John Sherman: “I said: "The power can be, ought to be, and will be, executed if not repealed.”

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.

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.

The Union already embraces discordant elements enough without adding others.