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 ...
Agreed with your statement “I wish we had never imported a single slave.” How true, what a disaster then and now.
It works see Hitler, Tojo etc.
“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.
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.
By the way is chattel slavery a "Crime against Humanity?'
Which means the tribes of central Africa and Muslims
Works for me
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.
Are you serious?
“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.
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.”
That is worth remembering. History is very complex. Should have picked our own d*** cotton.
Brooks beat the bastard down because challenging Sumner to a duel was reserved for Gentlemen.
Scumbags got caned.
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.
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”.
Speed reaing the title, my brain saw “...The Caning of Senator Charles [as in Chuckie] Schumer.” Needless to say, I was sorely disappointed. :-)
You absolutely nailed it. It’s just sad that nobody had the foresight then to argue against slavery based on blacks not assimilating.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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