Charles Sumner: “As this is a penal statute, this construction makes it ex post facto…”

On the record

As this is a penal statute, this construction makes it ex post facto, and therefore unconstitutional.

Said by

Massachusetts

Source

Sumner argues that a certain interpretation of a penal statute is unconstitutional because it applies retroactively.

More from Charles Sumner

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

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

Slave Power, necessity of political action against the, II. 207.

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

Other voices in this conversation

Charles Sumner: “As this is a penal statute, this construction makes it ex post facto, and therefore unconstitutional.”