The Charles Sumner Beatdown

Charles Sumner was known for his deep commitment for civil rights and became an anti slavery leader in the late 1840s. One of his famous speeches was the crime against Kansas a speech about slavery. Here is one of the things he said, “But the wickedness which I now begin to expose is immeasurably aggravated by the motive which prompted it.” It was also the speech where he was attacked by Preston Brooks.

Preston Brooks was a democratic representative from South Carolina. Serving from 1853 until his resignation in July 1856 and again in August. Preston attacked Charles because Charles said that Butler was an imbecile and Preston thought that he took that way too far. After the attack Preston Brooks was expelled from the house of representatives and was fined for $300. He returned to South Carolina where banquets were held and more canes were offered. He eventually died a year after his attack on Sumner in 1857 at Washington hotel when he was revoted congress. Charles Sumner died of a heart attack in March,11/1874 Washington D.C..