The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-02-13
FEBRUARY II-Evening.


Preparations for receiving the President
elect commenced actively this morning. The
houses or the principal streets were deco
rated with banners, flags, and other patriotic
objects. The noon trains brought in a vast
crowd of passengers to witness the recep-
ton. At four o'clock the fire companies
and military companies repaired to the
place of rendezvous.
Both branches of the Legislature met
after dinner, and transacted business &C
lively till o'clock, when they adjourned
The train bearing the President and his
suite, the committee of our Legislature sent
Saturday to the Illinois State line to meet
the party, and other favored passengers,
was announced to arrive at 5 o'clock. At
that hour the lookout placed on the dome
of the State House waved his hat, and the
thunder Of cannon announced the approach
of the train.
The reception took place at the Washing
ton street crossing of the Lafayette and
Indianapolis railroad. Gov. Morton well
coined Mr.. Lincoln in an appropriate speech,
and Mr.. L. replied in a few remarks The
President elect and Governor then entered
an open barouche, drawn by four white
horses finely decorated. A procession was
formed, consisting of the Presidential
carriage, four splendidly uniformed military
companies two bands, three steam fire
engines tenders and hose carriages, the
officers of the General Assembly and of
State, committees of invitation. arrange
ment aud escort, judges of the Supreme
Court, City Council, all in carriages, and
citizens generally on foot. After marching
eight squares, the President elect and party
were ushered into the Bates House
From a balcony Mr. Lincoln was intrO
duced to the multitude by the Governor
Mr.. Lincoln made an address about twenty
minutes long. After thanking his hearers
for their magnificent welcome, and 1declar-
ing his intention to make short speeches.
he touched lightly on national questions
He thought the words SC coercion and . in
vasion" had been misunderstood and misap-
piled. He thought that the sending of an
army into a seeding State to force them to
stay in the Union might be considered CO.
ercion and invasion, but it was hardly SO
to defend the Federal property when at
tackled, and RETAKE the forts, arsenals, &C.,
belonging to theUnited States, and to see that
the duties are collected, and have the mails
protected or Withdrawn. Here he was en-
Enthusiastically cheered.
He dealt with the idea of State sovereign
ty by asking a series of questions, going
He wanted to know what right a State
South Carolina, for instance) had to rule
all within her own borders and all outside
too. He wanted to know how it was that
the mere name " State, whether it applied
10 larger or smaller extent of territory,
carried with it such extraordinary power as
to override all beneath and above it. He
said with significant look, which raised
shouts'of laughter, that be did not mean to
decide anything by his questions, but mere
ly wished to give the people something to
think about. The philosophical yet plain
manner in which he treated the subject, and
the confidence, in his speech at the train,
that he expressed in the people, all shows
that he is a mau raised by Providence from
the midst of the masses to manage with
master-hand the great questions before him.
The hearty greetings and responses of the !
people show that they have entire conf
dence in his management OF the Govern /
ment.
Gov. Morton, being called for, made
short address which | have not room to +
speak of.
The crowd which thronged the streets
during the progress of the procession was
immense. Washington street-l2O feet /
jammed full of people so the pro-
cession could hardly get through, and the .
four story houses along its length had their .
doors and windows filled with spectators
The weather was pleasant !
10 P Nj have Just come from the re-
ception st the Bates House. The hotel was /