Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 02 (of 20)

This volume gathers a remarkable series of Charles Sumner’s public addresses delivered between 1847 and 1849, a period when the nation wrestled with slavery, prison reform, and emerging political coalitions. Listeners hear him dissect the horrors of the Barbary slave trade, argue passionately for a free‑soil movement, and critique punitive prison practices, all with the eloquence of a seasoned statesman. The speeches capture the moral urgency that propelled the abolitionist cause long before the Civil War erupted.

Beyond the anti‑slavery themes, Sumner’s words touch on broader ideas of human progress, the role of political action, and the vision of a peaceful international order. Each address was originally presented to diverse audiences—from academic societies to civic gatherings—offering a vivid sense of mid‑nineteenth‑century public debate. Listening to these historic orations provides a window into the intellectual climate that shaped America’s path toward emancipation.