Charles Sumner

But at last the black man has obtained Equal Rights; and so, I insist, has the Black Republic.

As in other days it was proclaimed that a black man had no rights which a white man was bound to respect, so this defence assumes the same thing of the Black Republic.

To extenuate this plain outrage, I have heard it said, that, in our relations with Hayti, we are not bound by the same rules of conduct applicable to other nations.

The great principle of the Equality of Nations was openly set at nought.

But just in proportion as we condemn any foreign fleet, including the Haytian Navy, doing this thing, do we condemn ourselves.

If it were right in us toward Hayti, then might England, France, Spain, or Hayti herself do the same to us.

But if right in us toward Hayti, it would be right in us toward England, France, or Spain; and it would be right in any foreign power toward us.

Think you that any foreign power could have done it to us?

Think you that we should have done this thing to England, France, or Spain?

In both respects the Admiral did what he would not have done to a powerful nation, what he would not have done to any white nation, and what we should never allow any nation to do to us.

Nations are equal in respect to each other, and entitled to claim equal consideration for their rights, whatever may be their relative dimensions or strength, or however greatly they may differ in government, religion, or manners.

The natural equality of states is the necessary companion of their independence,--that primitive cardinal right upon which the science of International Law is mainly built.… They are entitled, in their intercourse with other states, to all…

The most feeble state has the same political rights as the strongest.

Nations, being sovereign or independent of each other, treat together on a footing of complete equality.

Relative magnitude creates no distinction of right; relative imbecility, whether permanent or casual, gives no additional right to the more powerful neighbor; and any advantage seized upon that ground is mere usurpation.

A fundamental principle of Public Law is the perfect equality and entire independence of all distinct states.

A dwarf is as much a man as a giant; a small republic is no less a sovereign state than the most powerful kingdom.

Nations composed of men, and considered as so many free persons living together in the state of Nature, are naturally equal, and inherit from Nature the same obligations and rights.

As all men are equal before the Law, so are all nations.

The equality of nations is the first principle of International Law, as the equality of men is the first principle in our Declaration of Independence; and you may as well assail the one as the other.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is the plain law for all nations, as for all men.

As a natural consequence, whatever is the rule for one is the rule for all; nor can we do to a thinly-peopled, small, weak, or black nation what we would not do to a populous, large, strong, or white nation,--nor what that nation might not…

Nor does International Law know any distinction of color.

Foremost among admitted principles of International Law is the axiom, that all nations are equal, without distinction of population, size, or power.

To insist upon the recognition of International Law is to uphold civilization in one of its essential securities.