Charles Sumner: “There was characteristic wisdom in the remark of the venerable Chief Justice of England, Sir Matthew Hale, when he said…”

“There was characteristic wisdom in the remark of the venerable Chief Justice of England, Sir Matthew Hale, when he said that “we must not jump before we get to the stile.” It seems to me that Senators who are pressing this bill forget this time-honored injunction, and try to make their country take a jump prematurely.”