The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-05-01

were men who afterwards held the
| positions indicated by their titles; f.
w Pickens of Edgcfirld. United States
minister to Russia and war governor
of South Carolina Gen. Darlington OF
Laurins: Col Sullivan of Laurins
| Col. J Foster Marshall OF Abbeyille
| Col. Fort of Lexington. All of these
were strong men. but Brooks won "in
"A walk" and although he would not
| CANVASS his own county Edgciieid
| also the home OF Gov. Pickcns. he
| carried THIS county and among others.
!!c ":c: reelected !. 20! =. 60 =.
1885 that his name became knuwm
over the entire union. Charles Sum
| ncr, senator from New York and al
forwards secretary of war under
President Lincoln. made bitter
speech on the question Of slavery
In Kansas and in the absence OF Sen
ptors stephen a. Douglas and A. y.
Butler pronounced bitter structures
| against those gentlemen Senator
Butler. very aged man, was kn:i-
man OF Brooks. The latter waited Until
Summers speech was published in full
before taking any step. He tried to
| catch Sumner outside OF the capitol
building but could not. Brooks
approached Sumner from in front. not
from behind as malicious persons
have charged. and said: "Mr Sumner
have read your last speech with care
and with AS much impartiality AS is
possible under the circumstances. and
| feel IL my duty to say that you have
libcllcd my State and have slandercd
my kinsman. who Is aged and absent.
and have come to punish you for it,"
In nf
punish. lie was plysi"al!y Il much
| more powerful man tiian Mr. Brooks.
The latter struck Sumner with a hol-
low. guttu percha cane. such as was
much affected in those days He
| raincd several blows on Sumner until
| ihe later IN escaping fell. This light
cane was more of toy than of wca-
pom. and could not have caused SER
| 'cus bodily hurt
This was characterized by an En-
| lihh writer as "the first blow of the
| Civil War" The country was Wild
| with excitement. Resolutions pro-
| posing the expulsion of Brooks from
Congress were proposed. and reported
favorably by the committee. II re-
quircs two-thirds vote to become OF
effect. The vote was III for expulsion
to 85 against. The feeling was intense
|
| Thomas l.. Clingman OF North Caro-
lima. whose speech on this occasion
was a masterpiece OF bitter sarcasm
and of eloquencr II wa3 known tina,
when one member of the house had
assaulted another member. no action
| had been taken. When one senator
attacked another, no action had been
! taken. And IL was mere excuse to
| try to eXpcl Brooks because he had
attacked member OF the other con-
gress.
IT, hs :csienc,: and WIS imme,!iat.-
| ly unanimously reelected by his con-
stituents. His reception when he came
home was well nign an ovation. He
was presented with loving cups, and
received over so handsome canes and
riding whips One of the latter is in
possession of Miss Maggie Rien, Ii
brarian Of the University OF South Car
olina and has over $50. worth of gold
linlaid work.
THE last dramatic Incident OF
| Brooks life was the proposed duel
with Congressman Burlingame OF
Maine. This was the outcome OF the
| SI.Trcr uffajr. a cha.ei.go was piss
ed and accepted Rifles were chosen
as the weapons but Burlingame insis-
ted nm fighting In Canada Brooks
friends dissuaded him, telling him he
would have to go through the North,
which was hostile and he would Re
assassinated. The meeting never took
place and Northern papers character
ize' Freaks az 3 bully backed dawn.
| Brooks iamented the fact that he
had reputation as a fire eater" He
declared that he detes.ed browl
and opposed the code duello.
! HIS death gas as dramatic as his
short life. He died suddenly In WASH
ington from some throat trouble He
| died In the arms of Senator Quitman
of Mississippi. Funeral services were
held in the capitol building, and men
from north and south paid fine tribute
o his memory