Several Republican leaders were induced to sign their names to a paper commending the publication.

Among these was John Sherman of Ohio, who in the organization of the newly elected House of Representatives in 1859 was the leading candidate of the Republicans for the speakership.

During the contest the fact that his name was on this paper was made public, and Southern leaders were furious.

Extracts were read to prove that the book was incendiary.
Millson of Virginia said that "one who consciously, deliberately, and of purpose lends his name and influence to the propagation of such writings is not only not fit to be speaker, but he is not-fit to live." It is one of the ironies of the situation that the passage selected to prove the incendiary character of the book is almost a literal quotation from the debate in the Virginia Legislature of 1832..