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1811–1874 United States
Charles Sumner (January 6, 1811 – March 11, 1874) was an American politician and statesman from Massachusetts. An academic lawyer and a powerful orator, Sumner was the leader of the antislavery forces in Massachusetts and a leader of the Radical Republicans in the United States Senate during the American Civil War and Reconstruction, working to punish the ex-Confederates and guarantee equal rights to the Freedman.
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If a man has done evil in his life, he must not be complimented in marble.
By the Law of Slavery, man, created in the image of God, is divested of the human character, and declared to be a mere chattel.
No true and permanent Fame can be founded except in labors which promote the happiness of mankind.
The phrase "public office is a public trust," has of late become common property.
Worse than any heathen or pagan abroad are those in our midst who are false to our institutions.
Speech (1870)
The same national authority that destroyed slavery must see that this other pretension is not permitted to survive.
Slavery is in itself an arrogant denial of human rights, and by no human reason can the power to establish such a wrong be placed among the attributes of any just sovereignty.
The true greatness of nations is in those qualities which constitute the greatness of the individual.
Let the bugles sound the Truce of God to the whole world forever.
Equality of rights is the first of rights.
Where Slavery is there Liberty cannot be; and where Liberty is there Slavery cannot be.
You must take care of the civil rights bill - my bill, the civil rights bill - don't let it fail.
Slavery shall not exist anywhere within the United States or the jurisdiction thereof; and the Congress shall have power to make all laws necessary and proper to carry this prohibition into effect.
The time has passed for argument. Nothing more need be said. For a long time it has been clear that colored persons must be senators.
Ideas are more important than battles.
The age of Chivalry has gone. An age of Humanity has come. The Horse, whose importance more than human, have the name to that early period of gallantry and war, now yields his foremost place to Man. In serving him, in promoting his elevation, in contributing to his welfare, in doing him good, there are fields of bloodless triumph, nobler far than any in which Bayard or Du Guesclin conquered.
Without security, civilization is cramped and dwarfed. Without security, there can be no freedom. Nor shall I say too much, when I declare that security, guarded of course by its offspring, freedom, is the true end and aim of government.
The true greatness of a Nation cannot be in triumphs of the intellect alone. Literature and art may widen the sphere of its influence; they may adorn it; but they are in their nature but accessaries. The true grandeur of humanity is in moral elevation, enlightened and decorated by the intellect of man. The truest tokens of this grandeur in a State are the diffusion of the greatest happiness among the greatest number, and that passionless God-like Justice, which controls the relations of the State to other States, and to all the people, who are committed to its charge.
In this surrender—if such it may be called—the National Government does not even stoop to conquer. It simply lifts itself to the height of its original principle. The early efforts of its best negotiators, the patriotic trial of its soldiers … may at last prevail.
The Senator from South Carolina has read many books of chivalry, and believes himself a chivalrous knight, with sentiments of honor and courage. Of course he has chosen a mistress to whom he has made his vows, and who, though ugly to others, is always lovely to him; though polluted in the sight of the world, is chaste in his sight I mean the harlot, Slavery. For her, his tongue is always profuse in words.
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