If you undertake to detain these prisoners beyond the expiration of this session, you become usurpers, the Senate of the United States usurps power that does not belong to it; and, Sir, this is more flagrant, when it is considered that it usurps this power in order to wield it against the liberty of fellow-citizens.
Sumner argues that detaining prisoners without proper authority constitutes a usurpation of power.
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The devices of party can no longer stave it off.
They who strive after it, Ixion-like, embrace a cloud.
Without yielding to any of these extreme views with regard to the mischiefs or the benefits of party, all should agree that the only true and legitimate object of such an association is to uphold, advance, and develop certain principles…
The most distant are not without a present influence on our daily lives.
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