Half measures are better than no measures; but thorough measures are best.
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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The clause in the bill, as it came from the House, imposing a tax of ten per cent. on all notes not authorized by Congress which may be paid out after this year by any bank, whether state or national, will do much towards making our…
So that I cannot doubt that the President's adherence to his declared intention is more important to our cause and to his administration than it is to me personally.
It will be one of your brightest honors that you so clearly saw and so boldly followed the path of reform; for certainly no greater boon--except liberty itself--can be conferred upon a nation than a truly national and thoroughly sound…
How signally are events confirming my views as to the value of gold, compared with national currency.
God grant that both may be so decisive as to turn every hope of rebellion to despair!
It will gratify you, I am sure, to know that I receive, wherever I go, unequivocal manifestations of a popular confidence and appreciation, which I did not suppose I possessed.
Of all I have said in commendation of your ability and fidelity I have nothing to unsay, and yet you and I have reached a point of mutual embarrassment in our official relation which it seems cannot be overcome or longer sustained…
It is impossible to prevent the depreciation of the currency unless Congress will assume its constitutional function and control it; and it is idle to try to make loans unless Congress will give the necessary support to the public credit.
Some discrimination in favor of the national system which affords substantial support to the government as compared with the local system, which circulates notes in competition with those issued by the government, seems to me indispensably…
These two bills prove that it is not wise during war to provide measures for a time of peace.
If the act had been delayed until after the war, when the securities of the United States rapidly advanced in value, it could not have passed in the form it did.
Under this act, the first lien of the United States for bonds advanced to the company, provided for by the act of 1862, was made subordinate to the lien of the bonds of the company sold in the market--a fatal error, which led to all the…
Certainly, the full power of the United States, its credit and the property of its people were by these laws intrusted to the executive authorities to suppress the rebellion.
The national banking act, which passed at the previous session, was carefully revised and enacted in a new form, and it still remains in force, substantially unchanged by subsequent laws.
This law, however, proved to be ineffective, as all such laws interfering with trade and speculation must be, and was soon repealed.
By these measures the people of the United States had placed in the power of the government almost unlimited sources of revenue, and all necessary expedients for borrowing.
The customs duties were carefully revised, not in the interest of protection but solely for revenue.
I was then actively engaged in the canvass and noticed that when I expressed my approbation of the proclamation, it was met with coldness and silence.
I now determined upon the adoption of the emancipation policy; and without consultation with, or the knowledge of, the cabinet, I prepared the original draft of the proclamation.
It had got to be midsummer, 1862; things had gone on from bad to worse, until I felt that we had reached the end of our rope on the plan of operations we had been pursuing; that we had about played our last card, and must change our…
I have always regarded Brough's election in Ohio upon the issue distinctly made, not only as to the prosecution of the war, but in support of the most vigorous measures to conduct it, as having an important influence in favor of the Union…
Is this the example set by Webster and Clay, and the great leaders of the Whig party when General Jackson throttled nullification; or is it the example of the tories of the Revolution?
I appeal to you if that is the proper way to support your government in the time of war.
It is dictated by the spirit of rebellion, and, before God, I believe it originated in the same malignant hate of the constituted authorities as has armed the public enemies.
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