Answers Quote by 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 be void, because it is repugnant to the law of nature and of nations.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Congressional Address, 1860
He argues that constitutional provisions protecting slavery conflict with natural law and international norms, rendering them invalid.
In simple terms: Slavery in the constitution contradicts natural law.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge higher moral laws over flawed statutes.
Themes
law
human rights
history
Mood
critical
historical
Type
political
legal
When to use this quote
- civil rights movements
- legal reforms
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
natural law
constitutional critique
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it enough to appeal to natural law to overturn unjust laws?
- What mechanisms can enforce higher moral standards?
A Different Perspective
Legal change often faces entrenched interests.
![“[A]s it must be admitted that the remedy under the Constitution lies where it has been marked out by the Constitution; and that no appeal can be consistently made from that remedy by those who were and still profess to be parties to it, but the appeal to the parties themselves having an authority…” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/803/james-madison-373_appeals_a-s-it-must-be-admitted-that-the-remedy_69293.jpg)
