Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-19


When Mr.. Lincoln entered She chamber
the whole assernblage rose and greeted him
with loud clapping Of hands.
Senator Terry, advancing in front OF the
Speakers desk, said, IL have the honor Of
introducing TO the Senate and Assembly Of
the State of New York, in joint session as
sembled, the Hon. Abraham Lincoln, Of Ill,
President elect Of the United States"
The Speaker greeted Mr.. Lincoln, and
Lending him to the desk, introduced him to
SenatGr .COlvin, who, after shaking hands
with Mr.. Lincoln, descended from t6e desk,
leaving Mr.. Lincoln alone there, and ad
dressed him from the Clerks desk as fol-
| lows:
"Kr. L:scoE1: In behalf of the represen-
tatives of TIE sovereign people Of New Yorlz,
we welcome you to the Capital and to the
Representative. Halls Of the State. We well
come you as Tfesidentssiect Of 30, ,o00 600 of
people; we wels0tne you as PreSident-elect
according TO the forms Of ne Constitution
Of the United Ststes, and when, sir you
shall have assumed, as you soon win assume,
the Office Of Presidents Of the United States,
you may, In the discharge of your constitu-
tiOnal duties, rely upon the support of the
people of this great State. [Gre at spplausel.
y have the pleasure, sfr, to in ,troduce you
to the Legislature of New Yoi Il, in joint
convention assembled, to welcome the Presi
dent-eleet of the United States"
Mr. Lincoln responded, as follows:
"IHT. President and Gentlemen of the LegiJ.
l0tare of ne State Of New York: 1t is with
feelings Of great diffidence, and may say
with feelings of awe, perhaps greater than
have recently experienced, that meet Eou
here in this place. This history Of this great
State, the renown Of those great men who
have stood here, all crowd arounf7ny fancE
and incline me, to shrink from any attempt
10 address you; yet have some confidence
given me by the generous manner in which
you Aave invited me and by the stiil more
generous manner in which you have received
me, to speak further. You have invited and
received me without distinction of party. /
can not for moment suppose that this has
been done in any considerable degree with
reference to my personal services, but shat
1t is done in so far as | am regarded at this
time as the representative Of the majority Of
this great nation.
''I doubt not this isthe truth and the whole
truth OF the case, and this is as it should |
be. 1t is much more gratifying to me that |
tins recepeion has been given to me, as the |
Representative of a free people, than it could
possibly be if rendered me as on evidence oft
devotion to me, or to any cne man per- |
sonally, and now think that it were more |
fitting that l should close these hasty re. |
marks. 1t is true, while l hold myself |
without MOCK modesty, the hunblest Of all |
individuals that have been elevated to the
Presidency, that have more difficult task
TO perform than any one of them. You have
generously rendered me the support of the
great Empire State for this; in behalf of !
the nation, in Behalf of civil and religious
liberty, for all time to come, most gratefully
90 thank you, l do not propose to enter
INTO an explanation Of any particular line of
policy, as to our present difficulties, to be
adopted by the incoming Administration.
deem 1T Just to you, to myself and to
all, that should see every thing, D should |
hear every thing, that should have every
Gght that can be brought within my reach, |
IN order that when do so speak, I shall
have enjoyed every opportunity to take cor
rect and true ground and for this reason l |
90 not propose to speak at this time of the |
policy OF the Government but when the time |
comes, l shall speak as well as am, able for |
the good Of the present and future Of this |
country for the good of both the North and |
the South OF this country, and of all sections
OF this country. Rounds of applauserI In
the mean time, if we have patience, five re-
strain ourselves, if we allow ourselves not to
run of in passion, still have confidence
that the Almighty Maker of the. Universe
will, through the inssrumentality of this
great and intelligent people, bring us
through this, as he has through all the other
dithcnltles ct our county. Relying on this,
again thank you for this generous reeep-
tion." Applause ana GheerinE.1
immediately following the address, the
speaker said the joint convention of both !
Houses will now take recess, to give the
members of the Assembly an opportunity of
introduction to Mr.. Lincoln.
In the Governors room, Mr.. Lincoln was
introduced to the State officers, who were
assembled to receive him, and was conducted
by the Legislative Committee through the |
open ranks of the Twenty fifth Regiment, |
who presented arms to him as he passed to |
his carriage.