A defining 1865 eulogy on Abraham Lincoln that frames liberty, union, and justice for a nation at a turning point.
This nonfiction work presents Charles Sumner’s tribute delivered after Lincoln’s death, weaving praise for emancipation with a clear defense of the Declaration’s promises. It links Lincoln’s actions to the larger arc of national ideals, including the end of slavery, the role of government by the people, and the idea that rights must be protected for all, not just some.
- Explains how emancipation, loyalty, and civic rights intersect in a wartime struggle for justice.
- Discusses foreign policy decisions and their impact on the war and human rights.
- Argues for colored suffrage as essential to national safety and to upholding the Declaration’s promises.
- Rooted in the moral and constitutional arguments that shaped postwar reconstruction.
Ideal for readers of Civil War history, political philosophy, and American constitutional debates, this edition offers a window into a pivotal moment when national ideas met real-world policy.