Alfred H. Stone Collection
Volume: 6

17. Charles Sumner, The Equal Rights of All; The Great Guarantee and Present Necessity, for the Sake of Security, and to Maintain a Republican Government: Speech of Hon. Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts, in the United States Senate, February 6 and 7, 1866 (Washington, DC: Congressional Globe Office, 1866). (32 p.)

Speech in opposition to a constitutional amendment that would reduce representation in Congress for states that disenfranchised groups of people on account of their race or color. The speaker opposed the amendment for two reasons. It would not induce Southern states to grant suffrage “without the distinction of color,” nor would it reduce their political power. In short, the proposed amendment was unenforceable.