Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-02-27

and the people OF the State OF New Ork,
for this most hearty and magnificent welcome.
If / am not at fault, the great Empire State at
this time contains greater population than did
the United States of America at the time she
achieved her national independence. | am proud
to be invited to pass through your capital and
meet them as now have the honor TO do. /
notified by your Governor that this reception is
given without distinction of party | accept il
the more gladly because it is SO. Almost all men
in this country, and in any country where freedom
of thought is tolerated, attach themselves to pO-
Htical parties. 1t is but ordinary charity TO at
tribute this to the fact that in attaching him
self to the party which his Judgment prefers, the
citizen believes that he thereby promotes the best
interest of the whole country. and when an cleo
ton is passed it is altogether bshttng free peo-
pie that until the next election they shall be as
one people.
The reception YOU have given me this day
given to me personally il should not be so, but
the representative for the time being of the ma
iOrity of the nation. If the election had resulted
lin the choice of either Of the other candidates the
same cordalitv should have been extended to hjm
as has been extended to me this day, in testimony
of the devotion of the whole people to the Con-
sttution and to the whole Union, and of their de
sire to perpetuate our institutions and to hand
them down in their perfection to succeeding gene
rations have neither the voice nor the strength
to address you at any greater length.
| | beg you will accept nv most grateful thanks
for this dey0ti0n-nOt TO me, but to our great,
glorious and free country.
The address was accompanied and followed by
loud applause.
Mr. Lincoln was then conducted to the Assem-
bly, chamber. The Speakers desk was occupied
by Senator Colvin. who was selected by the Sen
ate to receive the President elect and by Speaker
Littleohn, who stood on his left When Mr..
Lincoln entered the chamber, the whole assem-
blage rose and greeted him with loud clapping of
hands. Senator Terry, advancing in front of the
i Speakers desk. said:
Il have the honor to introduce to the Senate
and Assembly of New York, in joint convention
assembled, the Hon. Abraham Lincoln, of IL
linois, President eject of the United States.
| The Speaker of the Assembly, descending from
the desk, greeted Mr.. Lincoln, and, leading him
to the desk, introduced him to Senator COlvin
After shaking hands, Mr. Colvin descended from
! the desk leaving Mr.. Lincoln alone there, and
addressed him from the Clerks desk as follows:
Mr.. Lincoln-In behalf of the Representiyes
the sovereign people of New York. we well
come you to the Capital and to the Represen-
tatives Hall of the State, we welcome you
President OF thirty million of people, we welcome
you the President elect according to the forms
OF the Constitution of the United States; and
when, sir, you have assumed, as you soon viii
J assume the Office of President of the United
/ States, you may in discharge of your constitu-
tional duties rely upon the support of the people
of this great State. Great applause | have
the pleasure sir, to introduce you to the Legsla-
| ture in Joint Convention assembled 10 welcome
the President elect of the United States.
Mr.. Lincoln responded as follows: Mr.. Presi-
dent and gentlemen of the Legislature of New
York: 1t is with feeling Of great diflidence, and
may say, with feelings of awe, perhaps, greater
than have recently experienced, that meet you
here in this place The history of the great
State, the renown of those great men who have
stood here. and spoken here, and been heard
here-all now crowd around my fancy and incline
me to shrink from any attempt to address you.
/ But have some confidence given me by the gen
erous manner in which you have invited me, and
by the still more generous manner in which you
have received me, to speak further you have in
vited, and received me without distinction of
party
j can not for a moment suppose that this has
been done in any considerable degree with refer
ence to my personal services, but that it is done,
in so far as am regarded at this time, as the rep
resentative of the majority of this great nation.
doubt not this is the truth, and the whole truth
of the case; and this is as it should be- Ii is much
more gratifying to that this reception has been
given to me as the representative of free people
than it could possibly be il rendered me as an evil
dence of devotion to me, or to any one man per-
sonaly And now / think it were more fitting
that should close those hasty remarks. Ii is
true, while / hold myself, without mock -modesty
the humblest of all individuals that have ever
been elevated to the Presidency, that have
more difficult task TO perform than any one of
them. You have generously rendered me the
united support of the great Empire State. For
this, in behalf of the nation, in behalf Of the
present and the future of nat0n in behalf of civil
and religious liberty for all time to come. mogs
gratefully do thank you. do not propose to
enter into explanation of any par ticular line of
policy, to present difficulties, to be adopted
by the incoming Administration. / deem it Just
to you, and myself, and to all that should see
everything, that l should hear everything, and
that | should see every light that can be brought
within my reach, in order that, when / do so
speak, shall have enjoyed opportunity to take
correct and true ground; and, for this reason do
not propose to speak at this time of the policy of
the Government But when the time comes /
shall speak as well as am able for tie good of
the present and the future Of this couiry--for the
good of both the North and the South of this
country, and of all sections of the country Ap-
plause In the meantime, if We have patience
If restrain constructive allow ourselves not
to run off in passion still have confidence
| that the Almighty Maker of the Universe ill,
Through the instrumentality of this great and in
Relligent people, bring us through this as he has
Through all the other difficulties of our country.
Relying on this, ] again thank you for this gen
erous reception. Applause and cheering.l
Mr.. Lincoln was then introduced to the mem
bers of the Legislature, who with the committee,
conducted him through the double ranks of the
Twenty fifth Regiment, which presented arms
as he passed to his carriage.
NEW YORK. Tuesday, February IS.
The train reached this city on time, at three
O'clock p. NJ. AT the depot the President elect
and party left the cars. Mrs Lincoln and chill
dren were driven, in close carriage, to the
Astor House. Mr.. Lincoln and suite occupied
eleven carriages, and rode to the Astor House.
Along the route the streets were packed, but the
party had no difficulty in making their progress
owing to the excellent police arrangements, and il
is estimated that a quarter of a million people
witnessed the future President. There was con-
tnuous cheering from the depot to the Hotel At
the Astor House there was an immense Assem-
blage, and cheering. The streets were all decor
ated with flags.
All the hotels but the New York Hotel, and all
the newspaper offices but the Day Book, displayed
the American flag. The shipping in the harbor
also hoisted, bunting duringthe day; and the city
generally displayed holiday appearance.
Mr. Lincoln dined in private, receiving no calls
tillevening.
NEw YoRK, Wednesday, February 20.
The President elect was formally received by
Mayor Wood, this morning at the City Hall. The
ceremonies took place in the Governors room
at eleven O'Clock.
= As early as ten O'Clock the police took then
stand at the City Hall, and a space was EN-
, closed by chains leading to the stairs, within
which none but those having the privilege OF en-
tering the Governors room admitted. A
halfpast ten a large crowd of persons had assem-
bled in the Park awaiting the arrival of the Presi
dent elect. A few minutes before eleven Mayo
Wood. accompanied by members of the Common
Council of the city and members of the pres
E took up their position in the Governors room
and, shortly after, the shouts of the people out
side announced that Mr.. Lincoln had reached tn,
: City Hall. He soon appeared, accompanied b,
the committee of the Common Council appontel
. to meet him at Albany, and was introduced to thu
Chairman, Alderman Cornell, and Mayor Wood
The Mayor stood on one side of table that occu
a pies the upper end of the room, and Mr.. Lincoln
= took up position Immediately opposite to hin
: on the other side of the table. The appearance
= of the two men most striking.
Mayor Wood, in a clear, distinct voice, spok
as follows:
h "Mr. lincoln:
n Gas the Mayor of New York, it becomes m
!, duty to extend to YOU an official welcome in be
k half of the Corporation. In doing So permit m
to say that the city has never offered hospitali