The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-02-21

pie all ner natlOaaI interests are [lhfalyH-
ed; her commercial greatness is endanger-
ed. She is the child of the American I'm
ion. She has grown up under its national
care, and been fostered by its patcrnal boun-
", and we fear that if the Union dies, Tie
present supremacy of New York may die
with it, TO you, therefore, chosen under
the forms of the Constitution as the head oi
the Confederacy, we look for restoration Of
friendly relations between the States, only
to be accomplished by peaceful and concilia-
tory means aided by the wisdom of AL
mighty God.
When Mayor Wood ceased speaking a
murmur of half-suppressed applause passed
around the room, and Mr.. Lincoln readily,
with a firm, slow utterance, responded as
follows
Mr.. MAYoR.-It is with feelings of deep
gratitude that | make my acknowledge
ments for the reception which has been ex-
tended to me in this great commercial city
of New York ! can but remember that
such a reception is rendered by people who
do not by majority agree with me in
political sentiments. 1t is more grateful on
this account because it is an evidence that
in support of the great principles that IN
derlie our government the people are nearly
or quite unanimous in regard to the difficult
ties which encompass it at this time, and of
which your Honor has thought fit to speak
so becomingly and so justly. l can only
say that I agree with the sentiments ex-
pressed by the Mayor. In my devotion to
the Union hope | am not behind any man
within the Union, but in the wisdom ne
cessary to so conduct affairs as to
secure the preservation of the Union
/ fear may be deficient, and that too great
confidence has been reposed in me- | am
sure, however, that at least bring heart
devoted to the Union. There is nothing
which could ever bring me to consent will
lingly to the destruction of that Union, I'M
der which not alone the great commercial
city of New York but the whole country
has acquired greatness. It should be the
loss of that for which the Union itself was
made, as l understand 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 80 long as it can be done without throw
ing overheard the passengers and the cargo.
So long as the perpetuity and liberty of 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
marks.
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 regulations being relaxed, and
the chains removed, the people were allowed
to invade the City Hall with ii rush. and to
fight and scramble their way to the door
of the governors rooms. There two or three
policemen were stationed whose duties soon
became arduous, the crowd bearing them
forward into the room and the noise
and confusion outside being beyond de
scription. The scene inside the door
of the room was ludicrous in the extreme
Superintendent Kennedy exerted himself to
beat back the crowd who were admitted at
the door at the head of the main ST : and
found egress through the ante-cha1- er at
the other end of the room. Men WEI aull-
ed in by main force out Of the crowd The
police, utterly unable to help themselves,
with coats torn and hats demolished and
lost. In the heat of the excitement a fe-
male made her appearance and was dragged
through the doorway, with hoops and bon
net materially damaged. When introduc-
ed to Mr.. Lincoln she told him she was
from Illinois, and though she had experience
ed rough voyage, she would go through a
tighter squeeze to see him. The crowd was
d motley one rags and broadclotbs being
unfortunately mixed, and filing into the
room side by side to shake the Presidential
hand.
E1-Mayor Harper came through the or
deal and shaking Mr.. Lincoln by the hand
admitted that their pictorials had done him
injustice. Immediately after the Ex-Mayor
came one of the seedlest unwashed citizens
of New York, and thus the crowd continu-
ed to pour in until I o'clock, when the au-
dence closed and Mr.. Lincoln returned to
his apartments at the Astor House, leaving
large number of the sovereign people of
the city with hands still unshaken.