It is on account of Slavery, with the Black Code, which is its offspring.
Charles Sumner
The Public Record
Charles Sumner was an American lawyer and statesman who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1851 until his death in 1874. Before and during the American Civil War, he was a leading American advocate for the abolition of slavery, and after the war he was a key figure in the Reconstruction era, during which he and other Radical Republicans successfully fought to end slavery and ensure basic rights for Black Americans. He continued advocating for racial equality until his death, lobbying in his final days for a civil rights bill that served as a model for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Historians credit Sumner with coining the phrase "equality before the law," which he first used as part of an early attempt to integrate Boston's public school system.
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Why is justice so offensively administered in this District?
It is on account of those brutal sentiments generated by Slavery, and manifested in the Black Code, which the courts here but enforce.
I doubt not that he understands the case; but I am sure, that, to meet it, he must deal directly with Slavery, the fountain and origin of all the noisome inhumanity exposed before us to-day.
Dependent upon Nature, he learns to be independent of men.
Such a person, thus endowed, easily turns from the behest of party to follow those guiding principles which are kindred to the laws of Nature.
Though companions about him hesitated, though great men on whom he had leaned apostatized, he stood sure and true always for the Right.
His virtuous soul recoiled from this many-headed Barbarism, entering into and possessing the National Government.
His political philosophy was simply moral philosophy applied to public affairs.
Slavery was wrong; therefore he was against it, wherever he could justly reach it.
And now, among the signs that Freedom has truly triumphed, is the fact that here, in this Chamber, so long the stronghold of Slavery, our homage can be freely offered to one who so fearlessly opposed it.
He came into public life when Compromise was the order of the day, but he never yielded to it.
He was a member of the Democratic party, which was the declared tool of Slavery, but he never allowed Slavery to make a tool of him.
Had his voice at that time prevailed, Slavery would have been checked, and the vast Conspiracy under which we now suffer would have received an early death-blow.
From that time forward his influence for Freedom was felt in his own State, and when, at a later day, he entered the Senate, he became known instantly as one of our surest and most faithful Senators, whose inflexible constancy was more…
During all recent trials he never for one moment wavered.
He set his face against concession in any degree and in every form.
The time had come when Slavery was to be met, and he was ready.
In his mind, Slavery was not only the origin, but vital part of the Rebellion, and therefore to be attacked.
Slavery was also the mainspring of the belligerent power now arrayed against the Union,--therefore, in the name of the Union, to be destroyed.
While valuing the military arm as essential, he saw that without courageous counsels it would be feeble.
The function of the statesman is higher than that of general; and our departed Senator saw that on the counsels of the Government, even more than on its armies, rested the great responsibility of bringing this war to a speedy and…
Armies obey orders, but it is for the Government to organize and to inspire victory.
All this he saw clearly; and he longed impatiently for that voice, herald of Union and Peace, which, in behalf of a violated Constitution, and in the exercise of a just self-defence, should change the present contest from a bloody folly…
Let us at all hazards prevent the extension of Slavery and the increase of the Slave Power.
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