e, to excel him in grateful appreciation
of the distinguished honor of your suffrages."

Mr. Harris offered the following resolution, which was unanimously
adopted;

"_Resolved_, That the thanks of the Senate are hereby tendered to
Hon. John Sherman, for the able and impartial manner in which he
has administered the duties of the office of president _pro tempore_
during the present Congress."

CHAPTER LII.
VISIT TO CUBA AND THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Departure for Florida and Havana--A Walk Through Jacksonville--
Impressions of the Country--Visit to Cigar Factories and Other
Places of Interest--Impressions of Cuba--Experience with Colored
Men at a Birmingham Hotel--The Proprietor Refuses to Allow a
Delegation to Visit Me in my Rooms--Sudden Change of Quarters--
Journey to Nashville and the Hearty Reception Which Followed--Visit
to the Widow of President Polk--My Address to Nashville Citizens--
Comment from the Press That Followed It--An Audience of Workingmen
at Cincinnati--Return Home--Trip to Woodbury, Conn., the Home of
My Ancestors--Invitation to Speak in the Hall of the House of
Representatives at Springfield, Ill.--Again Charged with "Waving
the Bloody Shirt."

At the close of the session of Congress, early in March, a congenial
party was formed to visit Florida and Havana. It was composed of
Senator Charles F. Manderson, wife and niece, Senator T. W. Palmer
and niece, General Anson G. McCook and wife, and myself and daughter.
We were accompanied by E. J. Babcock, my secretary, and A. J.
Galloway and son, in the employ of the Coast Line road, over which
we were to pass. We stopped at Charleston, where the ravages of
a recent earthquake were everywhere visible. Fort Sumter, which
we visited, was a picture of desolation. Such a large party
naturally attracted attention. At Jacksonville we encountered our
first reporter. He showed me an article in which it was stated
that we were on a political trip. This I disclaimed and said we
had not heard politics mentioned since we left Washington, that we
were tired out after Congress completed its work and made up a
party and started off merely for rest and recreation. I remarked
that I had been in every state in the Union but one, and wanted to
finish up the list by seeing Florida. A colloquy as given by the
reporter was as follows:

"Well, Senator, my errand was for the purpose of getting your
opinion on matters political."

"I am out of politics just now.