Charles Sumner

In season and out of season, at all times, in all places, here at home and in the Senate, I insisted upon the abolition of Slavery, and the completion of this great work by the removal of its whole brood of inequalities, so that it should…

All this has happily ceased, except as an echo from Rebels and their allies, whose leading part is a protest against the power of Congress and the equal rights of the freedman.

A venerable statesman, eminent in the profession, once rebuked me for the term Equality before the Law, which I had taken from the French, as expressing more precisely than the Declaration of Independence that equality in rights which is…

But I am unwilling that this contest shall close without my testimony, such as it is, and without mingling my voice with that general acclaim which is filling the land.

The cause is nothing less than our country redeemed from peril and dedicated to Human Rights, so as to become an example to mankind.

What they declared is a promise perpetually binding on us, their children.

Spite of all obstacles and all prejudices, this truth must triumph.

Such foolish fears and foolish arguments cannot prevail against the great cause of Equal Rights.

Even if the whites are afraid that the blacks will become an oligarchy and rule their former masters, this is no reason for a continued denial of rights.

Reason, humanity, religion, and common sense, all reject the wretched thing.

I was against it when it showed itself in the terrible pretensions of the slave-master; and now I am against it, as it shows itself in the most shameful oligarchy of which history has made mention,--an oligarchy of the skin.

It is only when rights are denied that conflict begins.

There can be no conflict of races where there is no denial of rights.

They are equal before God, equal before the divine law; they should be made equal before human law.

Of course, men are not equal in strength, size, or other endowments, physical or mental; but they are equal in rights, which is what our fathers declared.

As long as men are excluded from the suffrage on account of color, it is gross impudence for any nation to say that they are equal in rights.

All who vote against it only vote to continue the agitation, which will never end except with the establishment of the Equal Rights of All.

When shall this great question be settled, if not now?

There must be another five thousand majority; and let General Grant, like Abraham Lincoln, measure from our majority the majorities throughout the country, giving assurance that the Rebel Party is defeated and utterly routed in its last…

The cause is that of our country and its transcendent future, pictured in the flag.

Every man must do his duty, each in his way, according to his ability,--some by voice, and others by efforts of a different kind, but all must work and vote.

Thank God, it will soon make the same joyful record with regard to Grant and Colfax, the present representatives of Loyalty against Rebellion.

History has recorded the triumphant election of Abraham Lincoln, as the representative of Loyalty against Rebellion.

They will stand by the flag at the ballot-box, as they stood by it on the bloody field.

The people are not ready to join with Rebels or submit to Rebel yoke.