The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-01
THE PRESIDENTIAL JOURNEY.
NEW York. Feb. 20.

ed by Mayor Wood this evening, at the
City Hall. The ceremonies took place in
the Governors room at IL O'Clock. AS
early as 10 M, the police under the imme-
diate superintendent Of Deputy Carpenter
took their station at the City Hall, and
space was enclosed by chains leading to the
stairs, within which none but those having
the privilege of entry to the Governors
room were admitted.
At half past ten large crowd of persons
had assembled in the Park awaiting the ar
rival of the President elect. A few min
utes before IL, Mayor Wood accompanied
by the members OF the common council and
the city press, took up their position in the
Governors room, and shortly afterwards
the shouts OF the people outside announced
that Mr.. Lincoln had reached the City Hall.
He soon appeared accompanied by the
Committee of Common Council appointed
to meet him in New York, and was intro
troduced by the Chairman, Alderman Con.
nell, to Mayor Wood. The Mayor stood on
one side of table that occupies the upper
end of the room, and Mr. Lincoln took po,
sition Immediately opposite him on the other
side of the table. The appearance of the
two men was most striking. The chief
magistrate of the city dressed in his usual
taste in suit of black, overcoat buttoned
tightly across his breast, looked at his dis.
tInguished visitor and never removed his
eye from him during the delivery of the
two addresses. The chief magistrate of the
nation also dressed in black, and looked
calm and collected, but did not return the
steady gaze that was fixed upon him by the
Mayor.
The Mayor, in a clear, distinct voice,
spoke as follows:
Mr.. LINCOLN AS the Mayor of New
York, it becomes my duty to extend to you
an official welcome in behalf of the corpo-
ration. In doing so, permit me to say that
this city has never offered hospitalities to
man clothed with more exalted powers or
living under graver responsibilities than
that which circumstances have devolved
upon you. Coming into office with dis
membered government to reconstruct, dis.
connected, hostile people to reconcile, it
will require high patriotism and clear
comprehension of the whole country and its
various interests, opinions and prejudices to
conduct public affairs and to bring it back
again to its former harmonious condition.
Ii refer to this topic, sir, it is because
New York is deeply Interested, and the
present political division has sadly afflicted
her people. All her material interests are
jeopardized. Her commercial greatness is
endangered. She is a child of the Ameri-
can Union-she has grown up under it's
maternal care, and been fostered by its pa
teral bounty, and we fear that if the Union
dies the present supremacy OF New York
will die with it. TO you, therefore, chosen
under the form OF the constitution of the
United States as the head of the confedercy
we look for a restoration of friendly rela.
tions between the states, only to be accom-
plished by peaceful and conciliatory means
aided by the wisdom of Almighty God.
When Mayor Wood ceased speaking.
murmur of half suppressed applause passed
around the room, and Mr.. Lincoln replied
readily, with firm and slow utterance, as
follows:
Mr.. MAYOR 1T is with feelings of deep
gratitude that make my acknowledgements
for the reception that has been extended to
me in this great commercial city of New
York l can but remember that such
reception is rendered by people who do
not, by majority, agree with me in politi-
cal sentiments. 1t is more grateful on this &C.
count. The people are nearly or quite unani
nous in regard to the difficulties which en-.
compass us at this time, of which your
honor has thought fit to speak so becoming
ly and so Justly. suppose l can only say
that 1 agree with the sentiments expressed
by the Mayor, and in my devotion to the
Union, hope l am not behind any
man within the Union, but in the
wisdom necessary to so conduct affairs
as to secure the preservation of the Union,
l fear that l may be deficient, and that too
great confidence may have been reposed in
me. l am sure, however, that l at least
bring heart devoted to the Union. There
is nothing which could ever bring me to
consent willingly to the destruction of that
Union under which, not alone the great
commercial city of New York, but the
whole country, has acquired greatness, un-
less it should be the loss of that for which
the Union itself was made, as understood
it. The ship is made for the carriage and
preservation of the cargo, and so long as
the ship can be saved with the cargo it
should never be abandoned. We should
never cease in our efforts to save it so long
as it can be done without throwing over
board the passengers and cargo. So long
as the prospect of liberty to this people can
be preserved in the Union, it will be my
purpose and shall be my effort at all times
to preserve that Union. And now, Mr..
Mayor, again thanking you for the reception
that has been given me, allow me to close
my remarks.
The utmost order and silence were pre-
served during the delivery of Mr.. Lincoln's
reply. At its close the members OF the
Common Council and OF the State Govern
ment were introduced to the President elect
and the police regulators below were re-
lieved, the restraining chains removed, and
the people allowed to invade the City Hall
with rush, and to fight and scramble to
the door of the Governors room. There
were two or three policemen stationed
there, whose duty soon became extremely
arduous, the crowd bearing them forward
-