Caning On The Floor Of Congress

A democrat from maine said something on the house floor that ticked off a prominent whig newspaper editor.

Caning on the floor of congress. On may 22 1856 the world s greatest deliberative body became a combat zone. House of representatives from south carolina serving from 1853 until his resignation in july 1856 and again from august 1856 until his death. The caning of charles sumner is probably the most famous violent attack in congress. The most infamous floor brawl in the history of the u s.

When the controversial kansas nebraska. House of representatives erupted as members debated the kansas territory s pro slavery lecompton constitution late into the night of february 5 6. 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. Brooks a democrat was a strong advocate of slavery and states rights he is most remembered for his may 22 1856 attack upon abolitionist.

Shortly before 2 a m pennsylvania republican galusha grow and south carolina democrat laurence keitt exchanged insults then blows. After the caning sumner convalesced for three years but never fully recovered from his injuries. In an instant the house was in the greatest possible. Returning in 1859 he became a trailblazing legislator who left an indelible mark on the senate and the country most notably as a defender of equal rights for african americans.

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. Preston smith brooks august 5 1819 january 27 1857 was an american politician and member of the u s.