Black History
William Seward Defends Senator Charles Sumner & Freedom of Speech in the Kansas Anti-Slavery Debate
1856, "REMARKS OF WILLIAM H. SEWARD... CONCERNING KANSAS AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM OF DEBATE," Printed by Buell & Blanchard, Washington, D.C., Very Fine.
Imprint featuring the text of William Seward's historic June 16, 1856 Speech before the U.S. Senate. He focuses on the Kansas & Antislavery Debate and the famous physical beating of Senator Charles Sumner which occurred on the floor of the U.S. Senate by a Pro-Slavery colleague from the South. Disbound, measures 9.2" x 5.6", 8 pages, tone, with partial separation along its spine. Here, Seward defends Sumner's right to speak disparagingly about a colleague, and that he was protected by the U.S. Constitution... although he agreed that Sumner's remarks were libelous, he disagreed that he should be punished or physically assaulted for it, and states: "When occurrences like this shall happen, then there will no longer be either free government or liberty in the land." Engaging additional debate is also included in this publication, being between Seward and other Senators.