Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-03-01
Movements of MIR. Lincoln.
Ills JOURNEY TOWARDS wAsHINeToN.

PHILADELPHIA, TeDIuaTy ~.
The ceremony of raising a flag of 81 stars over
the Hall of Independence this morning by Mr..
Lincoln, was attended with all the solemnity
due such an occasion, the scene being an inn
pressive one. At the rising of the sun crowds
of people streamed from all parts Of the city
towards the State House, and very soon every
inch Of ground was occupied, vast number of
ladies being present. The weather was cool
and bracing. At o'clock Mr.. Lincoln was es-
corted to the Hall, and there received by Theo-
dOre Cuyler who warmly welcomed him to its
and distress, when the great work achieved by
the wisdom and patriotism of our fathers seems
threatened with instant ruin.
Mr.. Lincoln responded as follows:
Mr.. Cuyler:-I am filed with deep emotion
at finding myself standing here in this place.
where were collected the wisdom. the patriotism
the devotion to principle from which sprung the
institutions under which we live. You have
kindly suggested one that in my hands is the
task of restoring peace to the present distracted
condition of the country. ! can say in return,
sir, that all the political sentiments / entertain
have been drawn so far as | have been able to
draw them, from the sentiments which origina-
ted and We're given TO the world from this Hall
have never had a feeling politically that did
not spring from the sentiments embodied in the
Declaration of Independence. / have oftened
pondered over the dangers which were incurred
by the men who assembled here and framed and
adopted that Declaration of Independence.
have pondered over the tolls that were endured
by the officers and soldiers of the army who
achieved that independence. / have often en-
quired of myself what great principle or idea it
was that kept this Confederacy so long together
1t was not the mere matter of the separation of
the colonies from the mother land, but that SEN
timenti in the Declaration of Independence which
gave liberty not alone to the people of this
country, but / hope to the world for all future
time. [Great applause
1t was that which gave promise that in due
time the weight would be lifted from the shoul-
ders of all men,. This is a sentiment embodied
in the Declaration of Independence.
Now, my friends, can this country be saved
upon that basis? If it can l will consider my
self one of the happiest men in the world, if |
can help to save it. If it cannot be saved upon
that principle, it will be truly awful, but if this
country cannot be saved without giving up that
principle | was about to say | would rather be
assassnated on this spot than surrcnderit. [ APP
! plausc.l Now, in my view of the present as
pect of affairs, there need be no bloodshed OF
war; there is no necessity for it. | am not in
favor of such a course. and l say in advance
that there will be no blood shed unless it be for
| ced upon the Government and then it will be
compelled to act in self defense. TApplause
My friends, this is wholly an unexpectedly
speech, and did not expect to be called upon
| to say a word when | came. l supposed it was
merely to do something towards raising the flag.
! may therefore have said something indscrete.
| [Cries of "No, no!"1 | have said nothing but
what l am willing to live by, and if the pleas
ure of Almighty God, die by.
Mr.. Lincoln concluded amid great applause
HARRIsDuRG, February %.
The train arrived at 2 o'clock. Mr.. Lincoln
was escorted by the military to the Jones House
where he was introduced to the crowd by the
Governor who welcomed him to the Capital
and who said in case reconciliation fails, they
will be ready to aid, by men and money, tC
maintain the Constitution.
Mr.. Lincoln returned thanks. Referring tC
the distractions of the country, he said he hoped
a resort to arms would never become necessary
The President elect then proceeded to the
| Capital, where he was welcomed by the Speak
crs of the Senate and House.
Mr.. Lincoln responded
l appear before you to respond, in a very few
words, to what has been said to me-. l thank
you most sincerely for this reception and the
generous words in which support has been
promised me upon this occasion. | thank your
great commonwealth for the overwhelming sup
port it recently gave, not me personally, but the
cause l think just one, in the late election.
| + TApplause Perhaps we should say that !, for
the first time, appear at the capital of the great
commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the birth
day of the Father of his Country. In connec-
ton with that most beloved of the anniversa-
ries connected with the history of this country.
| have already gone through one interesting
scene this morning, in the ceremonies at Phila-
delphia Under the kind conduct of the gentle
men there | was for the first time allowed the
privilege of standing in old independence
Hall enthusiastic applausel to hear few words
addressed to me there, and opening up to me al
opportunity of expressing. with much regret
that had not more time to express something
of my own feeling, and somewhat to harmonic
and give shape to the feelings that had beer
really the feelings of my whole life.
Besides this, our friends there had provided ;
magnificent flag of the country. They'had ar
ranged so that | was given the honor of raising
it to the head of the staff [applause,] and whel
it went up was pleased that it went to it
place by the strength of my own feeble arm-
When, according to the arrangement, the corr
was pulled, and it faunted gloriously to tn
wind without an accident in the light of tn
glowing sunshine of the morning, | could no
help hoping there was, in the entire success O
that beautiful ceremony, at least something q
. an omen of what is to come. Applause. No
could help feeling then, as l often have fel
that in the whole of that proceeding l was
very humble instrument. / had not provide
the flag; | had not made the arrangement for el
evatng it to its place. had applied buta YER
small portion of my feeble strength in raising il
In the whole transaction l was in the hands G
the people who had arranged it, and if l ca
have the same generous cooperation of tn
people of this nation, l think the flag of on
country may yet be kept floating gloriously.-
Cheering
= recur for a moment to repeat some word
= uttered at the hotel, in regard to what has bee
said about the military support the General Gov
ernment may expect from the commonwealth G
Pennsylvania in proper emergency. To guar
against any possible mistake, recur to this
'ris not with any pleasure that l contemplat
the possibility that necessity may arise in tn
country to use the military arm. Applause.
; While am exceedingly gratifed to see the man
= Hesitation upon your streets of your militar
force here, and exceedingly gratifed at you
, promise to use that force upon the proper emer
gency, while make these acknowledgements,
desire to repeat, in order to preclude any posi-
4 BILE misconstruction that do most sincerel
hope we shall have no use for them Cheers.
That it will never become their duty to spi
blood, and most especially never to shed frateI
: nal blood, promise that in so far as ] may hav
t wisdom to direct if so painful a result shall b
brought about, it shall be through no fault
mine. [Cheers,l Alluson has also been mad
; by one Of your honored speakers to some re
: marks recently made by myself at Pittsburg, i
! regard to what is supposed to be the especii
t interest of this great Commonwealth of Penn
, sylvania, now wish only to say in regard I
- that natter that the few remarks which uttel
:, ed on that occasion were rather carefully wOrde
I and have seen no occasion since to add I
them or abstract from them. [Applause. ] Ac
ding, only now, that am pleased to have a