Charles Sumner: “The slave may seem to have a wife; but he has not, for his wife…”

On the record

The slave may seem to have a wife; but he has not, for his wife belongs to his master.

Said by

Massachusetts

Source

Sumner points out that while a slave may appear to have a wife, she is actually owned by the master, emphasizing the lack of true familial bonds.

More from Charles Sumner

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

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

Opening of United States courts to colored, XI. 389.

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

Other voices in this conversation

Charles Sumner: “The slave may seem to have a wife; but he has not, for his wife belongs to his master.”