“Thanks be to our Heavenly Father, dear Sir, that there are
no Brookses in Congress this year, to raise their canes
over any man’s head. Now, Sir, my prayer is, that God may
give you strength to do your duty this year, as no other
man in or out of Congress can do it; for no other man has
shown up the barbarism of Slavery like yourself. Sir, when
but a few days ago you asked the reading of Carl Schurz’s
report, and it was not granted, my blood started with such
a rush in my veins that I could hardly contain myself.
‘What!’ said I, ‘has it come to this, after the loss of so
many of the most valuable lives of our dear countrymen, so
much of blood and treasure?’”