Political Quotes

On the record
Such formerly was my own impression, often avowed in this Chamber; but I never doubted its complete efficacy to render Slavery unconstitutional in all such places, so that “no person” could be held as a slave at the national capital or in any national territory.
Said by
Charles Sumner
Massachusetts

Editor's note · Context

Sumner reflects on his previous beliefs about the Constitution's effectiveness in abolishing slavery in federal territories.

Share

More from Charles Sumner

Endeavor, for a moment, by comparison with other interests, to grapple with this sum.

gutenberg.org

According to recent calculations, its annual cost is not less than a thousand millions of dollars.

gutenberg.org

At Baltimore the delegation of the most important State in the Union, known to be in favor of the Wilmot Proviso, was refused admission to the Convention.

gutenberg.org

Tendencies of nations, as revealed in history, teach that our aims are in harmony with prevailing laws, which God, in his benevolence, has ordained for mankind.

gutenberg.org

Other voices in this conversation