This great city impressed me more by the association of great men and women who had lived and died in it than by the grandeur of its buildings and public works.
John Sherman
The Public Record
John Sherman was an American politician from Ohio who served in federal office throughout the Civil War and into the late nineteenth century. A member of the Republican Party, he served in both houses of the U.S. Congress. He also served as Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of State. Sherman sought the Republican presidential nomination three times, coming closest in 1888, but was never chosen by the party. Between 1861 and 1897, John Sherman served in the U.S. Senate for nearly 32 years and holds the record for longest serving senator from the state of Ohio.
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Every street and many houses in it recalled the names of persons whose writings I had read, and of others whose deeds made them immortal.
We have more people of Irish descent in the United States than now live in Ireland, and they have done their full part in our development, not only as laborers, but in all the walks and professions of life.
We have enough possible points of controversy on this continent with Great Britain, without importing from that country old controversies that have been the occasion of wars and rumors of war for centuries.
Our policy of respect and toleration for all religious sects, but taxes for none, is a better one.
This debate made it clear that the struggle between free and slave institutions was to be continued and to become the controlling issue of the future.
A few days after this election--on the 17th of October--the invasion of the State of Virginia by John Brown startled the country, and, more than all other causes, aroused the southern people to a state of great excitement, amounting to…
Therefore resolved, That, fully indorsing these national sentiments, it is the duty of every good citizen of this Union to resist all attempts at renewing, in Congress or out of it, the slavery agitation, under whatever shape and color the…
I appeal to my public record, during a period of four years, in this body; and I say not that there is not a single question agitating the public mind, not a single topic on which there can be sectional jealousy or sectional controversy…
It is our intention to organize the House quietly, decently, in order, without vituperations; and we trust to show to Members on all sides of the House that the party with which I have the honor to act can administer this House and…
Allow me to say, once for all, and I have said it five times on this floor, that I am opposed to any interference whatever of the people of the free states, with the relation of master and slave in the slave states.
And I say, with equal emphasis, that never, so help me God, whether or not the speaker's chair is to be occupied by me, will I do so while that resolution is before this body, undisposed of.
I regard it as offensive in its tone, unprecedented, unparliamentary, and an invasion of the rights of representation.
I believe not only my friends, but the gentlemen on the other side of the House, who have a sense of honor, believe that my position is correct.
While we may conduct our political quarrels with heat, and discuss matters with zeal and determination, it ought to be done with fairness and frankness.
The mode in which this resolution has been pressed before the country, and I, with my hands tied and my lips sealed as a candidate, have been arraigned day by day, is without a precedent, not only in history but in party caucuses, in state…
They will look in vain for anything to excite insurrection, to disturb the peace, to invade the rights of states, to alienate the north and south from each other, or to loosen the ties of fraternal fellowship by which our people have been…
I am for the Union and the constitution, with all the compromises under which it was formed, and all the obligations which it imposes.
This has always been my position; and these opinions have been avowed by me on this floor and stand now upon your records.
I think it is our highest duty to investigate, to examine and analyze the mode in which the executive powers of this government have been administered for a few years past.
We came here hoping that, at this time of peace and quiet, we might examine, inquire into, and pass upon, practical measures of legislation tending to harmonize the conflicting elements of the government and strengthen the bonds of Union.
The interests of a great and growing people present political questions enough to tax the ability and patriotism of us all.
It has impaired the public credit and retarded the public business.
The debate founded upon it has been unjust, offensive, wrong, not only to the Republicans here, not only to those with whom I act, but to all our common constituents, north and south.
I worked hard that winter, for hard work, I thought, was the way to fortune.
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