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"Tell me not of rights-talk not of the property of the planter in his slaves.

Be the appeal made same that rejects it. There is a law above

I deny the right--I acknowledge not the property. The principles, the feelings of our common nature, rise in rebellion against it. to the understanding or to the heart, the sentence is the In vain you tell me of laws that sanction such a claim! all the enactments of human codes-the same throughout the world, the same in all times; it is the law written by the finger of God on the heart of man; and by that law, unchangeable and eternal, while men despise fraud, and loathe rapine and abhor blood, they will reject, with indignation, the wild and guilty phantasy that man can hold property in man."-LORD BROUGHAM.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

His birth-notice of his father-early education-wins several literary prizes-a close student of history-his youth-early associations-passage from Mr. Everett-remarks of Mr. Sumner on Boston-graduates at Harvard College-studies law-a diligent student eloquent passage from Dr. Chalmers, on genius and industry-Mr. Sumner writes for the American Jurist-becomes its editor-admitted to the bar-practices in Boston-appointed reporter of the Circuit Court-lectures to the law students of Cambridge edits an important law-book- his position as a

lawyer

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CHAPTER II.

Visit to Europe-letters of introduction-received in England with marked attention-attends the debates in Parliament-favorably received by members of the English Bar, &c.—visits Paris-writes a defence of the American claim to the Northeastern boundary— visits Italy-studies art and literature there-visits Germanyreturns to Boston--again lectures in Cambridge-publishes an edition of Vesey's Reports-delivers his oration, entitled the True Grandeur of Nations-Judge Story's opinion of it-eloquent passage on the Reign of Peace

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CHAPTER III.

Spoken of as the successor of Judge Story in the Law Schoolremarks of Story and Kent-espouses the cause of freedomcompared to Charles James Fox- delivers a speech against the admission of Texas as a slave State speech

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extracts from the

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CHAPTER IV.

Pronounces an oration before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Harvard University--beautiful extracts-sentiment of John Quincy Adams--delivers a speech on the anti-slavery duties of the Whig party-glowing passages from this speech--delivers a brilliant lecture on white slavery in the Barbary States....

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CHAPTER V.

Pronounces an Oration before the Literary Societies of Amherst College-extracts-delivers an oration before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Union College-splendid passages from this addressmakes a speech before the Whig State Convention of Massachusetts, at Springfield-forcible passages quoted from this addressremarks..

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CHAPER VI.

Delivers a Speech in a Mass Convention at Worcester, Massachusetts-extracts-delivers an address before the American Peace Society in Boston-admirable passages quoted from this effortremarks, &c..

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CHAPTER VII.

Delivers a Speech at the Free Soil State Convention-remarks on this effort-forcible extracts-Mr. Sumner ever true to the cause of freedom...

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CHAPTER VIII.

Elected to the United States Senate-Letter of Acceptance-Speeches on the Iowa Railroad Bill-An extract-delivers his celebrated Speech in the Senate, entitled Freedom National, Slavery Sectional-passage quoted on Freedom of Speech-the Perorationremarks..

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CHAPTER IX.

Delivers a Speech at the Plymouth Festival-its peroration quotedmakes his memorable Speech in the Senate, The Landmark of Freedom; Freedom National-extracts-his final protest for himself and the Clergy of New England against Slavery in Nebraska and Kansas-his remarks on that occasion..

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CHAPTER X.

Delivers his speech in the Senate on the Boston Memorial for the Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Bill, etc.-makes an address before the Mercantile Library Association of Boston-delivers his speech in the Senate, entitled the Demands of Freedom-Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Bill-pronounces an address at the Metropolitan Theatre, New York-eloquent extracts...

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CHAPTER XI.

The late Session of Congress-Mr. Sumner delivers his great Speech on Kansas-the assault in the Senate chamber-Mr. Sumner's statement respecting it-indignation meetings-remarks.... 138

CHAPTER XII.

Oratorical character of Mr. Sumner-his person-his delivery--his voice-his intellect--his learning-his imagination, &c.-his love of freedom--his style of composition-compared to Fisher Ames -concluding remarks.

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