I was compelled to say 'No' a thousand times where I would gladly have said 'Yes.' I was compelled to decline the advice of men honestly given for a good purpose, because in my judgment that advice would not promote the public good.
Sherman expresses the difficult decisions he had to make, prioritizing the public good over personal desires.
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Our family of states is already large enough to create embarrassment in the Senate, and a republic should not hold dependent provinces or possessions.
Our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country" has been the watchword and creed of my public life.
It was settled by this war that we have a country limited in its powers by the constitution of the United States fairly construed.
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.
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