James Brooks was an American journalist. He is noted as a United States Representative from New York during the latter half of the American Civil War.
Background
James Brooks was born on November 10, 1810 in Portland, Maine, the son of James and Elizabeth (Folsom) Brooks and the brother of Erastus Brooks. His father, of English nativity but a loyal American citizen, was lost while commanding a privateer during the War of 1812. The family was left in poverty.
Education
After attending a public school in Portland, James Brooks was bound out to a storekeeper of Lewiston. Fortunately his employer was impressed by the lad's ability, released him from the apprenticeship, and assisted him in gaining an education. He first entered an academy at Monmouth, Maine, and was graduated from Waterville College (now Colby University) in 1831 (Waterville College Records).
Career
Supporting himself by school-teaching in Portland, James Brooks began to study law in the office of John Neal, and was inspired by Neal to write for the Portland Advertiser. By the time he was admitted to the Maine bar the Advertiser offered him $500 a year, and he took up journalism. In a period when new enterprise was rapidly being infused into the newspaper world Brooks made a brilliant reputation as a correspondent.
Until his death Brooks combined editorial labors with political activity, and twice changed his party. He volunteered as a campaign speaker in 1840 for William Henry Harrison, one result being his marriage in that year to a relative of Harrison, Mrs. Mary L. (Cunningham) Randolph of Virginia.
After service in the New York legislature, he was carried to Congress in Zachary Taylor's sweep of 1848, serving two terms as a Whig. He supported Clay's compromise measures of 1850, and a temporary identification with the Native American party in 1854 bridged over his conversion to Democracy as the slavery struggle grew warmer. He wished at all costs to avoid civil war, his newspaper representing the conservatism of the New York commercial community in this regard. For this reason he supported Buchanan in 1856 and Douglas in 1860; and in the spring of 1861 he argued so vigorously for letting the Southern states "depart in peace" that the office of the Express was threatened with mob violence.
During the Civil War he was a Democrat of the copperhead type, and was identified with Tilden, August Belmont, and other wealthy men in supporting the Society for the Diffusion of Political Knowledge. The Express was characterized by the Evening Post in 1863 as a journal "which has called repeatedly upon the mob to oust the regular government at Washington, and upon the army to proclaim McClellan its chief at all hazards. "
Brooks was elected from New York City to the Thirty-ninth Congress in 1864; he claimed election again in 1866, but was unseated in favor of William E. Dodge; and thereafter biennially until his death he was reelected.
His position on the Democratic side was one of influence, for he was an aggressive and able debater. Twice his party supported him for speaker, and he served on the Ways and Means and other important committees. His opponents correctly characterized him as "pugnacious" and untiring.
In the stormy years after the war he opposed the impeachment of President Johnson, argued for a conciliatory and rapid process of Southern reconstruction, and hotly denounced the carpet-bag governments. He was prominent also in the demand for tariff reduction and revenue reform. His downfall as a result of the Credit Mobilier scandal, therefore, attracted wide attention.
President Johnson had appointed him a government director of the Union Pacific Railroad on October 1, 1867. In the following December he demanded of the Credit Mobilier officials a large amount of stock, and after much negotiation was assigned 100 shares at par, $10, 000, though the market value was then about $20, 000. Further demands from him led to a highly irregular issue of 50 more shares in his name.
The House investigating committee in 1873 found him guilty of accepting a bribe for the use of his official influence, and recommended his expulsion; he was, however, let off with a vote of censure. His defense, which rested chiefly on the assertion that the shares in question had really been bought by his son-in-law, C. H. Neilson, has not convinced historical students. Distress over this affair shortened Brooks's life; he had made a tour of the world in 1872, had contracted a fever in India, and now succumbed, maintaining to the end that he had been made a scapegoat because he was a Democrat.
He had been given the satisfaction of an unprecedented majority in his district in 1872, while he retained to the last a host of personal friends.
Politics
During the Civil War he was a Democrat of the copperhead type, and was identified with Tilden, August Belmont. Returning from a European tour late in 1835, he settled in New York, obtained Whig backing, and on June 20, 1836, began publication of the New York Express, first as a morning newspaper only, and later with an evening edition as well. After service in the New York legislature, he was carried to Congress in Zachary Taylor's sweep of 1848, serving two terms as a Whig.
Membership
Just like other wealthy men, he was a member of and gave his support to the Society for the Diffusion of Political Knowledge.
Personality
He was of fine presence, well-read, a cultivated linguist, suave and courteous, and held a high place in both Washington and New York society. His opponents correctly characterized him as "pugnacious" and untiring.