William H. Seward

The whole hope of human progress is suspended on the ever-growing influence of the Bible.

— William H. Seward

To reduce this claim of slavery to an absurdity, it is only necessary to add that there are only two states in…

— William H. Seward

The proposition of an established classification of states as slave states and free states, as insisted on by some, and into northern…

— William H. Seward

But there is a higher law than the Constitution, which regulates our authority over the domain, and devotes it to the same…

— William H. Seward

I speak on due consideration because Britain, France, and Mexico, have abolished slavery, and all other European states are preparing to abolish…

— William H. Seward

The United States are a political state, or organized society, whose end is government, for the security, welfare, and happiness of all…

— William H. Seward

But the Constitution was made not only for southern and northern states, but for states neither northern nor southern, namely, the western…

— William H. Seward

No man will ever be President of the United States who spells 'negro' with two gs.

— William H. Seward

The color of the prisoner's skin, and the form of his features, are not impressed upon the spiritual immortal mind which works…

— William H. Seward

Revolutions never go backward.

— William H. Seward

The constitution regulates our stewardship; the constitution devotes the domain to union, to justice, to defense, to welfare, and to liberty. But…

— William H. Seward

The two systems slave and free-labor are incompatible. They have never permanently existed together in one country, and they never can.

— William H. Seward

It is an irrepressible conflict between opposing and enduring forces.

— William H. Seward

But I deny that the Constitution recognizes property in man.

— William H. Seward

A party with one idea; but that is a noble idea ... the idea of equality - the equality of all men…

— William H. Seward

There is no social life outside of Christendom.

— William H. Seward

There is not only no free state which would now establish it, but there is no slave state, which, if it had…

— William H. Seward

But you answer, that the Constitution recognizes property in slaves. It would be sufficient, then, to reply, that this constitutional recognition must…

— William H. Seward

It is the maintenance of slavery by law in a state, not parallels of latitude, that makes its a southern state; and…

— William H. Seward

I know and all the world knows, that revolutions never go backwards.

— William H. Seward

The right to have a slave implies the right in some one to make the slave; that right must be equal and…

— William H. Seward

It is true, indeed, that the national domain is ours. It is true it was acquired by the valor and with the…

— William H. Seward

I mean to say that Congress can hereafter decide whether any states, slave or free, can be framed out of Texas. If…

— William H. Seward

But assuming the same premises, to wit, that all men are equal by the law of nature and of nations, the right…

— William H. Seward

I submit, on the other hand, most respectfully, that the Constitution not merely does not affirm that principle, but, on the contrary,…

— William H. Seward