cultured mind and scholarly attainments, his ardent
if not always discreet zeal and efforts to free the slaves and endow the
whole colored race, whether capable or otherwise, with all the rights
and privileges, socially and politically, of the educated and refined
white population whom they had previously served, his readiness and
avowed intention to overthrow the local State governments and the social
system where slavery existed, to subjugate the whites and elevate the
blacks, will justify a special notice; for it was one of the first, if
not the very first of the radical schemes officially presented to change
the character of the Government and the previously existing distinctions
between the races. His theory or plan may be taken as the pioneer of the
many wild and visionary projects of the central and abolition force,
that took shape and form not only during the war, but after hostilities
ceased and the rebels were subdued.

Mr. Sumner introduced his scheme with a preamble which declared, among
other things, that the "extensive territory" of the South had been
"usurped by pretended governments and organizations"; that "the
Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, cannot be displaced
in its rightful operation within this territory, but must ever continue
the supreme law thereof, notwithstanding the doings of any pretended
governments acting singly or in confederation in order to put an end to
its supremacy." Therefore:

_Resolved_, 1st. That any vote of secession, or other act by which
any State may undertake to put an end to the supremacy of the
Constitution within its territory, is inoperative and void against
the Constitution, and when sustained by force it becomes a
practical _abdication_ by the State of all rights under the
Constitution, while the treason which it involves still further
works an instant _forfeiture_ of all those functions and powers
essential to the continued existence of the State as a body
politic, so that from that time forward the territory falls under
the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress as other territory, and the
State, being, according to the language of the law, _felo de se_,
ceases to exist.

2d. That any combination of men assuming to act in the place of
such State, attempting to ensnare or coerce the inhabitants thereof
into a confederation hostile to the Union, is rebellious,
treasonabl