Charles Sumner
Charles Sumner was a Massachusetts Senator who was born in Boston in 1811. After being educated extensively in Europe and the United States, Sumner became one of the founders of the Free Soil Party. He often changed his political affiliations and in 1851, he ran under the Republican ticket and was elected to the United States Senate. He also served on the Committee of Foreign Relations until 1871. Charles Sumner is known for opposing the Kansas-Nebraska Act. During a speech he delivered, Sumner attacked one of the authors of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Stephen Douglas. Douglas’ nephew became infuriated and beat Charles Sumner severely with a cane in the Senate chamber.
"From the beginning of our history the country has been afflicted with compromise. It is by compromise that human rights have been abandoned."
-Charles Sumner
"From the beginning of our history the country has been afflicted with compromise. It is by compromise that human rights have been abandoned."
-Charles Sumner