New-York tribune., 1895-10-30
SENATOR SHERMAN'S BOOK.
THE OHIO srATEsMAN's RECOLLECTION
OF FORTY YEARS IN PUBLIC LIFE.
INTERESTING PASSAGES IN HIS OWN LIFE AM


~. uouse Senate and Cabinet: an Autobiography
a now In the press OF the Werner Company. Ihe
first pages Of tht book are occupied IN traeins
the descent Of the sherman family. ana IN re.
lating his boyhood life and early experiences as
surveyor and later lawyer. beginning practce
at the bar In Mansfield Mr.. Sherman discusses MS
entrance into political life as follows:
ENTRANCE INTO POLITICAL LIFE.
Before entering upon an account of my political
life n seems appropriate for TO state my po-
li,ical bias and position l by inheritance and
association Whig boy without much care lor OF
knowledge Of parties political principles No DOUBT
my discharge from the Engineer Corps by Demo emo
cratic Board of Public Works strengthenedth@ oias
shouted for HsrrSn n On !1S To @agWn Pie wagon
boy the Whs candidate for Governor OF ono
took but little part in the campaign OF lS4l' when @
made my first political speech TO a popular audi.
erce and cast my first vote Al this time hau pus
two definite ideas in respect to the public policy OF
doctrine OF protection to American industries ID, as
advocated by MIR Clay, and, second. strong preJu-
dice against the Democratic party which was more
or less committed TO the annexation OF leXas ana
1t was my habit during this period to attend the
annual State conventions OF the wing par pay; m no, a
acquantanse with the pTincpai neira menpefo o b
office and never became a candidate until lNi
The strong controlling feeling of the great pouy
opposed the Nebraska and Kansas law that
the law was violation of existing compromises.
IL ought to be repealed but, If repeal imprac-
ticable. organized effort should be made TO make
advantage over freedom by violating comprom-
was the cry S of M new Par ~ ts ysi of
1854 i became candidate for Congress The real
would vote for Whig. Among the Free Sellers
was regarded as too conservative on the slavery
question. The result of the election in October
was against the Democratic party in Ohio; Every
Democratic candidate for Congress was defeated;
had 2s2s majority having carried every county in
the district Richand County in which l lived. ,hi
Democratic party, | receiving majority OF over
SQ0 votes.
FIRST EXPERIENCES IN THE HOUSE
Mr. Sherman then relates his first experiences in
the House of Representatives Of the XXHIVth Con-
gress Ii was the famous House that balloted for
Speaker from It's opelng in December 1855, TIL Feb
ruary O. 1850. when Nathaniel +. Banks was elected
Mr Sherman says
Innumerable speeches made. some of them
new members who took the occasion to air their
oratory Timothy Day, one of my coeasues, "a f SSin
mercal.' who sat by MY side. was constantly en-
poyed in writing for his papsr When new ,s,eD N1lce
was heard he would put his hand 10 MS ear, nsten
awhile and then, turning impateh'y 10 III ms ,b nf
TSnd % cgsyca yay to me Of new % member
alarmed me, but the sth Of Jannary as appeafS rl
marks When | sat down | turned to Mr.. Day ana
said "Another dead cock in the pit tie relieVeu
speech / made in the House contained my political
creed the time here insert paTasrS2a or t%C
II desire TO say few WORDS ana Wonlu piehadV psh
them with the remark. that | do not intend while l
have seat in this House, to occupy much Oh Oh l'I
have voted. and shall continue to vote for M
Banks care not wne'her me ne Is bn nfoymeI that
he is. and ] believe that ne is. But repeat care
take this poston-ihat the repeal OF the Missouri
Compromise was an act OF great dsn0hor ana INA, .diao
under NJ circumstances whatever viii he-lf lie have
the power-aow The institution OF human slavery
TO derive any benefit from that repeal That Is my
position
Mr. sherman has much TO say upon the stirring
nolitical questions OF those years Immediately be-
fore the war; especially about his visit to Kansas
as a member OF the committee of the House ap-
pointed TO inquire into the troubles in that state
OF more importance in the light Of his subsequent
career was his first speech National finances in
1858. He says:
the result Of much labor, and believe it will bear
favorable scrutiny even at this late day II GER
and no doubt led to my transfer at the Con-
rress 10 the Committee OF Ways and Means.
In 1858 Mr. Sherman was elected 10 the House FOR
the third time In that session he was candidate
for Speaker and came within three votes of election
In the same session Mr. Sherman notes that his
first speech on the subject of the tariff, the pending
bill being the famous Morrill, Tariff Of 1860, was
delivered on May 7. 1860 Then he adds:
have participated in framing many tariff bills
but have nsoye ncysf he Morrill, Tarn biz came
nearer than any other to meet the double require.
ihe covernment and Of rendering the proper pro-
lection TO home industries
FIRST MEETING WITH LINCOLN.
Mr. Sherman gives the following account of his
first meeting with President Lincoln;
Abraham Lincoln the Presdent-electts arrived In
WITH yne e'l Mrs 81 Tincon' stopped at Wizards Hotel
where ] was then living. on the evening of his
aime When introduced to him he took my hands
in both of his. drew himself up 10 Ms fun height,
and looking at me steadily, said: Ou are JOhn
Shermani well. am taller than you; let's meas
ure" Thereupon stood back TO back and some
one present announced that ne was two i%nches %
taller than L. This was correct for ne & was feet
s5a inches tail when he stood erect rms s,nggiaTf r.
introduction was not unusual win nm SuI IL, III 1t
lacked in dignity Il wa an an EXP eTPres@1r @ SI Srdf rena eo
versation was cheerful. and my hearty congIat9a.
tions for his escape from the Baltimore foughs
were received with laugh
OF his election Senator ne speaks as follows .
Salmon r. Chase. then Senator was appointed,
Secretary Of the Treasury know VIII WbSt
doubt and reluctance he accepted this Once on
March Z his resignation Senator was communi-
Gated to the Senate. In anticipation OF IT the Leel5
lature OF Ohio was canvassing for his successor
NV name was mentioned with many others. was
IN doubt whether ought to be candidate, or even
elected as member Of the next Congress and was
quite certain OF election as Speaker OF ne Susg ded %
majority in that body, and feeling was manifest
that should have without opgeson ime Ss PSosCn pTs
yous House This Was to me coveted W I'D no9Ur 9Ticnd
therefore did not follow the aiNlcc OF lIltiiS
and 10 TO Columbus. ballot was taken in the
caucus OF Republican members OF me Generdl a.
sembly and received plurality. but not a major
ity the votes being scattered among many other
candidates of merit and ability My
then withdrawn Several ballots were taken on a
number Of days without result ] was then tee
0raphed 10 come to Columbus. went. and was
dominated the first vote after my arrival, ana
promptlv elected as Senator TO fill the vacancy oc-
casioned by the resignation OF Mr. Chase
THE NATIONAL BANK ACT.
The leading part played by Senator Sherman in
dey.sing the financial plans by which the Govern
ment was enabled carry on the war Is well
known His account OF it practically forms his
tory Of the Governments financial legislation dur
ing the war OF one OF the most important por-
tions OF It. the National Banking act, Mr.. Sherman