Read on Twitter
I'm sure by now many of you have seen this photo captured by Mike Theiler of Reuters, but many of my fellow Kansans may not know that we have a special connection to this breathtaking image.
The portrait just behind the man displaying the flag is of Sen. Charles Sumner. Known for, among other things, being the namesake of Sumner High School in KCK, Sumner was a vehemently anti-slavery Senator who was nearly killed on the Senate floor in 1856.
He was attacked by a colleague from South Carolina in retribution for a speech he'd given denouncing the evils of slavery. That speech was titled, "The Crime Against Kansas" and in it, Sumner argued for the admission of Kansas to the union as a free state. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/The_Crime_Against_Kansas.htm
Sumner was nearly killed in the United States Capitol for defending what has become one of the proudest parts of our great state's history. His words, though uncontroversial today, were considered so radical and inflammatory that some thought he should die for them.
Next week the Kansas Legislature will gavel into session during an especially trying time in the history of our state - our free state. I trust that our legislators will enter their respective chambers with the courage of Senator Sumner and I hope their convictions are as noble.
A little more context since this blew up:
Sumner was a Senator from Massachusetts. Kansas didn't receive its first Senator until 1861 following statehood.
Sumner was a Senator from Massachusetts. Kansas didn't receive its first Senator until 1861 following statehood.
Violence in Congress wasn't uncommon at the time, but this was seen as particularly egregious and motivated not only by his speaking out against slavery, but the deeply personal attacks on specific Southern Senators. Sumner wouldn't return to the Senate floor for three years.
This was a wild week in 1856:
- May 19-20 Sumner delivered his speech
- May 21 Southerns attacked Lawrence, KS (the first time; not Quantrill's raid in 1863)
- May 22 Sumner is attacked on the Senate floor
- May 24-25 John Brown leads the
Pottawatomie Massacre
- May 19-20 Sumner delivered his speech
- May 21 Southerns attacked Lawrence, KS (the first time; not Quantrill's raid in 1863)
- May 22 Sumner is attacked on the Senate floor
- May 24-25 John Brown leads the
Pottawatomie Massacre
Thanks to everyone who contributed further resources. This is a great one: https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/rivalry-feud/raising-cane
Also shout-out to @DorisKGoodwin who talked about this incident last night on @AC360.
