Seward Defends Charles Sumner, and Freedom of Speech, in the Senate

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1856, "REMARKS OF WILLIAM H. SEWARD... CONCERNING KANSAS AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM OF DEBATE," Printed by Buell & Blanchard, Washington, D.C., Very Fine. Disbound, 9.2" x 5.6", 8 pages, toned and stained pages. Featuring the text of Seward's June 16, 1856 speech before the U.S. Senate, focusing on the Kansas/anti-slavery debate and the beating of Sen. Charles Sumner on the floor of the Senate by a pro-slavery colleague from the South. Seward defends Sumner's right to speak desparagingly about a colleague, and that he was protected by the Constitution--although he agreed that Sumner's remarks were libelous, he disagreed that he should be punished or physically assaulted for it: "When occurrences like this shall happen, then there will no longer be either free government or liberty in the land." A wonderfully engaging debate is included in this publication, between Seward and other senators.

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