Elias Nason, The Life and Times of Charles Sumner: His Boyhood, Education and Public Career.

[114] grand question, touching the interests of more than three million human beings in the chains of servitude, was to be met; that it could be done on constitutional grounds; and while Mr. Garrison, aiming grandly at the same result, and fighting manfully on a moral basis, was dealing out gigantic blows for freedom, Mr. Sumner came up with equal vigor to the political arena, and determined to meet the issue under the aegis of the constitution. Both were battling for the same victory; and the strong blows of both alike were needed. Buy cotton, buy men intent on office, the old regime with gold could do: Mr. Sumner and Mr. Garrison had ascended to a plane above the reach of gold.