The Consolidation Of The States Into One

The War... Was An Unnecessary Condition Of Affairs, And Might Have Been Avoided If Forebearance And Wisdom Had Been Practiced On Both Sides.

The Questions Which For Years Were In Dispute Between The State And General Government, And Which Unhappily Were Not Decided By The Dictates Of Reason, But Referred To The Decision Of War, Having Been Decided Against Us, It Is The Part Of Wisdom To Acquiesce In The Result, And Of Candor To Recognize The Fact.

Mr. Blair, I Look Upon Secession As Anarchy. If I Owned The Four Millions Of Slaves In The South, I Would Sacrifice Them All To The Union; But How Can I Draw My Sword Upon Virginia, My Native State?

For I Consider The Character Of No Man Affected By A Want Of Success, Provided He Has Made An Honest Effort To Succeed.

We Failed, But In The Good Providence Of God Apparent Failure Often Proves A Blessing.