Charles Sumner

By looking at the debates in the Convention which framed the National Constitution, it will be found that this clause was not hastily or carelessly adopted,--that it was the subject of much discussion, and was viewed as essentially…

To its tyrannical assumption of supremacy in the National Government we reply, that the Slave Oligarchy shall be overthrown.

To its repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and its imperious demand that Kansas shall be surrendered to Slavery, we reply, that Freedom shall be made the universal law of all the national domain, without compromise, and that hereafter no…

But wherever we are responsible for the wrong, there our duty begins.

Vowing ourselves against Slavery, wherever it exists, whether enforced by Russian knout, Turkish bastinado, or lash of Carolina planter, we do not seek to interfere with it at Petersburg, Constantinople, or Charleston; nor does any such…

The early opposition to Slavery was simply a sentiment, outgushing from the hearts of the sensitive and humane.

In similar strain, I would say, “Where Liberty is, there is my party.” Such an organization is now happily constituted here in Massachusetts, and in all the Free States, under the name of REPUBLICAN PARTY.

Where Liberty is, there is my country,” was the sentiment of that great Apostle of Freedom, Benjamin Franklin, uttered during the trials of the Revolution.

A party, which, beginning in secrecy, interferes with religious belief, and founds a discrimination on the accident of birth, is not the party for us.

Go where you will among the hardy sons of toil on land or sea, and there you find industrious and faithful foreigners bending their muscles to the work.

They fill our workshops, navigate our ships, and even till our fields.

Their strong arms have helped furrow our broad territory with canals, and stretch in every direction the iron rail.

The history of our country, in its humblest as well as most exalted spheres, testifies to the merit of foreigners.

Let the home founded by our emigrant fathers continue open in its many mansions to the emigrants of to-day.

Ourselves children of the Pilgrims of a former generation, let us not turn from the Pilgrims of the present.

There are our broad lands, stretching towards the setting sun; let them come and take them.

All will admit, too, that there must be some assurance of their purpose to become not merely consumers of the fruits of our soil, but useful, loyal, and permanent members of our community, upholders of the general welfare.

All will admit that any influence which they bring, hostile to our institutions, calculated to substitute priestcraft for religion and bigotry for Christianity, must be deprecated and opposed.

Originally settled from England, the Republic has been strengthened and enriched by generous contributions of population from Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden, France, and Germany; and the cry is, Still they come!

Slowly among the struggling sects was evolved that great idea of the equality of all men before the law without regard to religious belief; nor can any party now organize a proscription merely for religious belief, without calling in…

If this object can prevail, vain are the triumphs of Civil Freedom in its many hard-fought fields, vain is that religious toleration which we profess.

It is proposed to attaint men for religion, and also for birth.

Even if justifiable on any ground of public policy, they should not be associated with our cause: but I am unwilling to allude to them without expressing my frank dissent.

The incompetency of this party, as organ of our cause, is enhanced by the uncongenial secrecy in which it had its origin and yet shrouds itself.

Surely this is not the party of Freedom which we seek.