hiː dᵻfˈɛndᵻd hɪmsˈɛlf baɪ pˈɔɪntɪŋ ˈaʊt hiː hæd ɹᵻmˈeɪnd lˈɔɪəl tə ðə jˈuːniən θɹuːˈaʊt ðə wˈɔːɹ, ænd hæd səpˈoːɹɾᵻd vˈɜːtʃuːəli ˈɛvɹi mˈɛʒɚ ɹᵻɡˈɑːɹdɪŋ pˈɛnʃənz ænd ˈʌðɚɹ ˈeɪd fɔːɹ fˈɔːɹmɚ jˈuːniən sˈoʊldʒɚz ænd ðɛɹ fˈæmɪliz.
He defended himself by pointing out he had remained loyal to the Union throughout the war, and had supported virtually every measure regarding pensions and other aid for former Union soldiers and their families.