John Sherman: “It is impossible to overrate the importance of these events upon the future of America.”

Though my grateful thanks are due to them and have been often expressed, yet I have felt, as they do, that my duty was to the whole country.

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 Union already embraces discordant elements enough without adding others.

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