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

This volume gathers the speeches, letters, and Senate remarks of a leading Reconstruction‑era statesman, presenting his voice at a time when the nation wrestled with how to rebuild and redefine itself. Listeners will hear him argue for a fair apportionment of representatives, challenge the sale of arms to belligerent powers, and call for honest, neutral governance in the aftermath of civil war.

The collection spans a wide array of subjects— from the push for international arbitration as a substitute for war, to vigorous defenses of civil‑rights legislation for colored citizens, to pleas for labor reform and the preservation of public spaces. His eloquent appeals to equality in education, his responses to crises like yellow fever outbreaks, and his reflections on the legacy of figures such as Horace Greeley reveal a thinker deeply engaged with both domestic and global issues.

Concluding with remarks from early 1874 and an extensive index, the volume offers a vivid snapshot of 19th‑century American political discourse, making it an essential listen for anyone curious about the era’s debates and ideals.