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| I was always intrigued by those A-Holes in the background who thought this was amusing. Yes, I know this wasn't a photo, but still... |
On May 22, 1856, in the United States Senate Chamber, Democratic Representative Preston Brooks from South Carolina, beat Republican Senator Charles Sumner near to death with his cane.
NOTE: Brooks' cane, not Sumner's.
Brooks, a rabid pro-slavery zealot, was incensed by Sumner's abolitionist views, including a fierce criticism of South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler who-surprise!-was a relative of Brooks.
The beating further polarized the nation as it hurled inexorably (at least from the perspective of 170 years in the future) towards an almost national suicide of a civil war and death of over 600,000 Americans.
Sumner was hurt so badly that he was unable to resume his duties until over three years later. Massachusetts refused to replace him in the interim as a "stick in the eye" to those who saw violence as the only answer to those who wished to see an end to the ownership of human beings.
Thankfully, crazy dudes wielding canes around in Congress is so 19th Century.
Oops. Well, now, that's inconvenient.
I wonder if we might have a repeat of the cane incident. I hope not. Scary when they start beating on each other.
ReplyDeleteI tremble at the thought.
DeleteSurprised that sort of thing doesn't happen more often.
ReplyDeleteJus hoping people will keep it together. But, it worries me.
DeleteWhat a shocking incident - no way to behave even if you do not agree with their views.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from A to Z https://anneyoungau.wordpress.com/
Agreed. As bad as things are now, we can point to bad behavior from almost two hundred years ago. Doesn't make me feel all that good, though.
DeleteTrying hard to avoid politics, but violence and a certain party do seem to go hand in hand...
ReplyDeleteI do my best to avoid politics even when someone tosses me a softball to debate. I don't succeed all the time but I much prefer to laugh and make fun of everyone.
DeleteThis is Birgit..I had no idea this occurred. I bet some would love to use their cane and it may happen. Did that guy go to jail? Did you know that someone tried to kill Hitler 42 times! You wonder why none worked. How many lives would have been saved. Too much volatility in the air right now. Read need nature and calm.
ReplyDeleteBrooks was arrested, convicted, and fined. He didn't receive any prison sentence, but (unsurprisingly) was lauded as a hero in the South. As far as assassinations, they have rarely turned out well in history. Some, yes (e.g., Garfield, which was more like a "who noticed?" than anything else). Hitler would have been an exception, but "what ifs?" can be dangerous.
DeleteOh gosh, very dangerous. So we must always learn from the past. It must be taught in schools.
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