The violence in bleeding Kansas became so intense that it spilled over onto the floor of the US Congress! The trouble began with a fiery two day speech that started on August 26, 1852 by Republican Senator Charles Sumner. Sumner was an outspoken abolitionist from Massachusetts who protested the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Sumner called pro-slavery protesters in Kansas "murderous robbers." He sharply criticized Senators Stephen Douglas and Andrew Butler and for supporting the bill. Sumner even called Butler an "imbecile!"
South Carolina representative Preston Brooks, was a relative of Andrew Butler, and he felt it was his duty to defend his family member. Two days after the speech Brooks and Sumner crossed paths in the Senate chamber. Preston Brooks took the cane he was holding and used it to reportedly striking Charles Sumner. Brooks hit Sumner with his cane so many times that it shattered. Charles Sumner was almost killed.
The incident turned both Sumner and Brooks into overnight heroes. Sumner was praised by abolitionists while Brooks was cheered for defending the dignity of the south. The House of Representatives voted to censure Brooks. He resigned in protest. However, he support at home grew so strong the voters immediately reelected him. People even sent Brook some canes to replace the one that broke in the attack!
It took more than three years for Sumner to recover from his injuries and return to the Senate. His chair was kept empty in the meantime, as a reminder of the brutal attack. With physical violence breaking out on the Senate floor, it was hard to imagine how things could get much worse between the north and south.... but it did!