As well find danger in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution itself, which speak with central power; as well find danger in those central laws which govern the moral and material world, binding men together in society and…

Nobody doubts that the army and navy fall plainly within the jurisdiction of the National Government, and that the finances fall plainly within this jurisdiction; but the rights of citizenship are as thoroughly national as army and navy or…

You cannot without peril cease to regulate the army and navy, nor without peril cease to regulate the finances; but there is equal peril in abandoning the rights of citizens, who, wherever they may be, in whatever State, are entitled to…

The President, wielding the One Man Power, has assumed a prerogative over Congress utterly unjustifiable, while he has dictated a fatal “policy” of Reconstruction, which gives sway to Rebels, puts off the blessed day of security and…

Treacherous to party, false to the great cause, and unworthy of himself, he has set his individual will against the people of the United States in Congress assembled.

The President must be taught that usurpation and apostasy cannot prevail.

He who promised to be Moses, and has become Pharaoh, must be overthrown.

What are called civil rights have been accorded already; but every argument for these is equally important for political rights, which cannot be denied without the grossest wrong.

Let them calmly, but constantly, insist upon those equal rights which are the promise of our institutions.

It will be the wonder of posterity that a constitution absolutely free from all discrimination of color was so perverted in its construction as to sanction this discrimination,--as if such a wrong could be derived from a text which…

We must, Sir, follow the suggestions of this patriot Unionist, and erase the governments under which these outrages are perpetrated.

We must go forth to meet them, and the spirit in which they have been organized, precisely as in years past we went forth to meet the Rebellion.

Our conflict is no longer on the field of battle, but here in this Chamber, and in the Chamber at the other end of the Capitol.

In voting against striking out the word “male,” I did not intend to express any opinion on the question, which has at last found its way into the Senate Chamber, whether women shall be invested with the elective franchise.

That question I leave untouched, contenting myself with the remark, that it is obviously the great question of the future,--at least one of the great questions,--which will be easily settled, whenever the women in any considerable…

The present bill is for the benefit of the colored race in the District of Columbia.

Therefore, whatever the merits of other questions, I have no difficulty in putting them aside until this is settled.

The bill for Impartial Suffrage in the District of Columbia concerns directly some twenty thousand colored persons, whom it will lift to the adamantine platform of Equal Rights.

If regarded simply in its influence on the District, it would be difficult to exaggerate its value; but when regarded as an example to the whole country, under the sanction of Congress, its value is infinite.

In the latter character it becomes a pillar of fire to illumine the footsteps of millions.

We must, therefore, act for the whole country.

Now to my mind nothing is clearer than the present necessity of suffrage for all colored persons in the disorganized States.

It will not be enough, if you give it to those who read and write; you will not in this way acquire the voting force needed there for the protection of Unionists, whether white or black.

You will not secure the new allies essential to the national cause.

As you once needed the muskets of blacks, so now you need their votes,--and to such extent that you can act with little reference to theory.