The Abolition element of the Northern States would go straight to revolution at the least movement toward a surrender of the captives.… Spectators of these events, who can doubt that the Almighty fiat has gone forth against the American Union, or that the Southern Confederacy is decreed by Divine Wisdom?
Sumner warns of the potential for revolution among abolitionists if the Confederate ministers were surrendered.
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Without yielding to any of these extreme views with regard to the mischiefs or the benefits of party, all should agree that the only true and legitimate object of such an association is to uphold, advance, and develop certain principles…
Their existence is a disgrace to civilization; for it implies the common consent of nations to the Arbitrament of War, as regulated by these laws.
Again I repeat, so long as the War System prevails under the sanction of International Law, these painful incongruities will be apparent.
It applies an arrogant and unrelenting ostracism to all who express themselves against Slavery.
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