The circumstances of the world are so variable that an irrevocable purpose or opinion is almost synonymous with a foolish one. William H. Seward More Quotes by William H. Seward More Quotes From William H. Seward 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 virginia united-states ocean Sir, there is no Christian nation, thus free to choose as we are, which would establish slavery. William H. Seward slavery nations christian There is no social life outside of Christendom. William H. Seward christendom social christianity 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 constitution southern states There is a higher law than the Constitution. William H. Seward black-power constitution law But you answer, that the Constitution recognizes property in slaves. It would be sufficient, then, to reply, that this constitutional recognition must be void, because it is repugnant to the law of nature and of nations. William H. Seward would-be law answers It would be contrary to the spirit of the American Government to use force to subjugate the South. William H. Seward government would-be war But I deny that the Constitution recognizes property in man. William H. Seward ethos constitution men 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 slavery mexico europe I have learned, by some experience, that virtue and patriotism, vice and selfishness, are found in all parties, and that they differ less in their motives than in the policies they pursue. William H. Seward selfishness party vices There is not only no free state which would now establish it, but there is no slave state, which, if it had had the free alternative as we now have, would have founded slavery. William H. Seward slavery alternatives states If slavery, limited as it yet is, now threatens to subvert the Constitution, how can we as wise and prudent statesmen, enlarge its boundaries and increase its influence, and thus increase already impending dangers? William H. Seward slavery constitution influence wise 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 principle hand submit constitution 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 true nation wealth power To reduce this claim of slavery to an absurdity, it is only necessary to add that there are only two states in which slaves are a majority, and not one in which the slaveholders are not a very disproportionate minority. William H. Seward minority only slavery two
