Political Quotes

On the record
The treaty, therefore, had no effect until ratified by the Senate; and I repeat, every attempt at jurisdiction in those waters was a usurpation and an act of violence; I think I should not go too far, if I said it was an act of war.
Said by
Charles Sumner
Massachusetts

Editor's note · Context

Sumner argues that without Senate ratification, attempts at jurisdiction are not only usurpations but could be considered acts of war.

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