And you thought today’s politicians are nasty…In 1856 Senator Charles Sumner made a spe

And you thought today’s politicians are nasty…In 1856 Senator Charles Sumner made a speech entitled “The Crime Against Kansas” where he criticized the pro-slavery movement and claimed that the South’s goal was to spread slavery throughout the North and into the Western frontier.  Throughout the speech he made several personal attacks against Southern politicians.  Among the insults, he mocked South Carolina Senator Andrew P. Butler, mocking his slurred speech and calling him a drunkard.  It was a pretty low blow, since Sen. Butler was not a drunkard but had suffered a stroke the previous year.Butler’s nephew, Rep. Preston Brooks decided to take revenge on Sumner.  At first he wanted to challenge Sumner to a duel, but a duel is only reserved for gentleman of equal stature, and Rep. Laurence Keitt advised him that Sumner was no better than a drunkard and should be beat down.  He always carried a gold headed cane, and he knew what to do.Two days later Brooks confronted Sumner in the Senate Chamber, exclaiming, “"Mr. Sumner, I have read your speech twice over carefully. It is a libel on South Carolina, and Mr. Butler, who is a relative of mine."  Before Sumner could respond Brooks smashed the head of his cane across Sumners skull.  Sumner fell to the ground and was pinned underneath a desk as Brooks repeatidly beat him with his cane.  Several Senators tried to intervene, but Rep. Laurence pulled out a pistol and shouted, "let them be!”The incident would become sensational across the country.  Senator Sumner was cast as a martyr by Northerners while Rep. Brooks was hailed as a hero throughout the South.  The incident further widened the gulf between North and South signaling the future blooshed of the American Civil War.Sumner survived the beating, but just barely.  It would take three years for him to recooperate from his injuries.  During and after the Civil War he would become a leader of the “Radical Republicans” and fought hard for civil rights and equality for newly freed slaves.  Preston Brooks resigned his seat in the House of Representatives.  Though he was convicted of assault, he only had to pay a $300 fine.  Representative Laurence Keitt also got in trouble when in 1858 he attacked and chocked Pennsylvania Rep. Gulasha A. Grow.  He would serve as a colonel in the Confederate Army, and was killed at the Battle of Cold Harbor. -- source link

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