Slavery is so odious that it can exist only by virtue of positive law, plain and unequivocal; but no such words can be found in the Constitution; therefore Slavery is impossible within the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Government.
Sumner argues that slavery cannot exist without explicit legal support, which he claims is absent in the Constitution.
Share
More from Charles Sumner
Their existence is a disgrace to civilization; for it implies the common consent of nations to the Arbitrament of War, as regulated by these laws.
According to recent calculations, its annual cost is not less than a thousand millions of dollars.
It applies an arrogant and unrelenting ostracism to all who express themselves against Slavery.
But so long as War exists as an Institution this terrible inconsistency must appear.
Other voices in this conversation
