[GOPcapitalist]

So honor in the South means that a young man can sneak up behind an old man and beat him nearly to death with a cain?

According to historical codes of honor, honor with peers was sought in the situation that means of recourse was a duel. To drunkards, dolts, and other low lifes of society, means of recourse was a beating with a cane.

Senator Sumner = a low life of society, therefore the means of seeking recourse for honor with him was by beating him with a cane.

[rebelyell]

Indeed, had Brooks challenged him to a duel he would have likely declined like a coward.

[Ditto]

According to historical codes of honor, honor with peers was sought in the situation that means of recourse was a duel. To drunkards, dolts, and other low lifes of society, means of recourse was a beating with a cane.

In other words, Butler didn't have enough balls to challenge the old man? He had to sneak up behind him and brain him with a cane.

[Non-Sequitur]

So let me see how this southern honor thing works. First, make sure that you get a younger relative to do your dirty work for you. Second, make sure the intended victim is unarmed and unprotected. Third, make sure you don't do it alone but instead bring an accomplice along to prevent anyone from coming to the unarmed man's aid while you batter him with your club. Fourth, make sure your accomplice is armed in a similar manner. Can't face any of those other unarmed senators on an equal footing, can we? Yep, I can see how a back-shooting drunk like Booth can qualify as a southern hero as well. He fits into the sothron sense of honor so well.

As an aside, I believe Preston Brooks had the common decency to commit suicide, didn't he? I know he died less than a year after he maimed Senator Sumner and I think I read somewhere that he killed himself. Maybe one of you oracles of the pantheon of sothron 'heroes' knows?