Political Quotes

On the record
The state of Slavery,” said Lord Mansfield, pronouncing judgment in the great case of Somerset, “is of such a nature that it is incapable of being introduced on any reasons, moral or political, but only by positive law.
Said by
Charles Sumner
Massachusetts

Editor's note · Context

Sumner references Lord Mansfield's judgment, which states that slavery can only be established through positive law, not moral arguments.

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