I understand, but he was sneaked up on in a surprise attack. Then, Preston Brooks slunk away like a little sissy when Anson Burlingame baited him into a duel. Burlingame was a crack shot, and Brooks couldn't sneak up behind him the way he did Sumner.
Friends of Charles Sumner tried to stop him. They exclaimed out loud that he was going to get himself killed. It wasn't just all slaveowners in general, it was specifically directed at the uncle or cousin or something, (I forget) of Butler.
It was very vulgar and nasty for that era, and it was indeed fighting words, but the man it was directed at was old and feeble and could do nothing about it.
I understand, but he was sneaked up on in a surprise attack.
My recollection is that Sumner was working at his desk, and Butler approached and told him he was going to beat him. It was a surprise attack insofar as Sumner didn't know it was coming until Butler announced it. Butler had a friend stand guard to make sure no one intervened.
Then, Preston Brooks slunk away like a little sissy when Anson Burlingame baited him into a duel. Burlingame was a crack shot, and Brooks couldn't sneak up behind him the way he did Sumner.
A man would have to be a fool to duel with someone who will easily kill him. Alexander Hamilton comes to mind. Butler didn't kill Sumner, but he did mess him up very badly, such that he never recovered from it.
Passion is fine, but making it personal was deadly in that era. Puritan Massachusetts always did have trouble controlling their passion.