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160th Anniversary: The Caning of Senator Charles Sumner (R). (May 22nd 1856)
wikipedia ^ | 5-22-216 | wiki

Posted on 05/22/2016 9:49:44 AM PDT by ak267

On May 22, 1856, in the United States Congress, Representative Preston Brooks attacked Senator Charles Sumner with a walking cane in retaliation for a speech given by Sumner two days earlier. The beating nearly killed Sumner and it drew a sharply polarized response from the American public on the subject of the expansion of slavery in the United States. It has been considered symbolic of the "breakdown of reasoned discourse"[1] that eventually led to the American Civil War.

(Excerpt) Read more at en.wikipedia.org ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: cane; dnc; gop; slavery; southerngentleman
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To: DesertRhino

Agreed with your statement “I wish we had never imported a single slave.” How true, what a disaster then and now.


41 posted on 05/22/2016 11:25:20 AM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: BenLurkin

It works see Hitler, Tojo etc.


42 posted on 05/22/2016 11:26:33 AM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

“An appeal to force is not always unjustified.”

When it is an attempt to silence rhetoric that argues enslavement is morally wrong. And you are defending your right to enslave others, no, it is not justified.

That is the exact thinking behind a pogrom, or krystallnacht. Protecting evil with an appeal to force. But I will give the South credit for one thing. History has never seen such moral wrong, combined with such lofty and high minded speechifying in it’s defense.

They were almost Shakespearean in their eloquence as to why it was proper to imprison or sell people against their will.


43 posted on 05/22/2016 11:28:40 AM PDT by DesertRhino ("I want those feeble minded asses overthrown,,,)
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

Wait. I think I misunderstood you.

I realize now that you are criticizing the dishonorable wretches who were arguing on behalf of slavery.

Because, obviously, nobody would compare 19th century arguments against slavery with 20th century crimes against humanity.


44 posted on 05/22/2016 11:30:10 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: BenLurkin
Please no crap about "Humanity." I simply stated argumentum ad Baculum and its limits. I am indifferent to slavery and state without hesitation that no sane person today ever lost a meal or a nights sleep over the fact America had chattel slavery. I stated an historical fact not a moral judgement; ie. it was a northern commercial sentiment that attacked a agriculturally based near nobility that was a social factor in the causes of the American Civil war. The vast difference between Hamilton versus Jefferson and Madison illustrate my meaning

By the way is chattel slavery a "Crime against Humanity?'

45 posted on 05/22/2016 11:43:12 AM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: ladyjane

Which means the tribes of central Africa and Muslims

Works for me


46 posted on 05/22/2016 11:47:05 AM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: ak267

One gaping hole in the story that needs to be told is that upon returning to Charleston, S.C., the black slave holders of Charleston presented Preston Brooks with a new silver engraved cane. Yea, choke on that historical fact.


47 posted on 05/22/2016 11:56:04 AM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: US Navy Vet

Are you serious?


48 posted on 05/22/2016 11:56:15 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: WMarshal

“The article left out a very salient fact. Preston Smith Brooks was a DemocratRepresentative from South Carolina.”

Thanks for pointing that out. I fixed the lead to reflect their political affiliations.


49 posted on 05/22/2016 11:57:43 AM PDT by NRx
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To: DesertRhino

The “duller one” could not refute with rheotric because he had suffered a stroke. While it is possible that Butler had personally insulted Sumner on a previous occasion (I’m somewhat skeptical about this fairly-recently “discovered” detail), berating a man incapable of speech for this and for his physical incapaciaty at the same time was (and is) in bad taste.

Fifty years earlier, or five hundred miles south, the result likely would have been a challenge to a duel. Brooks considered a duel, but after consultation with several other representatives concluded that that would not be appropriate, as Sumner was no gentleman. (Interestingly enough, Brooks had previously engaged in a duel with a man who would become a Senator from Texas in 1859).

Opting for caning instead of a duel was a well-deserved insult.

Of note, Douglas, while being insulted along with Butler by Sumner, observed “this damn fool is going to get himself killed by some other damn fool.”


50 posted on 05/22/2016 11:58:13 AM PDT by Hieronymus ( (It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged. --G. K. Chesterton))
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To: vetvetdoug

That is worth remembering. History is very complex. Should have picked our own d*** cotton.


