Mr. Brooks called this morning to get me to draft a passport
bill, which he said he would get Congress to pass. I doubt it. I wrote the
bill, however. He says fifteen or twenty members of Congress visit his house
daily. They dine with him, and drink his old whisky. Mr. B. has a superb
mansion on Clay Street, which he bought at a sacrifice. He made his money at
trade. In one of the rooms Aaron Burr once dined with Chief Justice Marshall,
and Marshall was assailed for it afterward by Mr. Jefferson. It was during
Burr's trial, and Marshall was his judge. Mr. Wickham, who was Burr's counsel,
then occupied the house, and gave a dinner party. Marshall did not know Burr
was to be one of the guests. I got these facts from Mr. Foote, whom I met there
the other evening.
A letter from Gen. Bragg to the President, indicates but too
clearly that the people of Kentucky hesitate to risk the loss of property by
joining us. Only one brigade has been recruited so far. The general says 50,000
more men are requisite. Can he have them? None!
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 167-8
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