On the record
It is not enough to say “a State cannot secede,” “a State cannot get out of the Union,” “Louisiana is a State in the Union.” These are mere words, having no positive meaning, and improper for this debate.
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gutenberg.orgCharles Sumner: “It is not enough to say “a State cannot secede,” “a State cannot get out of the Union,” “Louisiana is a State in the…”
Editor's note · Context
Sumner critiques the use of vague statements about states' status as lacking substantive meaning in the debate.
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Sovereignty of, belongs to the people, XVI. 28.
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