John Sherman: “The power conferred on the Secretary of the Treasury is absolute.”

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.

Proud of Ohio, of its history and people, willing at all times to sound its praise in the sisterhood of states, yet, according to my convictions, the United States is entitled to my allegiance, and all parts of it should receive equal care…

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

Our family of states is already large enough to create embarrassment in the Senate, and a republic should not hold dependent provinces or possessions.