The Promises of the Declaration of Independence: Eulogy on Abraham Lincoln

The Promises Of The Declaration Of Independence: Eulogy On Abraham Lincoln by Charles Sumner offers a comprehensive oration commemorating Abraham Lincoln, delivered to the municipal authorities of Boston in 1865. Sumner situates Lincoln within a long arc of American history, pairing him with George Washington as two leaders who defended liberty and the Union under different circumstances. He traces Lincoln’s life from humble origins to the presidency, emphasizing his steadfast commitment to the Declaration’s ideals of liberty and equality, and his leadership through the Civil War, including the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address. The speech argues that Lincoln’s fight was to realize the original promises of the Declaration—truths self-evident that all men are created equal—and it condemns the attempts to limit those rights by race or by sectional politics. Sumner agrees that reunification required both the preservation of the Union and the extension of political rights to Black Americans, urging that colored suffrage in the rebel states is essential for lasting peace. The oration also depicts Lincoln’s character—humble, humane, and steadfast in fidelity to principles—while portraying Slavery as a barbarous force that must be defeated. Sumner’s tribute culminates in a moral exhortation to safeguard the Declaration’s promises for all.