John Sherman: “No opportunity was offered to the people to vote against the constitution.”

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.

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.

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.

Canada and Mexico as independent republics will be more valuable to the United States than if carved into additional states.