[14]
III.
Although Mr. Sumner had not yet taken any prominent part in the anti-slavery movement, of which Boston was the chief centre, yet, as early as 1838 he had become a member of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, and had fully made known his hostility to slavery. But he differed widely with Mr. Garrison, who cast off all allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, on the ground that it sanctioned slavery; while Mr. Sumner was determined to fight the battle inside of the Constitution; declaring, in the most unqualified terms, that this sacred instrument was hostile to slavery in all respects —that it was established in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence, which he regarded as the charter of perpetual liberty to the nation. He insisted that while the Constitution did recognize the existence of involuntary servitude, and conceded temporarily certain privileges to slaveholders, yet, that the founders of the Instrument had no belief in the perpetuity of slavery; and, therefore, he considered it to be sound policy to carry on the war against slavery, under the shield of the Constitution. Hence he gave to the Party the watch-word which was everywhere inscribed upon their banners, ‘the repeal of slavery under the constitution and laws of the federal government.’
