On May 22, 1856, Senator Preston Brooks (D-SC) severely beats Senator Charles Sumner (R-MA) about the head with his cane on the floor of the U.S. Senate in retaliation for an anti-slavery speech Sumner had made. “Sumner was seriously injured by Brooks’ beating, and was unable to resume his seat in the Senate for three years, though eventually he recovered and resumed his Senate career.”
Congressman Brooks had dozens of new canes sent to him, to replace the one he broke, as well as thousands of telegrams telling him to give the Abolitionist another beating, since he was still moving.
Ah, the good old days...
Senator Brooks subsequently received hundreds of canes as gifts.