People call today’s congress a zoo
But their fighting is not at all new
Preston Brooks drew his cane
Sumner nearly was slain
I’d say things have improved now, don’t you?

Event: Representative Preston Brooks (D-SC) beats Senator Charles Sumner (R-MA) with a cane in the Senate chamber in response to Sumner’s “Crime Against Kansas” speech
Year: 1856
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning_of_Charles_Sumner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas-Nebraska_Act