Charles Sumner was the Senator for Massachusetts. He was a leading abolitionist. He spoke against slavery and openly insulted Butler in the wake of the Kansas-Nebraska crisis. Preston S. Brooks was offended by the insults and beat Sumner with a cane. Sumner had very serious injuries and had to leave for three and a half years to recover. Mass. reelected Sumner. This showed how emotional the North and South were and how close they were to war.