William H. Seward

But I deny that the Constitution recognizes property in man. ↗

— William H. Seward

#deny #i #man #property #recognizes

But the Constitution was made not only for southern and northern states, but for states neither northern nor southern, namely, the western states, their coming in being foreseen and provided for. ↗

— William H. Seward

#coming #constitution #foreseen #made #namely

But there is a higher law than the Constitution, which regulates our authority over the domain, and devotes it to the same noble purposes. ↗

— William H. Seward

#constitution #devotes #domain #higher #law

I deem it established, then, that the Constitution does not recognize property in man, but leaves that question, as between the states, to the law of nature and of nations. ↗

— William H. Seward

#constitution #deem #does #established #i

I mean to say that Congress can hereafter decide whether any states, slave or free, can be framed out of Texas. If they should never be framed out of Texas, they never could be admitted. ↗

— William H. Seward

#any #congress #could #decide #framed

I speak on due consideration because Britain, France, and Mexico, have abolished slavery, and all other European states are preparing to abolish it as speedily as they can. ↗

— William H. Seward

#because #britain #consideration #due #european

I submit, on the other hand, most respectfully, that the Constitution not merely does not affirm that principle, but, on the contrary, altogether excludes it. ↗

— William H. Seward

#altogether #constitution #contrary #does #excludes

It is the maintenance of slavery by law in a state, not parallels of latitude, that makes its a southern state; and the absence of this, that makes it a northern state. ↗

— William H. Seward

#latitude #law #maintenance #makes #northern

It is true, indeed, that the national domain is ours. It is true it was acquired by the valor and with the wealth of the whole nation. But we hold, nevertheless, no arbitrary power over it. ↗

— William H. Seward

#arbitrary #arbitrary power #domain #hold #indeed

Simultaneously with the establishment of the Constitution, Virginia ceded to the United States her domain, which then extended to the Mississippi, and was even claimed to extend to the Pacific Ocean. ↗

— William H. Seward

#claimed #constitution #domain #establishment #even