Freedom National; Slavery Sectional. Speech of Hon. Charles Sumner

1852. SUMNER, Charles. Freedom National; Slavery Sectional. Speech of Hon. Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts, on His Motion to Repeal the Fugitive Slave Bill, in the Senate of the United States, August 26, 1852 Washington, DC: Buell & Blanchard, 1852. 31pp. One sheet folded, uncut. Some dust soling, else very good. Sumner's first major speech, an attack on the Fugitive slave Law. Horace Mann, who wrote in his journal: 'the 26th of August, 1852 redeemed the 7th of March, 1850 [date of the Fugitive Slave Law]. "Southern Senators heaped angry derision upon Sumner's amendment...and but four votes were given in its favor. Nevertheless, Chase declared that in American history Sumner's speech would mark the day when the advocates of the restriction of slavery 'no longer content to stand on the defensive in the contest with slavery, boldly attacked the very citadel of its power'" (DAB). Dumond, p. 107.