Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-03
BuaLNGAME AND BROOKS.
Gen. l.. ID. Campbell Relates the
Exciting Incidents Of Their
Quarrel.
Richmond CInd.) Telegram.


Lewis d. Campbell with regard to the
most exciting event in the Congress
that immediately preceded the war o.
the rebellion, was received by Mr.
Robert D. Dormer, OF this city, in
response to a request Tor the particu.
lars OF the affair. The letter was moi
intended for publication, but 10 view
OF its historical value Mr.. Dormer has
permitted US to put it in print:
HAMILTON, o, March 3, 1879.
K. .. GoRMEB, ESQ.,:
DEAR SIR am IN receipt of your
letter of the LIST inst. am the only
man living who knows all about the
Brooks Burlingame affalr, about which
you make inquiry You are
clearly in error in regard to the mat
Ter. 1t occurred in those stormy days
quarter of century age, when knock
downs, the drawing OF bowie knives
and pistols we're not infrequent in the
halls OF Congress, and duels and ru-
mors of duels in Washington.
Senator Butler, OF South Carolina,
was Brooks uncle. He was very
aged man, lettering over the grave.
He had been striker with paralysis
and trembled like an aspen leaf,
Sumner, IN making very aggressive
anti>slavery speech in the Senate,
passailed Butler and referred to his
physical weakness. Sumner was then
iorty-fve years old, full six feet high,
we'll propertioned and fine specimen
of physical development. Brooks, the
nephew, looked for Sumner on the
avenue to chastise him Failing 70
find him, he went to the Senate cham,
Der after the body had adjourned, and
there beat Sumner over the head with
gutta percha cane fearfully. | ar
rived in the chamber soon afterwarG,
washed the blood off Of Sumner and
brought him TO consciousness. | also
requested the surgeon to sew up the
scalp wounds and take him to bis
boarding house.
The pext day (being Chairman OF
the Ways and Means Committed
offered resolution for an investiea.
ton, and was appointed chairman Of
the committee. Subsequently, as
chairman, | reported resolution to
expel Brooks. and it was carried.
Brooks was reelected and came backto
| the Bouse 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 another challenge ex-
pected, Of course. However. friends
lnterfered and some explanations
were made on Burlingsme's part,
which were accepted by Brooks
friends and published. Thereupon
the New England papers commented
severely on BurlingamsG concessions
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 if he really did not mean
what he had said In his speech he
ought to take it back unequivocally.
If he did mean it he could afford to
say SO and accept the consequences.
He then came out in a card in the
National lntelligencer saying, in sub
stance, that he maintained what he
had said in bis speech. This speedily
brought him what was, in substance, a
challenge.
It was not delivered by Keitt, as
you suppose, but by General Joseph
Lane, Of Mexican war fame, then the
delegate from Oregon. 1t simply in
vited BurliDgame out of the District
of Columbia to settle the affair. This,
of course, meant challenge, and was
so worded to evade the law of Con-
gress. Burlinlsme again pressed me
into service. | wrote the reply and
delivered it to General Lane. He
called on me to name the place out
side the District. | named the
Clifton House, on the Canada side Of
the Niagara Falls, and the following
Thursday morning at 6 O'clock" for
the meeting. l sent Burlingame to
New York the same night to prevent
his arrest.
Two days after this Lane came out
in the papers Directing to the Clifton
House, because it was in the North,
and he did not intend to take Brooks
Through the enemY's country"
replied that, being called on to name a
place outside Of the District was NOT
fool enough 10 name Richmond or
Charleston, and take my friend through
his "enemy's country" Brooks was
arrested and put under bonds. | tel
egraphed Burlingame to return. He
did so. BE, too, was arrested and
put under bonds-myself his surety.
Burlingame Immediately lett for the
West.
Soon afterwards Brooks and Lane
aud his friends discovered that it was
regarded among duelists as a let down
on their part, and that Burlingames
record was all right. Lane wrote me
threatening letter; asking to open up
the correspondence, and saying that
unless | informed them where letter
would reach Mr.. Rurlingame by the
nextTuesday they would make expose,
etc. To this | promptly replied in
substance that Burlingame had gone
West, and that if they wanted him to
go and hunt him; that if they hank-
cred for my blood they need not wait
till Tuesday, and they might hurry
no the cakes" that was on hand etc.
This ended the correspondence.
l will simply add that it was we'll
known to members of Congress from
the South and from the North that |
was the best, both with rife and pis
tol, there was in the body. There
seemed to be a prevailing opinion, too
that / would fight if called on. This
| moe ,,orhnvs hanouoa I bod ,,,o,o IL