Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/184

PRESTON S. BROOKS IN DEFENSE OF HIS ATTACK ON SUMNER* (1856) Bom in 1819, died in 1^7; elected to Congress from South Carolina in 1853, serving until 1856, when, after the failure of the attempt to expel him, he resigned and appealed to his constituents, who re. elected him in the same year almost without opposition; serred until Vis death on January 27, 1857. Some time since a senator from Massachu- setts allowed himself, in an elaborately prepared speech, to offer a gross irxsult to my State, and to a venerable friend who is my State repre- sentative and who was absent at the time. Not content with that, he published to the world, and circulated extensively, this uncalled-for libel on my State and my blood. Whatever insults my State insults me. Her history and charac- ter have commanded my pious veneration; and in her defense I hope I shall always be prepared, humbly and modestly, to perform the duty of a son. I should have forfeited my own self- respect, and perhaps the good opinion of my countrjTnen, if I had failed to resent such an injury by calling the offender in question to a personal account. It was a personal aff'air, and in taking redress into my own hands I meant > Delivered in the House of Eepresentatives on July 14, 18«J, Abridged. The assault occurred on May 22. .174