Laurence M . Keitt Laurence Massillon Keitt ( October 4 , 1824 – June 2 , 1864 ) was a South Carolina politician who served as a United States Congressman . He is included in several lists of Fire - Eaters — men who adamantly urged the secession of southern states from the United States , and who resisted measures of compromise and reconciliation , leading to the American Civil War . Keitt is notable for being the only US elected official to be involved in two separate acts of legislative violence on the floor of the US House of Representatives , the first in 1856 when he assisted Preston Brooks ( D - SC ) in his cane attack on Charles Sumner ( R - MA ) by brandishing a pistol , and the second in 1858 when he attacked and attempted to choke Galusha Grow ( R - PA ) . Biography . Keitt was born in Orangeburg County , South Carolina . A member of the Democratic Party , he was representative to the South Carolina state house , 1848 , and then U . S . Representative from South Carolina ' s 3rd District , 1853 – 55 , 1855 – 56 and 1856 - 60 . Keitt was censured by the House in 1856 for aiding Rep . Preston S . Brooks in his caning attack on Sen . Charles Sumner . After Brooks began beating the defenseless Sumner with his gold - tipped cane , Keitt quickly drew a pistol from his belt , jumped into the aisle and leveled it at the horror - struck Congressmen who were approaching to try to assist Sumner , loudly announcing " Let them be ! " . He resigned in protest over his censure , but was overwhelmingly re - elected to his seat by his South Carolina constituency within a month . On February 5 , 1858 , Keitt started a massive brawl on the House floor during a tense late - night debate . Keitt , offended by Pennsylvania Congressman ( and later Speaker of the House ) Galusha A . Grow having stepped over to his side of the House chamber , dismissively demanded that Grow sit down , calling him a " black Republican puppy " . Grow responded by telling Keitt that " No negro - driver shall crack his whip over me . " Keitt became enraged and went for Grow ' s throat , shouting that he would " choke him for that " . A large brawl involving approximately 50 representatives erupted on the House floor , ending only when a missed punch from Rep . Cadwallader Washburn of Wisconsin upended the hairpiece of Rep . William Barksdale of Mississippi . The embarrassed Barksdale accidentally replaced the wig backwards , causing both sides to erupt in spontaneous laughter . Perhaps Keitt ' s most famous quotation best summarized his political views and dominant agenda . In 1860 , Congressman Keitt said , " The anti - slavery party contends that slavery is wrong in itself , and the Government is a consolidated national democracy . We of the South contend that slavery is right , and that this is a confederate Republic of sovereign States . " Keitt served as a delegate from South Carolina to the Provisional Confederate Congress , 1861 – 62 , and a colonel in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War , commanding the 20th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment and later Kershaw ' s Brigade ( Kershaw having advanced to division command ) . Mortally wounded at the Battle of Cold Harbor on June 1 , 1864 , Keitt died the next day near Richmond , Virginia .