Substance of the Speech (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Gerrit Smith

 
9781331069652: Substance of the Speech (Classic Reprint)

Synopsis

Explore the legal case against slavery in the U.S. Constitution and discover why one author argues it cannot be legalized.

This edition presents a rigorous argument that the Constitution must be read as a legal document, not a mere historical artifact. It frames slavery as a violation of rights and explains how true law should protect, not destroy, human liberty. Through careful interpretation, it challenges pro-slavery readings and shows how justice and religion shape a broader view of constitutional meaning.

  • A plain, legal approach to whether slavery can be supported by the Constitution.
  • How to interpret constitutional text and intent to uncover an innocent meaning aligned with justice.
  • Comparisons to classic legal thinkers and court rulings that urge limits on human authority over rights.
  • Examples that weigh religion, morality, and law in the page-by-page argument.
Ideal for readers interested in abolitionist history, constitutional law, and debates about the meaning of rights in early American politics.

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