Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 18 (of 20)

In Short

This volume serves as a rigorous record of political advocacy during a pivotal year in American history, 1870–1871. It compiles the speeches, reports, and letters of a veteran United States Senator as he navigates the complex legislative labor of Reconstruction. From the admission of new senators to debates on global treaties and the nature of the income tax, the writing captures a statesman’s unwavering commitment to civil rights. It remains a vital primary document for understanding how moral ideals were translated into the gritty, contentious language of congressional policy.

The Story

The narrative arc of this collection follows the transition from the immediate aftermath of the Civil War to the broader, often global, responsibilities of a maturing republic. The opening speeches focus on the physical and legal reconstruction of the South, particularly the admission of Mississippi and Georgia to Congress. The Senator argues tirelessly for the seating of the first colored senator, Hiram R. Revels, insisting that the integration of the Senate is not merely a formality but a necessary fulfillment of the Union’s victory. He views these actions as the final erasure of the word "white" from the nation’s statutes, transforming the theoretical equality of the Declaration of Independence into the practical machinery of law.

As the legislative session progresses, the focus shifts toward internal reforms. The author critiques the income tax as a relic of war-time necessity that remains inherently unfair in peacetime, and he champions the reduction of postal rates. He argues that the government should function as an agent of human improvement, treating the Post Office as a utility to be shared by all rather than a source of revenue or a mechanism for patronage. His critique of the "franking privilege"—the ability of politicians to send mail for free—reveals his deep skepticism of entrenched perquisites, tracing their corrupt origins back to English history.

The latter portion of the volume expands the scope to foreign policy. The Senator turns his sharp gaze toward the "duel between France and Germany," dissecting the rise of the Prussian war machine and the failures of Napoleon III. He advocates for a foreign policy rooted in arbitration and peace rather than the "iron and blood" of Bismarck’s diplomacy. This international perspective culminates in his fierce opposition to the proposed annexation of San Domingo. He accuses the American administration of treating the island nation as a target for imperial acquisition, likening the government’s support of the local dictator, Baez, to the old colonial abuses of the British Empire.

The volume concludes with a focus on the next generation. In an address to the law students of Howard University, the Senator distills his life’s work into a series of mandates: students must remain perpetual learners, cultivate their character, and recognize that the law is not a sterile trade but a noble pursuit of justice. Throughout the collection, the arc is one of constant, wearying vigilance. The Senator ends not in a mood of satisfaction, but in a state of alert, reminding his audience that the work of securing human rights is never finished, only passed from one set of hands to the next.

How It Unfolds

The Reconstruction mandate The volume begins with the admission of Southern states to Congress, framed as a struggle to guarantee representation for all citizens regardless of color. The author establishes that the legitimacy of the restored Union depends entirely on the rejection of racial exclusions.

The domestic agenda Legislative battles follow, covering the reform of the income tax, the democratization of the post office, and the removal of discriminatory language from naturalization laws. Each issue is treated as a component of the broader project to make government transparent and responsive to the common welfare.

The international crisis The scope widens to include the war between France and Prussia, which serves as a cautionary tale against militarism and the ambition of kings. The author contrasts the "War System" with the Republican ideal of peaceful arbitration and international law.

The imperial dispute The narrative climaxes with a heated confrontation over the annexation of San Domingo, exposing the hypocrisy of a republic attempting to expand its territory through the support of a foreign dictator. The author’s challenge to his colleagues highlights the moral danger of abandoning anti-colonial principles for national gain.

The final charge The book closes with an address to young lawyers, shifting from the halls of power to the classroom. The author imparts a philosophy of public service that equates professional excellence with moral integrity.

The People

The volume is dominated by the perspective of Charles Sumner, a man who sees himself as a guardian of the Declaration of Independence. He is intellectually rigorous, frequently citing classical history and economic theory to support his arguments, and he possesses a cold, sharp rhetoric that spares no opponent. He views his colleagues as either allies in the march toward equality or obstacles to the nation’s progress.

Hiram R. Revels appears as a symbol of the new order, his admission to the Senate representing the tangible achievement of the author’s long-standing struggle. Conversely, figures like Napoleon III and Otto von Bismarck are cast as the villains of the international stage—men whose obsession with dynastic power and military force threatens to undo the progress of civilization. The author treats them with a mix of intellectual contempt and moral outrage, particularly for their manipulation of the public to serve their own ends.

Baez, the President of San Domingo, serves as a central point of contention in the later speeches. To the author, he is a puppet maintained by American naval force, a man whose existence in power represents a betrayal of the democratic principles the United States claims to hold. Finally, the young law students of Howard University represent the future. The author treats them with a warm, paternal urgency, hoping to bequeath them a standard of character and scholarship that will endure long after his own tenure in the Senate has concluded.

In Its Own Voice

"It remains also, that equal rights should be secured in all the public conveyances and on all the railroads in the United States, so that no one shall be excluded by reason of color."

The author clarifies his legislative priorities to a gathering of citizens, emphasizing that the work of civil rights must extend into the daily movement and life of the public.

"To impose it only on certain classes of incomes, or to impose it on all incomes, without regard to their origin, is alike subversive of sound principle."

While arguing against the fairness of an income tax, the Senator adopts the language of political economy to challenge the wisdom of his colleagues in the Senate.

"All hail to the Republic, equal guardian of all, and angel of peace!"

In a concluding reflection on the necessity of republican institutions, the author offers a sweeping vision of the nation's potential role as a global peacemaker.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the incompatibility of republican governance with any form of hierarchy or privilege. The author interrogates the meaning of "equality" not as a static legal definition, but as an active, evolving requirement of citizenship. He questions whether a nation can truly be a republic if it tolerates discrimination at home or imperialism abroad. The book is an argument for moral consistency in politics, suggesting that the same principles of human rights that apply to the formerly enslaved must also dictate the country’s interactions with foreign nations. Ultimately, it asks the reader to consider the cost of national ambition and whether the "War System" of the old world can ever be reconciled with the democratic promises of the new.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of American political rhetoric will find this volume a masterclass in nineteenth-century advocacy. The prose is formal, dense, and deeply serious, reflecting a time when legislative debates were treated as high-stakes moral contests. It is not a light read; it requires patience for the long, Victorian-era sentences and the specific, often technical context of 1870s legislation. However, for those who value primary sources, the experience is uniquely immersive. You are placed directly inside the Senate chamber, listening to a man who refuses to compromise on the fundamental definition of human dignity.

The most striking aspect of the book is the author’s tone—he is perpetually unsatisfied with "triumphs," preferring to dwell on the "duties" that remain. This sense of unfinished business makes the text feel surprisingly modern. While the specific debates over postal rates and San Domingo have long since faded, the underlying struggle—to ensure that a nation’s institutions live up to its founding promises—remains as pressing today as it was in 1870. The book serves as a challenging reminder that political progress is rarely a smooth ascent; it is a series of hard-won, often contentious arguments that require both an iron will and a commitment to the truth.