Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 05 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
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Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 05 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
My task will be divided under three different heads: _first_, THE CRIME
AGAINST KANSAS, in its origin and extent; _secondly_, THE APOLOGIES FOR
THE CRIME; and, _thirdly_, THE TRUE REMEDY.
* * * * *
Before entering upon the argument, I must say something of a general
character, particularly in response to what has fallen from Senators
who have raised themselves to eminence on this floor in championship
of human wrong: I mean the Senator from South Carolina [Mr. BUTLER]
and the Senator from Illinois [Mr. DOUGLAS], who, though unlike as Don
Quixote and Sancho Panza, yet, like this couple, sally forth together
in the same adventure. I regret much to miss the elder Senator from
his seat; but the cause against which he has run a tilt, with such
ebullition of animosity, demands that the opportunity of exposing him
should not be lost; and it is for the cause that I speak. 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. Let her be
impeached in character, or any proposition be made to shut her out
from the extension of her wantonness, and no extravagance of manner
or hardihood of assertion is then too great for this Senator. The
frenzy of Don Quixote in behalf of his wench Dulcinea del Toboso is
all surpassed. The asserted rights of Slavery, which shock equality
of all kinds, are cloaked by a fantastic claim of equality. If the
Slave States cannot enjoy what, in mockery of the great fathers of the
Republic, he misnames Equality under the Constitution,--in other words,
the full power in the National Territories to compel fellow-men to
unpaid toil, to separate husband and wife, and to sell little children
at the auction-block,--then, Sir, the chivalric Senator will conduct
the State of South Carolina out of the Union! Heroic knight! Exalted
Senator! A second Moses come for a second exodus!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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