The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-02-28

YOU left Your home In a distant place, and
every word that has fallen from your lips
has fallen upon the ears of an excited but
patriotic and loyal people. IApplause.
Sir, as President elect of the United
States. you are called to the discharge OF
official duties at a period of time when the
public mind is distracted and divided,
when animositics and distractions divide
the people of this hitherto happy and pros
porous country. You undertake. sir, no
easy task. You must restore fraternal
feeling. You must heal up discord. You
mus. produce amity in place of hostility,
and restore prosperity, peace and concord
to this unhappy country Applause. And
future generations will rise up and call
you blessed.
Sir, this day, by act of our Legislature,
VIC unfurled from the dome Of the Capitol,
the flag Of our country, carried there in
the arms Of men who defended the country
when defence was reedeG. [ assure you
sir, there is no star Or stripe erased, and
on its azure field there blazons forth thir-
ty-four stars, Hong continued applause
the number Of the bright con stellatlon Of
States over which You are called by Il free
people, In Il fair election, to preside. We
trust, sir, that in the discharge Of your
high office. you may reconcile the unhappy
differences now existing, as they have been
heretofore Ieconciled.
Sir, when Cancellation has failed, read
our history, study our tradition. Here
are the people who viii defend You, the
Constitution, the Laws and The integrity
Of this Onion.
Our great law-9ivor and founder estab-
lishcd this government Of free people in
deeds Of peace. We are a peaceful, laho-
rious people We believe NATURALIZATION,
progress and christianity are advanced by
the protection OF free and paid labor.
Sir, [ welcome you TO TIE midst OF this
generous people, and may the God who
has so long watched over this country,
give you wisdom to discharge the high
duties that devolye upon you, to the ad-
vancement CT the greatness and glory Of
the government, and the happiness and
prosperity Of the people"
The cheering and intense excitement
consequent upon the close Of the Cover
nor'S remarks, having somewhat subsidized,
Mr. Lincoln spoke as follows:
Gov Curtin and citizens of the State
Of Pennsylvania Perhaps the best thing
that could do would be sjmply-to endorse
the patriotic and eloquent speech which
your Governor has just made in your hear
ing. [Arplause.l am quite sure that
| am unable TO address TO you anything
50 appropriate as that which he has ut
tered.
Reference has been made by him to
the distraction Of the public mind at this
time and to the great tasi, that lies before
me IN enterin" upon the administration Of
the General Government With all the
eloquence aud ability that your Governor
brings to this theme,
| am quite sure he does not-in his
situation he cannot-appreeiate as | do
the weight Of that great esponsibility.-
feel that, under God, in the strength oi
the arm and wisdom Of the heads of these
masses, alter all, must be on nay support
Immense cheering As have often had
occasion to say, | repeat TO you--l am
quite sure l DO not deceive myself when
l tell you ! bring TO the work an honest
heart; | dare not tell you that bring a
head sufficient for it. \ voice-''we
are sure Of that"l IF my owr strength
should fail, shall at least fall back upon
these masses, who | think, under any cir
cunstances viii not fail
/ Allusion has been made to the peaceful
principles upon which this great Com
monwealth was originally settled Allow
me 70 add my need OF praise to those
/ peaceful principles. hope no one OF
the Friends Eho originally settled here.
/ Or who live here now, has been or IS a
more devoted lover Of peace, harmony
and concord thau my humble self.
While l have been proud to see toe day
the finest military array, think, that |
have ever seen, allow me TO say in regard
to those men that they give hope Of what
may be done when war is inevitable But
at the same time, allow me TO express the
hope that in the shedding Of blood their
services may never be needed, especially
IN the shedding of fraternai blood il
shall be ny endeavor to preserve the peace
Cf this country 50 far as it can possibly be
done, consistent with the maintenance of
the institutions of the country With my
consent, or without my great displeasure,
this country shall never witness the she'd
ding OF one drop Of blood in fraternal
strife
And now, my fei,ow-citizens. as / have
made many speeches, allow me to bid YOU
farewell"
Dir. Lincoln then retired with the Cow
ernor to the suite Of rooms appropriated