John Sherman: “Slavery shall gain no advantage over freedom by violating compromises," was the cry of a new party, as yet without a…”

It was settled by this war that we have a country limited in its powers by the constitution of the United States fairly construed.

Our family of states is already large enough to create embarrassment in the Senate, and a republic should not hold dependent provinces or possessions.

The Union already embraces discordant elements enough without adding others.

Though my grateful thanks are due to them and have been often expressed, yet I have felt, as they do, that my duty was to the whole country.