John Sherman

I understood him to take this position,--that the repeal of the Missouri Compromise was an act of great dishonor, and that under no circumstances whatever will he--if he have the power--allow the institution of human slavery to derive any…

The Republican party then represented the progressive tendency of the age, the development of the country, the opposition to slavery and the preservation of the Union.

The election of Senator Chase, upon a distinctly Republican platform, established the fact that the majority of the voters of Ohio were Republicans as defined by the creed of that party.

That, as an express fundamental condition to the acquisition of any territory from the Republic of Mexico by the United States, neither slavery nor involuntary servitude should ever exist in any part of said territory." This proviso was…

Resolved, That a proper retrenchment in all public expenditures, a thoroughly economical administration of our state government, a just and equal basis of taxation, and single districts for the election of members of the legislature, are…

Resolved, That the recent acts of violence and Civil War in Kansas, incited by the late Vice President of the United States, and tacitly encouraged by the Executive, command the emphatic condemnation of every citizen.

We will resent the spread of slavery under whatever shape or color it may be attempted.

No encroachment upon their legislative or judicial prerogatives should be permitted from any quarter.

Resolved, That the people who constitute the supreme power in the United States, should guard with jealous care the rights of the several states, as independent governments.

I answered that I would not, that the great issue was the extension of slavery over the territories.

I knew this was a turning point, but made up my mind to be frank and honest, whatever might be the result.

Slavery shall gain no advantage over freedom by violating compromises," was the cry of a new party, as yet without a name.

Liberty is National, Slavery is Sectional," was their motto.

Still, the north recognized the legal existence of slavery in the south, and did not propose to interfere with it, and was entirely content to faithfully observe the obligations of the constitution and the laws, including those for the…

The repeal of the Missouri Compromise aroused the combative feeling of the north until it became general among all parties and sects.

There had been growing all over the north, especially in the minds of religious people, a conviction that slavery was wrong.

Whether such a feeling did exist or not, it was apparent that the political leaders in the south were, as a rule, men of greater experience, were longer retained in the service of their constituents, and held higher public positions than…

I believe that a feeling did then prevail with many in the south, that they were superior to men of the north, that one southern man could whip four Yankees, that their institution of slavery naturally produced among the masters, men of…

With this feeling there ran current a conviction that the measure adopted was forced by southern domination, and yielded to by ambitious northern dough- faces anxious to obtain southern support.

The firm resolve was declared by the state convention of Ohio, composed of men of all parties, that the institution of slavery should gain no advantage by this act of perfidy.

I had carefully observed the progress of the bill, had read the arguments for and against it, and was strongly convinced that it was the duty of every patriotic citizen to oppose its provisions.

All who voted for the bill were either refused a nomination or were defeated by the people at the polls.

It re-opened, in the most dangerous form, the struggle between freedom and slavery in the western territories, and was the congressional beginning of the contest which culminated in the War of the Rebellion.

The act organizing the Territory of Utah, lying entirely north of the 37th degree of latitude, contains no provision recognizing the right of the people of that territory to permit slavery within its borders.

The convention providing for the admission of California expressly stipulated by a unanimous vote that slavery should be forever prohibited in that state.