Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1861-02-14
The Reception OF the President elect
M sndiannpoii>.

+ When Nr. Lincoln left the cars and made his
appearance where lie could be seen, deafcning
cheers arose that sounded above the roar of the
cannon and the loa1es, blasts Of tse bands nlav.
ing in ,he vicinity. The President elect wa,
welcomed by Gov Morton in the following
speech:
GOVERNOR moRTDN's srErcH.
Sla:-Ou behalf Of the people Of ladiana bid
VOC welcome They avail themselves of this
occasion 10 oiIer Their tsibateo OF high .espect 10
yonr character a man, and rs a Statesman
and in your person 70 honor the high Office 70
which YOU have been elected.
+ Ia every free government there viii be diff.
ferences Of opinion, aud these differences result
/ in the formation OF pArties: hut when the voice
+ 81 the people has been expressed through the
form, OF the Constitution, all PARROTS y.ed to IL
obedience. Submission u popular vi l. the
essential principle of Republican gov.rnmesst.
aud so vital Is tins principle that il admits of but
one exception. which is revolution. To weaken
il i Anarchy; to destroy il Is Desrotisfn IL
recognizes 10 appeal beyond the ballot box; and
while it j. preserved, Liberty may be wounded
but never slain.
To this principle the people of Iosliana. mon
Of all parties are loyal, and they here welcome
YOU as the Chief Magistrate elect of the Repub.
! lic
declared it was to form a more perfect union.
establish justice, and 30 secure the blessings of
+ liberty to themselves ami their posterity, aud for
these considerations We proclaim our purpose To
maintan that Constitution inviolate As il came
from their hands.
This Union has been the idol Of our hopes: the
parent of prosperity; our shield and protection
abroad, and our title 10 the respect and consid
Grafton OF the world. May it be presorv cd is the
prayer Of every patriotic heart in Indiana, and
+ that il shall be, is the determination.
You are about 30 enter upon your official
duties under circu instances at once novel and
full of difficulty, and it will be the duty of all
good citizens, without distinction OF party, to
Weld a cordial and ernest support TO every
measure of your administration calculated to
m4intain the Union, promote National prosperity
and restore peace to OR distracted and unhappy
country.
Our Government, which but YESTERDAY was the
theme of every eulogy, and stood for the adni-
! ration OF the world, is to-day threatening to
crumbe into ruins. and it remains to be seen
whether it possesses living principle or
whether in the fulncss of time the hour of its
dissolution is at hand. But we are full of con-
fdence that the end is not yet--that the precious
inheritance from our fathers will not elude our
grasp, or be wrested from us without struggle
that are but passing through on of those
civil connections that mark the history of every
great nation, and that we shall emerge from the
present gloom into the bright sunshine of peace
and fraternity, and march forward with accel-
Grated speed in The paths OF prosperity and
\ power.
Mr.. Lincoln replied to Gov. Morton as fol-
lows: M
Cor Morton and Fello,c- Citizens
oftke State Of Indiana:
Most heartily do thank YOU for this magnif
cent reception, and while / can not take to N.Y.
self any share Of the compliment thus paid, more
than that which pertains TO mere instrument,
perhaps should say, of great cause, mus
look upon ii as a most magnificent reception. end
as such, most heartily do thank you for it. You
have been pleased to address yourself to me
chiefly in behalf OF this glorious Union IN which
we live, in all of which you have my hearty SYM
patty. and, a. far may be in my power. vii
have, one and inseparably, my hearty ecnsidera-
ton; while do not expect, upon this occasion,
or until | get to Washington. to attempt an,
lengthy speech. ] will only say that to the saliva
ton of this Union there needs but one single
thing, the hearts Of public like yours ZAP
planse.l
The people, when they rise in mass in behal
of the Union. and the liberties of their country
truly NAV it be said, "'rhe gates of hell cannot
prevail against them (Renewed applause) In
all irving positions in which | shall be placed
in many such. my reliance will be placed upon
you, and the people of the United States-and
wish YOU to remember. and forever, that i.
your business, and not mine; that it the union
ofth.sc States, and the liberties of this people
shall be lost, it IS but little 70 any one man oil
fftv-two wears of age, but great deal to the
thirty millions Of people who inhabt these Uni
ted States. an, to their posterity in all coming
time. 1t is your business to raise up and pre-
serve the Union, and liberty for yourselves, and
not FOR me-
desire they should be constitutonally per
formed. |. IA already intimated am but an ac-
cidenial instrument, temporary. and to serve but
e for limited time, and | appeal to YOU again &c
constantly bear in mind that with you, and moi
with politicians, not with Presidents: not with
Office seekers, but with YOU. is the question:
Shall the Union and shall the liberties of thi.
country be preserved to the latest generations
I (Cheers-l
DIR. Liucalu.s Addrcs. 1t the EateA III u q