John Sherman: “For the proper application of these principles we ourselves are on trial before the bar of public opinion.”

The events of the future are beyond the vision of mankind, but I hope our people will be content with internal growth, and avoid the complications of foreign acquisitions.

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.

The life of a civilian is in what he says or writes, that of a soldier in what he does.