Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner gave an impassioned speech about the evils of slavery as an institution in America. During this speech, he described the corruption that occurred when citizens of Kansas were supposed to vote on whether or not the institution of slavery would be legal. Due to voter fraud, Kansas was supposed to become a slave state. Sumner was outraged about this, going on to call the individuals who came from Missouri to vote in the Kansas election "murderous robbers."
This speech resulted in increased tension between pro-slavery and anti-slavery Congressmen. A mere two days later Presten Brooks, a Congressmen in favor of slavery, called Sumner's speech "pure libel" and then proceeded to physically assault Sumner with a gold cane.
