooks ks-Burlingame Duel--0ne
:. Of the Seconds Speaks.
HF. Sumnef's Werk aud Exa.nple-nis Rank
- 81: among State-Folks. -. q.


rcach-handed- rs it they meaut business. HI
received the frat blow over planted by Lid
gloyed Carolina upon Massachusetts. the paysl
cal SEQUEL of Haynes attack on Webster, ant
the blow .as to his fame Like the stroke Of th
Rings wand bestoNing Kuighthood Oh the re
cpient-
Mr. Euuaner'a Senatoria1 career WAS ior Eont
time disappointing to the Radical Abohtionist:
Of Nav England a:d the Vest, many OF whom
we're advocates of
ROUGH PROCEEDINGS
nnt3 rough words with the Fire-Izaters. Seua-
tor Wade Was the favorite Of this class, because
be naa known to be cornhatire, ls:h-temnered, q
heavy hitter, and . clean SHOT Sumner had
spoken With boldness such as to warrant the be-
lief thst he would utter challenges against
the slave-poue-. When Douglas introduced his
Kansas Nebraska bill, that long-exPectod effort
OF New Ergland's fagorito was 1nade and many
persons hold tint he never excelled it.
1t was long epeech, and was heard by ms
iotity OF the people in the galleries, and Sen
ators Oh the floor, with sense OF admiration
and outrage, because, at that day, all orthodox
influences and general counsels. were for COM
promise and good will. An eyewitness tells NE
that not one OF Summers Northern colleagues
had tho spirit to say word; but Badger, OF
North Carolna,-a Whig, OF an impuIsive and
kindly heart who WAS renowned for lis physical
agility, and, when past middle life, could turn
handspr:ngs, like shoe-blacls, ur and down the
pavement, ,-ruehcd up to Sumner md gave him
his hand warmly, saying:
s'6umner, by George! you hare made the best
and worst speech ever male in the Senate
Mr. Seward, who had no great cournge, and
would let Douglas perform with bis fist, while
speaking, close up to his face, rather hung his
head Even Chase, who had more intimacy With
Sumner than any other Senator. made no demon
straton Of satisfaction. The rouGher young
Fire, Eaters debated together; but some of the
Whig Senators were troubled, and were heard to
make the remark to Northern men 81 God knows
we don't want to fight you! Can nothing be
dpna by which you viii let us alonoi"
At that time
PRESTON f. BROOKS
was orc Of the finest specimens OF youth, high
gp1rit, and physical endowment in either
uouse. He was fect inches 1hgh, very
61aish, and generally correct and affable. He Was
rather negative man, and adopted current
opinlon reaaiiy, and WIS. therefore, easily in-
cited by more sinister and backward people
Amongst these the chief we're Eeitt, Etl1uund-
pon,-:ae most murdcrous of them land
jesse Bright. The two former had drawn
Brooks, little By little, into the habit OF drink
!nG; aad they made the rema:k: That
Sumner ought to get an immediate Aogging.
Which Of us shall do it,"
Brooks answered IT presume I ought to do
It. for represent Senator But]er's district"
This was Just the conclusion desired by the
James, then Of Wisconsin, ard of California,
who has rec1ted ali the story to me, and knowa
a1nch Uf it rs no other man does, for he was
Burlingamo's second in tho ensuing challenge to
dnel. Mr. James does not believe that Senator
Butler, who was thonght to be hggrieved bv
Brooks. B1tler mas the guardian OF the first
Kife Of Brooks, however. When Brooks
formed the resolution to attack Sumner,
e.. Kejtt, and, Edmnndson proceeded
Brooke ras under tho influence OF I4uor nearly
Ill the time. Ho bought 3 gutta-psrcha cans,
hollow, and go1d-headcd,-a weapon much de-
>ried By the brntd portion Of the press as being
/ mere switch, whereas it derived strength from
!tH hollow form. and the weight OF the material
party lay waiting around the Senate Chamber
until the adjournment, when Mr. Sumner sat at
his desk close,; -yedged between his clair and
The desl-legH,-the size Of the old Chamber CIV
ing very contracted quarters to such large men.
l'roo1ss ws'lscd directly up to the front Of the
The effect that Mr. Sumner had outraged
Eis connection. Brooks struck him behind the |
crown, at that partof tho back of the head which
Is less defended BY the skr1ll.> He struck with
great force, and repeated the blows rapidly, un-
III lit. Sumner, seeking to arise, burst tho desk
from the floor to which: it was screwed, and by |
his time Brooks had taken him by the hair, SO
That. all bloody and nsensible, he fell forward |
ika dead man, and the cano was shirered to
oietes. |
4 Senate rase ot1iciouely asked Brools if he |
7'nnted the pieces hut that asEaiant said that |
3e required only the gold head, which he put in |
,ia pocket. he'tt called out from tie door, in u
-rutal way:
"Brooke, next time kill him !" and added III oath
o the suggestion. ae then exclaimed: "Let's
% take drink"
Bright, Douglas, Kett, Edmundson, and one
II two others. strobe off to salmon within the
,ap1tol, called the t' Hole-in-ths- WALL" and
(rank. It scarcely seems probable that Douglas
ould have joined such party: hut few persons
se. G aware OF Mr. Summers in juriest or the i'm
o1tapce Of the event in history, and i. waB just
E,it time of the day when conyigial Senator'S
ook their liquor: -
M. Sumner, after time, was takon up from
he sofa whero he had been laid, very pale and
e~i1Gered, and put into q carriage, which took
iE1 TO Lila chambers in the resident portion of |
10 city Tint night lie was visited By few par
ons. and could scarcely converse; and it is not
e1leFtd that he ever mAQ6 afV feVenGe1ul TEL |
,ences to the subject. His brother, George !
umner, CAME On to Washington, and asked AR
ames, who wns very large man Of 3 fiery
,irit. get cool in ETrayH. what he ought to do.
Said James: "'1f it were my brother, would
, this: Take short double-barreled shotgun,
ii it under my cloak, and walk up to the House
Representatives. and, right III his CHAIR. as he
Tackled my brother, wcu1d blow him to
ecea.7
George Sumner said be could not do this, and
, did nothing Many Of Brooks Northern
lends. like Upham. ceased to hold intercourse
ia him. Senator Crittenden, OF kentucky, had
id: Shame on you, sir;" and then the North
Z ptsss and the foreign press esme 1oaring III;
that Mr.. Brooks found himself IN very
'ubtfu1 position, which his negative character
ID artificial sense Of honor we're unable to sus-
in He kept drinking. with his nerves strung
to be ready for challenge or street-fght. |
THE PENALTIES OF pudn1sa1.
There were indeed several persons who needed |
v such intellectual prorocaton at kaitt and '
1mundgon had given Brooks to putt him to |
ath; and, amongst others. a Mr.. Kiugman, 4 1
vspaper correspondent, still living in this
> sud quito wealthy,-had oDce started out to
j Brooks and ehuos him dead. Brooks was in t
.unenviable position; 10: his instinct, unlike {
J tsi.lton, wsra so much for the Union and fra /
nifty, that q 31r. BoDham had nearly beaten |
a in South Carolina for delivering an inyoca- | {
n to the American flag, Brooks met it BY say c
: ythatonce in Mexico, when chased BY guerr1iias q