John Sherman

Virginia is entitled to the honor of having this son; but it was George Rogers Clark who gave the United States its title to the northwest.

I thank fortune I have no framed speech made, for, if I had, the speech would have been read or spoken to you in eloquent terms, but I only come with thoughts inspired by the great history we are called upon to review--a hundred years of…

I come to-day as a gleaner on a well-reaped field, by skillful workmen who have garnered the crop and placed it in stacks so high that I cannot steal a sheaf without being detected.

We have faults, all have failings, and no one can claim more than a fair and common average of honest purpose and noble aim.

This feeling of freedom is so strong with me that I am glad I did not get the nomination." Whether I uttered these words or not, they expressed my feeling of relief at the time.

The only feeling of resentment I entertained was in regard to the action of the friends of General Alger in tempting with money poor negroes to violate the instructions of their constituents.

The result of the nomination at Chicago did not in the least disturb my equanimity or my allegiance to the great party to which I belonged, and for the success of which I had devoted my life since 1854.

I am not seeking or expecting any position, nor have I ever determined in my own mind whether I could, consistently with my duties to Ohio, accept any executive office.

Lincoln had a happy faculty in dealing with Members and Senators.

Cleveland made his cardinal mistake in dictating a tariff policy to Congress.

He should have no policy distinct from that of his party, and this is better represented in Congress than in the Executive.

I notice that every scribbler is making a cabinet for you, but your observation must have led you to the conviction that this is a duty you only can perform.

The victory is a Republican victory and that I think is a victory for the whole country.

Still I wish you to feel that I have no hope or ambition higher than to see your administration a complete success.

I wish that you would feel that I desire you to deal with me in the utmost frankness, without any restraints at all, and in the assurance that all you may say will be kindly received and will have the weight which your long experience in…

I will confidently hold you to your promise to give me frankly any suggestions that you may think valuable, and assure you that criticism will always be kindly received.

My desire is to have a Republican campaign and not a personal one, and I hope a good start will be made in that direction in the organization of the committee.

I have always said to all friends that your equipment for the presidency was so ample and your services to the party so great that I felt there was a sort of inappropriateness in passing you by for any of us.

I believe that both honor and duty require prompt and ready acquiescence in the choice made, unless it is produced by corruption and fraud.

I have no respect for a man who, because he is disappointed in his aspirations, turns against the party to which he belongs.

I believe and had, as I thought, conclusive proof that the friends of General Alger substantially purchased the votes of many of the delegates from the southern states who had been instructed by their conventions to vote for me.

From the best information I could gather from many persons with whom I conversed, I have no hesitation in expressing the opinion that I was defeated for the nomination by New York.

I did expect, from my dispatches, that the nomination would be made that day and in my favor, but, as the result proved, an arrangement had been made on Sunday that practically secured the nomination of General Harrison.

Sherman is as strong as the Republican party, and that if nominated he can be elected, and also that he has great personal strength.

If we cannot elect a man on the principles of the Republican party we will not be able to pull anyone through on personal popularity.