Speech of Hon. John Sherman, of Ohio, In reply to Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, and Review of Mr. Oliver's Minority Report.

The entry of Kansas into the Union was controversial, particularly relating to the issues of slavery. In this instance the question before the House was whether the Legislative Body of the Territory of Kansas had been properly established and had the authority to select a Delegate to the House for the purpose of participating in the discussions relating to the admission of Kansas into the Union. The Speech of Hon. John Sherman, of Ohio, In reply to Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, and Review of Mr. Oliver's Minority Report, Before the House of Representatives, July 30, 1856 (concerning the seating of a delegate from the Territory of Kansas) was part of the arguments related to the delegate question.

Mr. Sherman's opening remarks say that "...The controversy now before the House turns upon the question whether or not the two bodies recently assembled at Shawnee Mission was a valid Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Kansas, elected in accordance with its organic law. If so, then Gen. Whitfield is entitled to retain his seat here, and I would not vote to deprive him of it…". Mr. Sherman continues with an in-depth review of the voting frauds, the competing Kansas Constitutions and all the other slavery/anti-slavery actions in the Territory that leads him to the conclusion that he must vote in favor of the proposed resolution to expel Gen. Whitfield.

The speech is contained in an eight page, two-column booklet, without covers, that measures approximately 5 ½ x 8 ¾ inches. The pages are tanned, with occasional foxing and some staining on the front page. The first sheet is semi-detached. The text is clear and easily read. The overall condition of the item is good.

The illustration accompanying this description shows the first page of the speecj.

John Sherman, nicknamed "The Ohio Icicle" (May 10, 1823 – October 22, 1900), was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Ohio during the Civil War and into the late nineteenth century. He served as both Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of State and was the principal author of the Sherman Antitrust Act. In 1854, he was elected a Republican to the United States House of Representatives. [Wikipedia]