On the first anniversary of the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol, let’s take a look at another time violence came to the floor of the U.S. Senate.

It happened on May 22nd, 1856, when Rep. Preston Brooks assaulted anti-slavery Republican Sen. Charles Sumner inside the Senate chamber following comments that Sumner made about a relative of Brooks, Sen. Andrew Butler.

During a speech on the Senate floor, Sumner likened Butler’s support of slavery to Butler having a mistress “who, though ugly to others, is always lovely to him.”

After the Senate adjourned for the day, Brooks entered the chamber with a cane and beat Sumner over the head.

The assault of Sumner is an important tale about what happens when we choose violence over discourse and, perhaps more importantly, what happens when we fail to hold responsible those who choose violence.

Both the U.S. House and Senate investigated the incident, eventually recommending that Brooks be given the most serious punishment available: expulsion from the House.

However, a resolution to remove Brooks failed to pass.

Brooks resigned in protest but would return to his state of South Carolina and be re-elected to the House just a month later. Rather than being scorned as a thug, he was hailed a hero.

The incident is telling because, as we know, discourse would further break down and the country would hurtle toward the Civil War just five years later.

Sadly, this incident has many reverberations in today’s sharply divided political environment.

The Congressional report on the incident called the assault a “most-flagrant violation” against Sumner’s First Amendment rights, the rights of his constituents, and the character of the nation.

It’s hard to think of a scenario in which violence should be least tolerated than when a sitting Senator is delivering a lawful speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Perhaps, Congress’ certification of a lawful and fair election is right up there.

Originally published at https://www.mjr.news on January 6, 2022.