Speech of Hon. Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts, on the cession of Russian America to the United States:

SPEECH
OF
HON. CHAR:LES SUMNER,
I I~~
OF MASSACHUSETTS,
ON
THE CESSION' OF RUSSIAN AMERICA
TO
THE UNITED STATES.
Thirteen governments founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretense
of miracle or mystery, and wchich are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of
the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind.-John Adams's Preface to his
Defense of American Constitutions, dated at Grosvenor Square, London, January 1,1787.
WASHINGTON:
PRINTED AT THE CONGRESSIONAL GLOBE OFFICE.
1867.
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