Charles Sumner: “We abjure all hereditary distinctions; but here is an hereditary…”

On the record

We abjure all hereditary distinctions; but here is an hereditary distinction, founded, not on the merit of the ancestor, but on his color.

Said by

Massachusetts

Source

Sumner condemns hereditary distinctions based on race, arguing they lack merit.

More from Charles Sumner

Women’s National League, petition of, for universal emancipation, X. 300.

Sovereignty of, belongs to the people, XVI. 28.

The only Constitutional party and party of freedom, VII. 38.

Slavery and the: speech in New York, XI. 433.

Other voices in this conversation

Charles Sumner: “We abjure all hereditary distinctions; but here is an hereditary distinction, founded, not on the merit of the ancestor…”