Jerks in History

[L Verge]

I see no "sexual" intent in what Sumner said; it was more of a euphemism. Just another example of 21st-century people having to insert our values on something that happened over 150 years ago. And don't play the race card again like it all came about because of people south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Many men of Sumner's Massachusetts had made their fortunes in the slave trade for many decades before.

If Sumner were as pious and innocent a victim as what we are saying here, he would have chosen his words wisely on the institution of slavery itself -- not as a personal attack on one or two people. Judge not lest ye be judged. I gave up fighting the Civil War back in high school, but it continues to amaze me how learned people continue to throw verbal punches and act so pious about it even today. As long as we continue to do that, there will always be divisions.

P.S. I suspect that Sumner would not have shown up for a duel with weapons. Like so many, he fought with vicious words.