John Sherman: “I doubted the wisdom of competing presidential candidates accepting cabinet appointments under a successful rival.”

The Union already embraces discordant elements enough without adding others.

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

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.