This is why it's no light matter for a candidate for Congress to endorse murdering the Speaker of the House. Once elected, that candidate could easily be in a position to make good her threat. https://twitter.com/StephenGutowski/status/1357792048393420808
Quoting from "Field of Blood" by Joanne B. Freeman:
"In 1837, when a representative insulted the Speaker [of the Arkansas State Assembly], the Speaker stepped down from his platform, bowie knife in hand, and killed him. Expelled and tried for murder, he was acquitted ... 1/x
"In 1837, when a representative insulted the Speaker [of the Arkansas State Assembly], the Speaker stepped down from his platform, bowie knife in hand, and killed him. Expelled and tried for murder, he was acquitted ... 1/x
... and re-elected, only to pull a knife on *another* colleague during debate, although this time the sound of colleagues cocking pistols stopped him cold." p 5 2/x
A few years after the killing on the floor of the Arkansas state legislature, Charles Dickens published "Martin Chuzzlewit," a novel about an Englishman's misadventures in the United States. At one point, Martin is startled by the weapons carried by all around him. 3/x
Martin is then reprimanded by one of the Americans:
" 'It's singler!' said Pogram, lifting his umbrella high enough to look all round from under it. 'It's strange! You observe the settled opposition to our Institutions which pervades the British mind!'
4/x
" 'It's singler!' said Pogram, lifting his umbrella high enough to look all round from under it. 'It's strange! You observe the settled opposition to our Institutions which pervades the British mind!'
4/x
" 'What an extraordinary people you are!' cried Martin. 'Are Mr Chollop and the class he represents, an Institution here? Are pistols with revolving barrels, sword-sticks, bowie-knives, and such things, Institutions on which you pride yourselves? ...
5/x
5/x
" 'Are bloody duels, brutal combats, savage assaults, shooting down and stabbing in the streets, your Institutions! Why, I shall hear next that Dishonour and Fraud are among the Institutions of the great republic!'"
That was 1844. More should have changed by now.
END
That was 1844. More should have changed by now.
END