I would treat with profound respect the arguments and opinions of judges and constitutional lawyers; but if after all they failed to convince me that the law was constitutional, I should be guilty of perjury before high Heaven, if I voted in its favor....
In this statement, Sumner expresses his commitment to his conscience over judicial authority when voting on constitutional matters.
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More from Charles Sumner
Nay, more,--if it would be criminal in these several clusters of States to reëstablish the Institution of War as Arbiter of Justice, then is it criminal in the Commonwealth of Nations to continue it.
Nor should we be too impatient to witness the fulfilment of our aspirations.
Let loyalty to one man be exchanged for Love to Man.
Confessing the Fatherhood of God, and the consequent Brotherhood of Man, we find a divine standard of unquestionable accuracy.
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