They have seen in his round, jolly, fruitful face post-offices, land-offices, marshalships and cabinet appointments, chargéships and foreign missions, bursting and sprouting out in wonderful exuberance, ready to be laid hold of by their greedy hands.… On the contrary, nobody has ever expected me to be President.
On the record
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gutenberg.orgEditor's note · Context
Sumner contrasts the political ambitions of others with his own lack of expectation for the presidency.
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I agree with the Convention in the importance of the new organization; nor do I think there are many candid persons, recognizing morals as the soul of all true politics, who will hesitate in this conclusion.
The subterfuges of the politician cannot escape it.
Above all, welcome to the united regenerated Democracy of the North, which spurns the mockery of a Republic, with professions of Freedom on the lips, while the chains of Slavery clank in the Capitol!
Out of this pernicious prejudice have proceeded that persecution and neglect which are the too frequent lot of the world's pioneers.





