But if I had committed a breach of privilege, it was the privilege of the Senate, and not of this House, which was violated. I was answerable there and not here.

Brooks was a fervent advocate of slavery. Brooks was tried in a District of Columbia court for the attack. Family
First marriage: Caroline Harper Means(1820–1843).

Sumner was seriously injured and unable to serve in the Senate for three years though eventually he largely recovered. This was in retaliation for an anti-slavery speech by Sumner in which Sumner attacked Brooks' uncle Senator Andrew Butler (Democrat-South Carolina). Brooks was a fervent advocate of slavery.