On the record
Better a desert and universal poverty than disunion; better the war of the French Revolution than an oligarchy founded upon the labor of slaves.
Source
gutenberg.orgJohn Sherman: “Better a desert and universal poverty than disunion; better the war of the French Revolution than an oligarchy founded…”
Editor's note · Context
Sherman argues that disunion is worse than any hardship, advocating for the preservation of the Union even at great cost.
Share
More from John Sherman
Our family of states is already large enough to create embarrassment in the Senate, and a republic should not hold dependent provinces or possessions.
Proud of Ohio, of its history and people, willing at all times to sound its praise in the sisterhood of states, yet, according to my convictions, the United States is entitled to my allegiance, and all parts of it should receive equal care…
During forty years of public life, though many able men have aspired to the office I hold, the people of Ohio, through their general assembly, have preferred me to represent them.
If my life is prolonged I will do all I can to add to the strength and prosperity of the United States, but nothing to extend its limits or to add new dangers by acquisition of foreign territory.
Other voices in this conversation
