The Sumner-Brooks Affair, A Sidebar

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May 9, 2008
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It was and has been widely argued that Preston Brooks caned Sumner rather than challenging him to a duel because 1) he feared Sumner would reject a challenge or 2) because he felt Sumner was not a social equal worthy a challenge.

During Congressional debate that followed the attack Congressman Anson Burlingame of Massachusetts took Brooks to the woodshed calling him ""the vilest sort of coward". Brooks then apparently decided that Burlingame was enough of a social equal to challenge him to a duel.

Burlingame did not decline. He, in fact, immediately agreed and, as the challenged party, specified
that the weapons were to be rifles and that in order to avoid American laws prohibiting dueling that the duel be held in Canada.

Now Burlingame had spent much of his youth in Ohio and Michigan, was an experienced deer hunter, and was widely know to be a crack rifle shot. Brooks then decided to withdraw his challenge saying he couldn't go to Canada because it would require him to pass through "hostile" northern territory.

Brooks "southern honor" seemed to be quite conditional, and somehow the people and newspapers of the slave south who had applauded Brooks' attack on Sumner had nothing to say about his backing down from Burlingame.
 
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