Political Quotes

On the record
And yet we are gravely told “it cannot be doubted” that this provision “constituted a fundamental article, without the adoption of which the Union could not have been formed.” Frequent repetition has caused the common belief that this was history, instead of fable.
Said by
Charles Sumner
Massachusetts

Editor's note · Context

He critiques the common belief that the rendition of fugitive slaves was a fundamental article of the Constitution, calling it a fable.

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As the Brotherhood of Man is practically recognized, it becomes impossible to restrict the feeling within any exclusive circle of country, and to set up an unchristian distinction of honor between civil war and international war.

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It is larger than the entire profit of all the commerce and manufactures of the world.

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Still further: every ship-of-war that floats costs more than a well-endowed college.

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Again I repeat, so long as the War System prevails under the sanction of International Law, these painful incongruities will be apparent.

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