Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-03-01
Affairs at the National CAPITAL
Especial dispatches to the Cincinnati Gazette.I
WASHINGTON, Feb 23.


Especial dispatches to the Cincinnati Gazette.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.
s.IIincoln has arrived" were the words
that few from mouth to mouth, from the
Capitol to Willard $, up and down Penn
sylyania avenue, this morning, startling
the population and throwing politicians
into an intense excitcment The report
was at first hardly believed, but was soon
speedily confirmed, fer Gov. Seward sub
stantiatcd it, the telegraph caught itup,
and the thousands of this city who slum-
bered in Inconsistencies of the reality
soon to burst upon them, because aware
of the fact In less than an hour, the
information was heralded from one part
of the city to another, until it became
general Members all along the avenue
gathered in knots, while the Lobbies,
Capitol, Committee Rooms, &C., were
filled with excited muItitudes, all spec
ulating on the sudden movement of the
President elect.
The Mayor laid aside his carefully
prepared speech, we learn, and rushed
out to see if ''Old Abe" was going to re-
fuse to accept the hospitalities of the
city,
Mr.. Lincoln, left Harrisburg about
midnight, and accompanied by Messrs
Leman, of his suite, and Allen, Of New
York, came direct to Baltimore. They
took the Southern cars there, but no one
knew Mr.. Lincoln, and he got into the
sleeping car and came on. There was
not passenger on the train knew that
he was abroad At the depot, Mr., Wash
burne, of Illinois, soon found him, and
they get into Wizards coach and pro-
ceeded to the hotel.
It was about half past six when he
arrived at Willards. There Gov. Sew
ard had been walking back and forth
nervously for an hour, much to the sur
prise Of early riscrs, who regarded his
conduct as Suspicious When Mr. Lin
coin got out, Mr.. Seward welcomed him,
and the passengers, porters and one cor
respondent, who got wind of the move
ment, opened their eyes quite widely.
Mr.. Seward escorted Mr. Lincoln to a
private parlor, with a magnificent suite
of apartments, quitely engaged for him
yesterday.
Mr.. Lincoln was physically weak and
exhausted and soon retired to rest. At
9 he break tasted with Mr.. Seward in his
sitting room. No others were present.
At half past 10 the President elect
and Mr.. Seward took carriage and
proceeded to the White House. At II
A. NJ, precisely, Abraham Lincoln for
the first time in his life put his foot
within the portals Of the Executive man
sion. Gov. Seward, with the calmness
for which he is celebrated, handed a
plain card inscribed "a. Lincoln, ''W.
II. Seward to the. usher, who took it,
stared considerably, and Immediately
handed it to Mr. buchanan. The latter
was intensely surprised, as he had not
heard of the arrival, but soon found him
self in the presence of his successor:
whom he welcomed most cordially. The
, Cabinet was in session, but the confer
ence lasted only fifteen minutes. Nc
political subject was alluded to, no1
we're any compliments paid or returned
on the part Of the outgoing OF incoming
Administration.
From the White House, Mr.. Lincoln
and AIr. Seward proceeded to Gen
| Scott's, where an interview of few mo-
ments was held. The General had
heard of his arrival. In coming out ol
the Presidents house, they met John
! Cochrane and Senator Bigler, both Of
whom were introduced to Mr.. Lincoln
At noon they returned to Willard 5 and
Mr.. Lincoln retired to rest.
At one P. NJ. few visitors were re-
ceived. During that time numerous
| applications were made to see him. Af-
terwards some Illinois members, Sena-
tors Douglas and TrumbulI, and two OF
three others, called and were received
The meeting between Lincoln and Doug
las is described as very friendly and cor
dial.
| AS the afternoon wore away, few
| others called and were admitted, but the
thousands about the hotel, who saw nc
chaucc to get sight at him, soon left
and all was quiet, At + ?. NJ. Mr.
Lincoln dined, end at 6 p. NJ. received
| his Ian anu Vic iCSluSuIldl GolIC-
Gov. Seward returned to the Senate al
2 ?. NJ. and entered on the discharge Of
his duties as though nothing had hap
pened.
The politicians and office seekers are
the most puzzled as to Lincoln S arrival
aW hat brought him here so suddenly?
was on everybody's tongue. The rush
for Willards was immense. The city
police took possession Of the lower floors
at an early hour, and rolled back the
surge that came and went.
There are ten thousand rumors af1oat
as to the cause Of his ignoring Balti-
more and coming through so silently
It is known that Gen. Scott telegraphcd
him yesterday, advising that course; but
from what motive is not apparent
There is good authority, though, fol
asserting that it was not because trouble
was apprehended at Baltimore, but from
political causes here.
The action of the Peace Conference
this after, so far as l can learn, was the
occasion for his Immediate appearance
now. AS to what view he will take, ru-
NOR is equally busy. On the one hand
| it is asserted that he fayors the modified
Guthrie plan, and is disposed towaro
compromise. Others state that he ad
vocates strict adherence to the Chicago
platform, and will consent to no change
[ am disposed to doubt the latter, anc
while believing that Mr.. Lincoln is dis
posed to favor the first assertion, there
is suffciet authority for saying that he
has not arrived at any conclusion. As
vet the rumors are all conflicting, anc
there seems to be very little fact to sus
tain the immense amount Of speculation
going on.