The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-19
Hon Charles Sumner on the Political
Situation.

Hon Charles sumner presided over the
Republican State Convention Of Massachu-
sets which met at Worcester on the 18th |
inst. He msde a speech on the occasion |
giving his views on the political situation.
Recurring to q remark he made at the close
Of the Presidential Election last year, that
he had made his anti-slsvery speech, i" he
said he thought 50 at the time; for he an
ticiPated.ths speedy downfall Of the rebel
lion, carrying with it slavery. He was
mistaken, "neither," he added, ''the rebel
lion nor slavery is yet ended. The rebellion
hss been disarmed; but that is all. Slavery
has been abolished in name, but that is all.
As there is still a quasi rebellion, 50 is there
stu quasi slavery. The work Of liberation
I Is not yet completed. Nor can it be com
pleted until the equal rights Of every per
son, once claimed a. a slave, are placed un-
der the safeguardofirrsver guarantees. Il
is noetnough TO strike down the master; you
must alec lift up the slave It is not enough
70 declare that slavery is abolished. The
whole black code, which is the supplement
Of slavery, must give place to that equality
before the law, which is the very essence Of
liberty He continued:
Slavery b gins by denying the right Of
1 man 20 himself, and the Black Code fortifies
this denial by lis cruel exclusions. Every
freedman must be secured in this right by
his admission 70 the full panoply Of citizen
ship. Slavery sets at naught the relation Of
husband and wife. Every freedman must
be able 70 call his wife his own. Slavery
sets at naught the parental relation. Every
freedman must be able to call his child his
own. Slavery shuts the gates Of knowledge.
Every freedman must be assured all the
/ privileges Of education. Slavery takes
| nom its victim the hard-earned fruits Of his
toll Every freedman must be protected in
| his indusry Slavery denies justice 10 the
! co.ored man BY cruelty rejecting his testi-
! monv. Every freedman must enter the
courts freely, as witness or as party. Until
all this is done, in every part, ular, and be-
yond possibility Of question, It's vain to say
| that emancipation has been secured. The
good work IS only half done. It must be
/ continued to its assured contamination.
That same national authority which began
II must take care that the good work Is
maintained and completed, in letter and in
spirit, everywhere throughout the rebel
| states; in conventions Of the people in
legislative assemblies; in courts; in the
city; in the country; in the streets on
highways; on bywsys; in retired places
on plantations; in houses; 50 that no man
shall be despoiled Of any Of his rights, but
all shall be equal before the law.
Mr.. Sumner demands the assurance of the
following six guarantees: The unity Of the
Republic; the national obligations TO the
national freedmen; tie national OBLIGATIONS
to the national creditors the rejection Of
the rebel debt; the establishment Of national
peace and tranquility, s. that it cannot be
disturbed by any monopoly and tyrsny
founded on color; and lastly, the education
Of the people.
he appeals to his fellow citizens through
out the country to iosist on these gusran-
tees, and claims authority for the exercise
Of the power in the came clause Of the Con
stitution that gives power to raise armies, to
erect Notifications, etc, to incur a national
debt for the national defense, and ''slso in
the same clause where President Lincoln
found power to emancipate the slave. It ii
a nationsl power for the protection Of tn,
nation, and it may be exercised to any ex
tent needed. Il is idle to say the war il
over, and, therefore, the power is suspended
In one sense the war is over, and in anothe
It Is not. Battles have ceased; but "seeurit,
for the future" has not yet been obtained
and this security is found only in irreyersi
bic guarantees"