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"The Senator from South Carolina has read many books of chivalry, and believes himself a chivalrous knight, with sentiments of honor and courage. Of course he has chosen a mistress to whom he has made his vows, and who, though ugly to others, is always lovely to him; though polluted in the sight of the world, is chaste in his sight -- I mean the harlot, Slavery."

The passage about Sen. Andrew Butler that provoked the caning three days later; Brooks's own letter cites this speech's language. The provocation was not clean: the same speech mocked the stroke-impaired Butler — 'with incoherent phrases, discharged the loose expectoration of his speech' (verified in the same text).

Read it in the original — The Crime Against Kansas (1856), Internet Archive ↗

Next post: New-York Daily Tribune, May 23, 1856 →

"The particulars show that Mr. Sumner was struck unawares over the head by a loaded cane and stunned, and then the ruffianly attack was continued with many blows, the Hon. Mr. Keitt of South Carolina keeping any of those around, who might be so disposed, from attempting a rescue. No meaner exhibition of Southern cowardice -- generally miscalled Southern chivalry -- was ever witnessed."

Printed two days after the sack of Lawrence; the same editorial page (LoC scan sn83030213, p. 4) fuses the two events: 'The acts of violence during this session -- including one murder -- are simply overtures to the drama of which the... war upon the Free-State men in Kansas, constitute the first act. We are either to have Liberty or Slavery.' The germ of 'Bleeding Kansas and Bleeding Sumner.'

Read it in the original — Furman Secession Era Editorials transcription ↗