Caning On Senate Floor

Floor proceedings monday sep 28 2020 2 45 p m.

Caning on senate floor. Brooks a democrat was a strong advocate of slavery and states rights he is most remembered for his may 22 1856 attack upon abolitionist. The pro slavery southerner walked over to senator charles sumner whacked him. Senator charles sumner of massachusetts is best remembered for his role in a dramatic and infamous event in senate history what has become known as the caning of sumner just days earlier sumner had delivered a fiery speech entitled the crime against kansas in which he railed against the institution of slavery and unleashed a stream of vitriol against the senators who defended it. Convene for a pro forma session.

Preston smith brooks august 5 1819 january 27 1857 was an american politician and member of the u s. In one of the most dramatic and deeply ominous moments in the senate s entire history a member of the house of representatives entered the senate chamber and savagely beat a senator into unconsciousness. On may 22 1856 the world s greatest deliberative body became a combat zone. Daily digest latest issue.

And adjourned at 4 22 p m. Senate during the american civil war during reconstruction he fought to minimize the power of the ex. The caning of charles sumner or the brooks sumner affair occurred on may 22 1856 in the united states senate when representative preston brooks a pro slavery democrat from south carolina used a walking cane to attack senator charles sumner an abolitionist republican from massachusetts in retaliation for a speech given by sumner two days earlier in which he fiercely criticized. 2 record votes were taken.

A signal violent event in the history of the united states congress the caning of charles sumner on the senate floor embodied the complex north south cultural divide of the mid nineteenth century. Williamjames hull hoffer s vivid account of the brutal act demonstrates just how far the sections had drifted apart and explains why the coming war was so difficult to avoid. House of representatives from south carolina serving from 1853 until his resignation in july 1856 and again from august 1856 until his death. The senate had just adjourned on may 22 1856 when representative preston brooks entered its chamber carrying a cane.