John Sherman: “The Union Esto perpetua." Recent events foreshadow a great change, and it becomes all men to choose.”

What I have written is no doubt clouded with partisanship, but I would not be honest if I did not express my attachment to my party.

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.

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