History

The Unwavering Courage of Charles Sumner in the Fight Against Slavery

The Caning of Charles Sumner — New York Public Library

On Tuesday, February 9, 1864, Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts slowly but proudly rose to speak on the same issue in the same chamber where he had been mercilessly beaten within a breath of his life only a few years prior. His powerful and passionate speech calling for the end of slavery had 100,000 American voices behind it…