, 1879-05-08
A Famous Duel,

citing ,v.occdei the war OF the rebellion,
otely bprn prr received by Mr. Robert ..
has ,or nor Of Richmond, in response to
Dolnns ,nst for the particulars OF the affair.
Isq0IoS. Ios.or was not intended for publ,
l.S l,.;on, 'r' but in view Of its historic value
Si-'l' Tr D. has permitted US to put it IN
rFlnT', T,,,rroy. O., March 3, 1879. R. c.
,,~n nnn Eso.-Dear Sir: | am in ra-
D1T aoint Of your letter of the lst instant.
',po Tam the only living man who knows
~ Sni nbout the Brooks. .Burlingame affair,
~, shont Mt which you make enquiry
'OVG, Won are clearly in error in regard to
.ho matter 1t occurred in those stormy
Ssys j quarter of a century ago, when
l" lrDck downs, the drawing of bowie
Snives % and pistols were not unfrequent
n ~ tbe halls of Congress, and duels and
minors III Of duels in Washington.
Senator Butler, of South Carolina,
m,s Brooks uncle. He was Il very
srsd m man, tottering over tie grave. He
had been stricken with paralysis, and
trembled m like an aspen leaf. Sumner,
in making a very aggressive and anti,
slavery speech in the Senate, assailed
Rutler and referred to his weakness.
Sumner was then 45 years old, full six
feet high, well proportioned, and a fine
specimen of physical development.
Brooks, the nephew, looked for Sumner
on the avenue to chastise him. Failing
n find him he went to the Senate cham
her. after the body had adjourned, and
there beat Sumner over the head with
rutta percha cane, fearfully. [ arrived
IN The chamber soon afterward, washed
tho blood of Sumner and brought him to
consciousness | also requested the sur
seOn to sew up his wounds and take him
to his boarding house.
The next day (being Chairman Of the
Ways and Means Committee) l offered
resolution for an investigation, and was
appointed chairman of the committe.
Subsequently, as chairman, reported
resolution to expel Brooks, which was
carried Brooks was reelected, and
came back to the House of Representa-
tives
Some months afterward Burlingame
made carefully prepared speech, in
which he referred to Brooks, saying I:
ale stole into the Senate chamber in O
Oowardly way, and there smote the SEN
tor from Massachusetts, as Cain smote
his brother.
There was then challenge expected,
Of course. However, friends interfered
and some explanations were made on
Burlingame's part, which were accepted
by Brooks friends, and published.
Thereupon the New England press COM
mented severely on Burlingame's conces-
sons, and charged him with showing the
white feather. These things stung him
to the quick. Then for the first time he
came to me for counsel. told him that
il he really did not mean what he said
in bis speech he ought to take it back
unequivocally; if he did mean it, he
could then afford to say so, and accept
the consequences He then came out in
card in the National Intelligencer say
ing, in substance, that he maintained
what he said in his speech. This speed
lly brought him what was in substance
challenge.
1t was not delivered by Keitt, as you
suppose, but by Gen. 10. Lane of Mexi-
can war fame, then the delegate from
oregon. 1t simply invited Burlingame
out Of the District of Columbia to settle
the affair. This, of course meant chal,
ilenee and was so worded as to evade the
law Of Congress. Burlingame again
pressed me into his service. / wrote the
reply and delivered it to Gen. Lane. He
called on me to name the place outside
0tthe District. l named the "Cifton
house on the Canada side of the Mag
ara Falls, and the following Thursday
morning at 6 O'clock" for the meeting.
| sent Burlingame to New York the
@me night to prevent his arrest.
Two days after this, Lane came out in
tge papers, objecting to the Clifton
nOuse because it was in the north, and
ue did not intend to take Brooks
afGugh the enemy's country" l re-
pled that, being called on to name a
pace outside Of the District, | was not
tvOl % enough to name "Richmond or
.a .TalsrleSton," and take my friend through
us enemy's country" Brooks was ar.
,0S'ed and put under bonds. / tele.
Sapned Burlingame to return. He did
w. lie, too, was arrested and put under
SOadSr,mySelf his surety Burlingame
immediately left for the West.
Il soon atterward, Brooks and Lane and
%es friends discovered that it was re-
sa'ued among duellists as a let down on