They fought to secure to themselves and their posterity the blessings of a strong national government; the preservation of the Union--a Union not of states, but of the people of the United States; not a confederate government, but a national government.
Sherman articulates the purpose of the Civil War as a fight for a strong national government and the preservation of the Union.
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Our family of states is already large enough to create embarrassment in the Senate, and a republic should not hold dependent provinces or possessions.
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.
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.
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