Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-02-22

Constitution rs it is Along the entire |
procession the greetings were most cordial !
throughout, and ladies smiled salutations
with pleasing liberality.
AT the Capitol Park, an immense con-
course of people was gathered, and the task |
of the military and police was anything but
easy. At length the capitol was reached,
when Mr.. Lincoln was conducted at once to
the Executive Chamber where he was in
roduced to Gov. Morgan State officers
aud staff only were present. After welcom-
ing the President elect, Gov. Morgan pro-
ceeded with him to the head of the steps Of
the capitol, where he was greeted with
perfect roar of applause, the people rushing
forward to obtain sight of his eountenanee,
and for time defying the efforts of the sol
diers and police to keep the line. Mr.. Lin
coin gazed around the crowd which filed the
Park and lined all the trees within sight in
apparent amazement at its vastness and
then, turning to the Governor, said-''Do
you think We can make these people hear
usY Gov. Morgan replied by dubious
shake of the head, and made one or two in
efectual efforts, by waving his hat to still
the noise of the multitude, but the hoarse
roar of the people and the shouts of the po-
lice made din und confusion that rendered
speeches dumb show, except to those in the
immediate vicinity eff the speakers. Gov
Morgan then welcomed Mr. Lincoln as fol-
lows:
"uoNoKED SIR :-Chosen, as you have
been, to the highest responsible Office Of the
Nation or of the Globe, and journeying, as
you are, to the Federal Capital, t, enter
upon your public duties, you have kindly
turned aside, upon invitation Of the Legs
lature, for the purpose of q br eff sojourn
at the capital of New York. In behalf OF
the people, irrespective Of political opinion,
1t is my privilege to greet you and extend
Il cordial welcome. If You have found
your feilowcitizens elsewhere, you have
not found, and l think you will not find,
, warmer hearts or people more faithful TO
the Union, the Constitution and the laws,
than you will meet in this time -honored
city and capital. The people thank you for
the opportunity you have thus afforded them
OF manlfestlng to you their great respect,
, no less for yourself personally than for the
! high Office you are destined SO soon to fll.''
=, Loud cheers followed Gov. Morgan's ad
dress, when Mr. Lincoln replied as follows
MIR. GOVERNOR Il was pleased to re
ceive an invitation to visit tie capital OF tie
great Empire State of tie nation, OH my
! way to the Federal Capital and now thank
! you, Mr.. Governor, and the people of lhi
! capital and the people of the State of New
= York, for the most hearty and lragnitcen
welcome. Ii | am not at fault the grea
. Empire State contains U greater population
= than did the United States of America a
the time she acquired her national indepen
y dence. | am proud to be invited to pas
y through your capital and meet them as
V have now the honor to do. | am notified
- by your Governor that the reception is givel
= without distinction o. party. Iacceptit tn
, the more gladly, because it is 50. Almos
all men in this country, and in any countr,
where freedom of thought is tolerated, at
taCh themselves to political parties. 1t i
but on binary charity to attribute this to til
. fact that in SO attaching himself to the part
\ which his judgment prefers, the citizen be
- iieves that he thereby promotes the b,S
= interests of the whole country; and whe
y, al election is passed, it is altogether betit
!. ting free people that, until the next cleo
ton, they should be as one people. Tn
8 reception you have given to me this da
- is not given TO me personally.
y should not be so but as the representative
for the time being, of the majority of tn
- | HhLlOu. ii the 6leCllOu TCSu!lSu III III
~ choice of either OF the other Candidates, til
~ same cordiaty should have been extende
~ to him as has been extended to me til
- day, in testimony of the devotion of til
, whole people to the Constitution and t
A the whole Union, and on their desire t
\ perpetuate our institutio s, and to han
g them down in their perfection to succeed
:, ing generations. | have not the voice 70
=, the strength to address you at any create
- length. | beg you will accept my mos
\ grateful thanks for your devotion, not to N
~ but this great, glorious and free country
This address was accompanied and follow
cd by loud applause, and Mr.. Lincoln, afte
- bowling to the vast crowd, was conducted b.
:, tho committee to the Assembly Chamber
!. Tn Chamber presented tine appearance
q being densely hllod-all those in the gal
= leries and most Of those in the lobbies bein;
+ ladies. There were also several ladies with
in the bar Of the House.
The Speakers desk was occupied by Sen
, ator Colvin, who was selected by the Senat
q to receive the President elect, and by Speako
! Littlejohn, who stood on his left. When Mr.
: L. entered the Chamber, the whole assembling
, rose and greeted him with loud clapping %
! hands. Senator Ferry, advancing in front G
the Speake S desk, said: 81 have the homo
to introduce to the Senate and Assembly o
the State of New York, in joint convention
assembled, the Hon. Abraham Lincoln, o
Illinois, President elect Of the United States.
The Speaker of the Assembly, rising from tn,
desk, greeted Mr.. Lincoln, and, leading hin
to The desk, introduced him to Senator Colvin
, After shaking hands, Mr.. Colyin descended
from the desk, leaving Mr.. Lincoln alone there
and addressed him from the Clerks desk as
follows
"Mr. Lincoln: On behalf of the represent
a.ivcs Of the sovereign people Of New York,
I welcome you to the Capital and to the Rep
resentatiye Halls of the State. We welcome
you as President elect of thirty millions OF
people. We welcome you as the President
elect according to the forms ofthe Constitution
of tie United States. And when, sir, you
shall have assumed, as you soon will, the
Office of President of the United States, you
may, in the discharge Of your constitutional
duties, rely upon the support of the people
of this great State. [Great applause.
have the pleasure, sir, to introduce you to the
Legislature of New York, in Joint convention
assembled, to welcome the President elect of
the United States"
Mr.. Lincoln responded as follows:
''Mr. President and gentlemen of the Leg
islature of the State of New York: tbs with
feelings of great diffidence, and, l may say,
with feelings of awe, perhaps greater than
have recently experienced, that meet you
here in this place. The history of this great
State, the renown of those great men who
have stood here, and spoken here, and been
heard here, all crowd around my fancy and
incline me to shrink from any attempt to
address you. But l have some confidence
given me by the generous manner in which
you have invited me, and by the still more
generous manner in which you have received
me- To speak further, you have invited and
received me without distinction of party. l
cannot for a moment suppose that this has
been done in any considerable degree with
reference to my personal services. but that it