Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-01
ROOKS-BURLINGAME
"reminiscences of an Exciting Event in
the American Congress.

Richmond Ina Telegraph
The following letter from the Hon.
i. d. Campbell with regard to the
most exciting event in congress that
Immediately preceded the war of the
rebellion, has been received by Mr..
Robert 0. DOrmer, of this city, in re-
Spouse to a request for the particulars
Of the affair. The letter was not in-
tended for publication, but, in view OF
its historic value, Mr.. d. has per-
mitted us to put it in print
HAMILTON, o., March 3, 1879.-R.
o. Dormer, Esq.-Dear Sir: | am
in receipt of your letter of the lst
inst. l am the only living man who
knows all about the Brooks Burlin-
game affair, about which you make in
quiry.
You are clearly in error in regard
to the matter. 1t occurred in those
stormy days, a quarter of a century
age, when knock downs, the drawing OF
bowie-knives and pistols were not in
frequent in the halls of congress, and
ducls aud rumors of duels in Wash
ington.
Senator Butler, Of South Carolina,
vas Brooks uncle. He was a very
aged man, lettering over the grave.
lie had been striker with paralysis,
and trembled like an aspen leaf
Sumner, in making a very aggressive
anti slavery speech in the senate,
assailed Butler and referred to his
weakness. Sumner was then forty
five years of age, fully six feet high,
well proportional, and a fine specimen
of physical development. Brooks, the
nephew, looked for Sumner on the
avenue to chastise him. Failing to
find him be went to the senate cham
Der after the body had adjourned, and
there beat Sumner over the head with
a gutta-percha cane fearfully. |
arrived in the chamber soon afterward.
washed the blood off Sumner, and
brought him to consciousness. / also
requested the surgeon to sew up his
scalp-wounds and take him to his
clearinghouse.
The next day (being chairman of
the ways and means committee) l
offered a resolution for an ~investiga-
ton, and was appointed chairman Of
the committee. subsequently, as
chairman, / reported a resolution to
expel Brooks, which was carried.
Brooks was reelected and came back
to the house Of representatives.
Some months afterWard Burlingame
made a carefully prepared speech in
which he referred to Brooks, saying :
He stole into the senate chamber in
a cowardly way, aud there smote the
senator from Massachusetts, as Cain
smote his brother.
There was then a challenge expected
Of course. However, friends inter
fered, and some explanations were
made on Burlingame's part. which
we're accepted BY Brooks friends and
published. rThereupon the New Eng
land press commented severely on
Burligame's concessions. and charged
him with showing the white feather.
These things stung him to the quick.
Then for the first time he came to nc
for counsel. | told him if he did not
really mean what he said in his speech
he ought to take it back uuequivo.
cally if he did mean it he could af.
ford to say so, aud accept the cOnse.
quences. He came out in a card in
the National lntelligencer saying, il
substance, that he maintained what h,
had said in his speech. This speedil,
brought him what wasin substance
challenge.
1t was not delivered By Keitt, az
you suppose, but by General 10 Lane
Of Mexican war fame, then the dele.
gate from Oregon. 1t simply invited
B%urlingame out of the District of Co
lumbia to settle the affair. This, o
course, meant a challenge, and was S,
worded to eyade the law Of congress
Burlingame again pressed me into hi
service. | wrote the reply and deliv
cred it 10 General Lane. He callet
on me to name the place outside O
the District. | named the "OliftoI
House, on the Canada side Of the Nj
agara Falls, and the following Tues
day morning at 6 o'clock" for tn.
meeting. ] sent Burlingame to Ne,
York the same night to prevent hi.
arrest.
Two days after this Lane came on
in the papers objecting TO the "CliftoI
House, because it was in the North
and he did not intend to take Brook
through the encmys country"
replied that, being called on 10 nam
a place outside Of the District. / wa
not fool enough to name Richmon
or Charleston, and take my fricn.
through his enemys country.
Brooks was arrested and put unde
bonds. | ~telegraphed Burlingame
return. He did so. He, too, was al
rested and put under bonds-myse
his surety. Burlingame immediatel
left for the West.
! Soon aftorward Brooks and Ian,
and their friends, discovered that
was regarded among duelists as a 10
down on their part and that Burlir
games record was all right. Lar
wrote to me a threatening letter, ash
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