Charles Sumner

I commend it as a measure of enlightened philanthropy, and also of simple justice.

It also concerns the million of men constituting the mercantile marine of the civilized world, any of whom, in the vicissitudes of the sea, may find themselves in American bottoms.

The measure now proposed is of direct importance to the hundred and fifty thousand seamen constituting the mercantile marine of the United States.

It is equally true, that, unless we adopt the measure now proposed, Great Britain will have the advantage of us in the rate of seamen's wages; for, under her existing laws, the seaman can afford to work cheaper on board a British ship than…

There can be no harm in leaving the question of fact to be proved by competent witnesses, like every other question of fact: and the seamen should be competent witnesses for each other.

Moreover, if the question were put in control of the master, he might obtain an improper influence over the minds of the crew, inducing them even to sacrifice truth in the event of litigation between owners and underwriters.

Indeed, it is hardly just to take from him the right to establish his claim before the Admiralty Court, merely because an interested master refuses a certificate, when, perhaps, plenary proof might be furnished aliunde.

Now, in constructing a protection to the sailor, it does not seem prudent to make his wages dependent upon any such quarter.

Experience in England showed that the cunning of agents was able to introduce into the shipping articles an agreement waiving the right to wages in case of loss, which the unthrifty sailor signed, ignorant or careless of its import.

It has outlived the circumstances and excuses of its origin, and now survives to vex, oppress, and disappoint the most needy, if not the most meritorious, of all concerned in the business of the seas.

The owner may insure his ship, and also his freight, so that he may lose nothing but the premium he pays; but the sailor is not allowed to protect himself by insurance from loss of wages: his loss is literally total.

And now, in the benison once bestowed upon the youthful Knight, I take my leave: "Go forth! be brave, loyal, and successful!

I have spoken to you frankly and faithfully, trusting that you would frankly and faithfully hearken to me.

The poet is simply creator; and he who was inspired to create freemen out of slaves was poet of the loftiest style.

As the Muses themselves did not disdain to watch over the grave of one who had done well on earth, so do the poets of England keep watch over the monument of Granville Sharp.

The portals of that great Temple of Honor, where are treasured England's glories, swung open at the name of England's earliest Abolitionist.

I know not that the powerful religious denomination befriended by him in its infancy has ever sympathized with the great effort by which his name is exalted; but they should at least repel the weak imputation, so often levelled against all…

And since no man can stand between us and God, it belongs to each conscience for itself to determine its final obligations, and where pressed to an unrighteous act,--as if to slay, or, what is equally bad, to enslave, a fellow-man charged…

It is vain to suppose that any human ordinance, whether from King, Parliament, or Judicial Tribunal, can vary our moral responsibilities, or release us from obedience to God.

But no modesty could check his valiant soul in conflict with wrong.

The advocate of the slave in London was naturally the advocate of liberty for all everywhere.

The principles, the feelings of our common nature rise in rebellion against it.

I deny the right,--I acknowledge not the property.

I speak in the spirit of the British law, which makes Liberty commensurate with and inseparable from British soil,--which proclaims even to the stranger and sojourner, the moment he sets his foot upon British earth, that the ground on…

Spread it, then, And let it circulate through every vein Of all your Empire, that, where Britain's power Is felt, mankind may feel her mercy too.