The Beating of Charles Sumner
1856

Senator Charles Sumner made a scathing speech against slavery, popular sovereignty, and two representatives in particular, Stephen Douglass and South Carolinian Andrew Butler. Fellow South Carolina native Congressman Preston Brooks took offense and, rather than challenging him to a duel because he didn't consider Sumner gentleman enough for that, Brooks beat him in the head with his cane until he was unconscious. Sumner sustained serious injuries while several senators looked on without interfering.
Each man was hailed as a hero by their respective regions. Sumner's speech was reprinted and distributed in the North, and Massachusetts proudly reelected him and left the seat empty while Sumner went to London for extensive treatment of his injuries. Southerners sent Brooks replacement canes to show their support of what he had done. He resigned, and was immediately reelected to his former position. Slavery was such a dividing issue that people elected specifically because they were the embodiment of law, order, respectability, and judgment began resorting to violence to make their opinions clear.