"HIT HIM AGAIN!"

SENATOR SUMNER PHYSICALLY ATTACKED ON SENATE FLOOR BY CONGRESSMAN BROOKS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 22, 1856, Senator Charles Sumner (R-Massachusetts) was severely beaten as he sat at his desk on the floor of the United States Senate.

With a few bystanders looking on, Congressman Preston Brooks entered the Senate chamber carrying a wooden cane, walked up to Senator Sumner's desk and proceeded to beat him over the head and shoulders.

The Senator attempted to rise up from the desk, but could not because it was bolted to the floor.

Congressman Brooks, whose cousin, Senator Andrew Butler (D-South Carolina) had been verbally attacked a few days earlier by Senator Sumner, a staunch opponent of slavery, became an instant hero in the South with many of his supporters sending him new wooden canes with the inscription 'HIT HIM AGAIN!'

JFK+50 NOTE

Senator Sumner slowly recovered from his injuries but was unable to return to the Senate for three years.  According to witnesses, Brooks hit Sumner repeatedly with the 'massive gold knob' of his cane which is counter to the illustration below.

SOURCE

"Charles Sumner Beaten On Senate Floor," JFK+50, May 22, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

"Southern Chivalry"

Lithography by John L. Magee

1856

Boston Athenaeum

"HIT HIM AGAIN!"

SENATOR SUMNER PHYSICALLY ATTACKED ON SENATE FLOOR 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 22, 1856, Senator Charles Sumner* (R-Massachusetts) was physically attacked by Congressman Preston Brooks** (D-South Carolina) as he sat at his desk on the chamber floor.

Just days earlier, the Senator had given a speech critical of the institution of slavery and of Congressman Brooks' cousin, Senator Andrew Butler*** (D-South Carolina).

The speech included these words...

"The Senator from South Carolina has chosen a mistress who, though ugly to others, is always lovely to him...I mean the harlot, slavery."

Brooks entered the Senate chamber carrying a wooden cane.  He walked up to the Senator and began beating him viciously over the head and shoulders.  Mr. Sumner was unable to get up from his desk which was bolted to the floor.

Preston Brooks became an instant hero in the South and received numerous new canes to replace the one he used to beat Charles Sumner.  One of these bore the inscription "Hit Him Again!"

*Charles Sumner (1811-1874) was born in Boston & educated at the Latin School & Harvard.  CS served in the US Senate 1851-1874 & was Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee 1861-1871.

**Preston Smith Brooks (1819-1857) was born in Edgefield SC & educated at the University of South Carolina.  PSB served in the Mexican War & US House of Representatives 1853-1857.

***Andrew Pickens Butler (1796-1857) was born in Edgefield SC & graduated from South Carolina College (USC).  APB served in the SC Senate 1824-1833 & US Senate 1846-1857.

   

 

"Southern Chivalry"

by John L. Magee (1856)

Boston Athenaeum Photo

RAISING CANE ON THE SENATE FLOOR

MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR SUMNER BEATEN WITH CANE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred fifty-nine years ago today, May 22, 1856, Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner,  a few days after giving a speech attacking both the institution of slavery and South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler, was severely beaten as he sat at his desk on the floor of the United States Senate.

During a break between sessions, Sumner was busy writing when Congressman Preston Brooks, Butler's cousin, came into the chamber carrying a wooden cane.

Brooks, with only a few bystanders looking on, proceeded to beat Sumner over the head and shoulders.  Sumner attempted to get up from his desk but could not do so because it was bolted to the floor.

Sumner's injuries were so severe that he would not able to return to the Senate for three years.  There was no pity for the northern Senator, however, in the South. Brooks became an instant hero and received a replacement wooden cane in the mail with the inscription "Hit Him Again!"

In his Pulitzer Prize winning book, Profiles in Courage, JFK writes about a speech made by Senator Lucius Lamar of Mississippi in 1874 on the occasion of the death of "the South's most implacable enemy," Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts.

In a plea for "amity and  justice between North and South," Senator Lamar said that Charles Sumner, before his death....

"believed that all occasion for strife and distrust between the North and South had passed away.   Would that the spirit of the illustrious dead whom we lament today could speak from the grave to both parties to this deplorable discord in tones which should reach each and every heart throughout this broad territory:  'My countrymen! know one another, and you will love one another.'"

JFK wrote that this speech was one of the few in our history to have "such immediate impact."  He argues that the speech was a turning point in the relationship between North and South.  

While many newspapers wrote editorials in support of the speech, others, particularly in the South were critical. They believed Senator Lamar "had surrendered Southern principle and honor." 

Lucius Lamar of Mississippi

Photo by Matthew Brady and 

Levin Corbin Handy

Library of Congress Image