Charles Sumner: “Tell, if thou canst, the sum of sorrows there; Mark the fixed gaze…”

On the record

Tell, if thou canst, the sum of sorrows there; Mark the fixed gaze, the wild and frenzied glare, The racks of thought, and freezings of despair!

Said by

Massachusetts

Source

This passage captures the intense emotional suffering experienced by those enslaved, illustrating the psychological impact of slavery.

More from Charles Sumner

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

Working-men of Europe, desire abolition of war, XVIII. 236.

Disunion no remedy for grievances of, VII. 33.

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

Other voices in this conversation

Charles Sumner: “Tell, if thou canst, the sum of sorrows there; Mark the fixed gaze, the wild and frenzied glare, The racks of thought…”