51 posted on 05/22/2016 12:01:23 PM PDT by Hieronymus ( (It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged. --G. K. Chesterton))
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To: BenLurkin

Brooks beat the bastard down because challenging Sumner to a duel was reserved for Gentlemen.

Scumbags got caned.


52 posted on 05/22/2016 12:01:33 PM PDT by Rome2000 (SMASH THE CPUSA-SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS-CLOSE ALL MOSQUES)
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To: DesertRhino

If those damn southerners weren’t so lazy and corrupt America would be a much better place today.
They should have picked their own cotton or hired immigrants who they wouldn’t have to feed, clothe and shelter for a lifetime. But then again, they were white supremacists who didn’t respect all human life and we forever have that cross to bear as a country.
Especially considering the feral yutes running around demanding government freebies and reparations.


53 posted on 05/22/2016 12:02:35 PM PDT by JerseyDvl (#NeverHillary)
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

If the South HAD won, all slaves would have been sent back to Africa by 1915, when their labor wouldn’t have been necessary due to automation.

The CSA certainly wouldn’t have kept them around once they were no longer necessary, much less free them and give them the vote.

Abe Lincoln and the Republicans can go straight to hell.

Every day their monstrous crimes against the sons of the FOUNDERS result in death and destruction all over the “United States”.


54 posted on 05/22/2016 12:09:59 PM PDT by Rome2000 (SMASH THE CPUSA-SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS-CLOSE ALL MOSQUES)
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To: ak267

Speed reaing the title, my brain saw “...The Caning of Senator Charles [as in Chuckie] Schumer.” Needless to say, I was sorely disappointed. :-)


55 posted on 05/22/2016 12:10:51 PM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights
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To: JerseyDvl

You absolutely nailed it. It’s just sad that nobody had the foresight then to argue against slavery based on blacks not assimilating.


56 posted on 05/22/2016 12:11:05 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (MAGA! Make America Great Again)
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To: DesertRhino

We are pretty much headed into that territory now, which is probably the point of bringing up this anniversary.

If any Republican Senator caned Chucky Schumer I’d send money to his independent reelection campaign.


57 posted on 05/22/2016 12:13:02 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("During a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act" --George Orwell)
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To: Rome2000

What you are saying is black slavery and the importation of blacks into our country was and is a great tragedy. It was and is. I have great doubts that the two races can ever live together in harmony.


58 posted on 05/22/2016 12:15:54 PM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

Blacks represented 13% of the population and are still at that percentage.

They are a non-viable subgroup in America, their population would have been reduced substantially if not for the subsidies they receive from taxpayers.

They have pledged their allegiance to Marxists and enemies foreign and domestic.

Eliminating the welfare state would result in a reduction of the US black population by 2% per decade.

Combined with Repeal of the Immigration Act of 1965, the nations demographics will return to normal, with peace and prosperity for people of all races who embrace the American culture and work ethic.


59 posted on 05/22/2016 12:26:20 PM PDT by Rome2000 (SMASH THE CPUSA-SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS-CLOSE ALL MOSQUES)
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To: ak267
Brooks suckerpunched Sumner. When faced with a man-to-man challenge, he ran away like a scalded cat.

Shortly afterward, Burlingame delivered a celebrated speech denouncing Brooks’ attack on Sumner as a cowardly act. In response, Brooks challenged Burlingame to a duel on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls to circumvent the U.S. ban on dueling. Burlingame quickly accepted the challenge, but surprised by Burlingame’s quick acceptance and knowing Burlingame’s reputation as a superb marksman, Brooks did not show up citing unspecified risks to his safety if he was to cross the northern states in order to reach Canada. Burlingame became a hero throughout the North.

In other words, Preston Brooks was a cowardly little b****.

At least Brooks paid for his perfidy.

Brooks died unexpectedly from croup in January 1857, a few weeks before the March 4 start of the new congressional term. He was buried in Edgefield, South Carolina. The official telegram announcing his death stated "He died a horrid death, and suffered intensely."

60 posted on 05/22/2016 12:32:31 PM PDT by MuttTheHoople (Yes, Liberals, I question your patriotism)
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