Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-04-24
Speech of Senator Sumner.
On the abolition of ,Slarery tn the Dis
. trict Of Columbia

On the abolition of Sforery q" the Dis
tr;a Of C'olum5ia-
Mr. SUMNER said: With inexprssi-
BILE delight / hail this measure and the
prospect Of its speedy adoption. Il is the
first installment of that great debt which
we all owe to an enslaved race. and will
be recognized in history as one Of the tri-
umphs of civilization. AT home it will be
welcomed with gratitude. while abroad it
will quicken the hopes of all who love
freedom. Liberal institutions will gain
everywhere by the abolition Of Slavery at
the National capital Nobody can read
that slaves were once sold in the Market
of Rome. beneath the eyes Of the sover-
eign Pontif. without confessing the scan
dial to religion, and nobody can now hear
that slaves are sold in the markets of
Washington. beneath the eyes OF the Pres
ident, without confessing the scandal to
liberal institutions. For the sake Of JUS
tice let the scandal disappear. In early
discussions of this question. there were
many topics introduced which now COM
mand little attention. 1t was part Of the
tactics of slavery to claim absolute immu-
nifty. Indeed, without such Immunity. it
had small chance of continued existence.
Such a wrong. SO utterly outrageous in
its pretensions. could find a foothold only
where it was protected from injury
Therefore. il was insisted that petitions
against its existence at the national capital
were not to be received; that ii vas unccn
stitutional to touch it even here, within
the exclusive jurisdiction OF Congress- and
that il it were touched. it should be only
under the auspices of the neighboring
States Of Virginia and Maryland. On
these points elaborate arguments were
made; but it were useless to discuss them
ow. Whatever may be the opinion OF
individual Senators, the judgment of the
country is fixed. The right Of petition.
vindicated by the matchlcss perseveran q
OF John Quincy Adams. is now beyond
question, and the constitutional power Of
Congress is hardly less fee from doubt.
1t is enough to say on this point. that il
Congress cannot abolish Slavery here.
there is no power anywhere TO abolish it
here. and this wrong will endure always.
immortal as the capital itself. But asthe
moment Of justice approaches we are call
ed to meet q different objection. 1t Is
urged that since there can be no such thing
as property in man--especially within th 9
exclusive jurisdiction Of Congress, there
fore all now held as slaves are Justly enti-
tied to freedom without compensation or
ransom OF their masters. OF course, If
this question were determined according
to absolute Justice. it is Obvious that moth
ing can be done to the masters, and that
any money to be paid belongs rather to
the slaves. who for generations have been
despoiled Of all the fruits Of their industry.
But it will be difficult for Congress to de-
termine the question according to absolute
justice. 1t must act practically in the
light Of existing usages. and even existing
prejudices. under which such relations
have assumed the character Of law: nor
must we hesitate a. any sacrifice, provided
freedom can be established. Testimony
and eloquence have been accumulated
against Slavery; but on this occasion
shall conEne myself precisely to the argu-
ment against its recognition at the Nation
al Capital, nor shall I wander into the
discussion Of other questions which ara
only distsntIy connected with it. At
some other time the great question of
Emancipation in the States may be prop
erly considered together with that other
question in which the Senator from Wis
consin (Mr. Doolittle) takes so great sn
interest, whether the freemen shall be en-
co1,~avod A., o~s1o thar, eo1voe n othov 1exds