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"The events of the last few years and months and days have taught us the lessons of centuries. I do not see how a barbarous community and a civilized community can constitute one state. I think we must get rid of slavery, or we must get rid of freedom."

Four days after the caning, at Concord's indignation meeting — the intellectual North's verdict, and one of the most-quoted Northern reactions of the decade.

Read it in the original — Complete Works vol. XI, EmersonCentral ↗

Next post: South Carolinian, May 27, 1856 →

"We were not mistaken in asserting, on Saturday last, that the Hon. Preston S. Brooks had not only the approval, but the hearty congratulations of the people of South Carolina for his summary chastisement of the abolitionist Sumner. [...] The meeting voted him a handsome gold-headed cane, which we saw yesterday, on its way to Washington, entrusted to the care of Hon. B. Simpson. [...] We heard one of Carolina's truest and most honored matrons from Mr. Brooks' district send a message to him by Maj. Simpson, saying 'that the ladies of the South would send him hickory sticks, with which to chastise Abolitionists and Red Republicans whenever he wanted them.'"

The replacement-cane wave, reported firsthand — plus a matron's pledge that 'the ladies of the South would send him hickory sticks, with which to chastise Abolitionists.' The same report records a Governor-headed subscription for a silver pitcher and approval meetings in four towns. Fragments joined with [...].

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