Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-02-26

nents TO accept the invitation have had the
honor to extend, and to bespeak for you, in he
half of our people, a cordial and heartfelt well
come to Delaware soil.
Mr. Lincoln responded as follows;
Mr. CHAIRMAN feel highly nattered by the
you have seen fit to bestow upon
me- Soon after the nomination OF General
Taylor | attended political meeting in the
city of Wilmington and have since carried
with me fond remembrance Of the hospitali-
ties of the city on that occasion. The pro-
gramme established provides for my presence
in Harrisburg in twenty four hours from this
time expect to be in Washington on Sat
urday. 1t is, therefore, an impossibility, that
! should accept your kind invitation There
are no people whom would more gladly ac-
cOmmodnte than those of Delaware but cir
cumstances forbid, gentlemen. With many re-
grets for the character of the reply am
compelled TO give you, bid you adieu After
shaking hands, the interview here ended.
At eight O'Clock in the evening Mr., Lincoln
commenced holding public reception in the
parlor of the Continental. lie shook hands
with all the ladies while the gentleman were
content with receiving a word FROM the dis
tinguished guest. This ceremony continued
until half past ten O'Clock, when there was
grand display of fire works at Ninth and Chest
nut streets. The principal piece ofpyrotech
mics was nm arch, bearing the inscription,
"Wecome to Abraham Lincoln "The whole
Unionn Mr.. Lincoln retired to his chamber,
thoroughly exhausted The crowd congrega-
ted in the street and the hotel was immense.
THE MOREIa0 OF THE TwBNTY-sEoOND.
Tho fact TINT the President elect of the United
States would, very early in the morning, with his
own hands, raise the flag Of our country, benrug
thirty-four stars, to wave over the Hall of Inde
pendonee, drew u crowd in the vicinity of the
honored edifce even before the sun was up
The temperature Of the atmoshrre was clear and
cold, but the sky was fair and the indications
were favorable to such weather as befitted the
demonstrations of the day.
AT daylight, bells were ruug md national ga
lutes were fired. The stars aud stripes were run
up in every section of the town, and there was
nescr a more liberal display of the national hunt
ing The sound of drums eArly aroused sleeping
citizens to the dOings Of the day.
MIR. LINCOLN IN THE HALL.
At Z o'clock Mr.. Lincoln was ushered into the
Hall, his face betraying the emotion with which
he stood in that historic room. Here he was
welcomed by Theodore L. Ouyler, Esq, Pres-
dent of Select Council.
RESPONSE OF NIL LINCOLN.
Mr.. Lincoln responded as fuliows:-
Mr.. Cuyler;-l am flied with deep emotion
at finding myself standing here 10 the place
where were collected together the wisdom, the
|
sprang the institutions under which we live
You have kindly suggested to me that in my
hands is the task OF restoring peace to our dis
iracted country. can say in RETURN sir that
all the political sentiments | entertain have been
drawn, 80 far MS l have been able to draw them
from the sentiments which originated, and were
given to the world from this hall in which we
stand. have never had feeling politically
that did not spring from the sentiments embo-
! fiunt fha linn uf Iu1n
cheering.) have often pondcrcd over the dan
gers which were incurred by the men who as
sembed here and adopted that Declaration Of
lndepeudencc-l have pondered over the tolls
that were endured by the officers and soldiers of
the army, who achieved that Independence. TAP
plause.) have often inquired Of myself, what
great principle or idea 1t was TINT kept this Com
fcderacy so long together. II was not the mere
matter of the separation of the colonies from
tho mother land but something in that Deohra-
ton giving liberty, not alone to the people of
this country, hut hope 10 the world for all future
time. (Great appause.) 1t was that which
gave promise that in due time the weights should
be lifted from the shoulders of all men, and that
all should have I'M equal chance. Cheers -
This is the sentiment embodied in that Declara-
ton of Independence.
, Now, my friends, eau this country he saved
upon that hasisY If il can, will consider my
self one Of the haPpcst men in the world if l
, can help to save il. II ii can't be saved upon
that principle, it will be truly awful. Bur, if
, this country cannot he saved without giving up
that principle was about to say would rather
, be nssassnated on this spot than to surrender it,.
= (Applause.)
Now. in nv view of the nrnsent asnert of of
, fairs there II no need al blogd.hod md var
There is no necessity fol it am not in favor
of such course, and | may buy in advance,
there will bc no blood shed uulcse it be forced
upon the Government. Tho Government will
; nat usn force unless forre ia ,sed 1c,;nst n
PROLONGED apnlanse md criea If e That,s Tho
proper septiment.nl
NV friends, this il a wholly uulrenared speeeb
did not exneet In he oolled nnan "a coz a ,vord
when | came here-I supnosed was merely IL
do something towards raising n aog / nav
therefore have snid something indiscraet (crie.
q of .no. "po.Y but hayo snid notbinS bnt
1 what am wiIlin, IN i've Nv md i, tio ,lessnro
, OF Almighty G,d. die by.
4 Mr.. Lincoln oonnlude1 amid great anrlause
MIR. Lincoln was then oonducted from thc
hall 10 the nlatform. bis nnnenronce being
! greeted with ronnI after round ~ cbecrs rising
: and swelling like the sound of tho SON
= Mr.. Stephen Benton linen addressed Mr. lin.
coin and the poople.
I ,u...... htrI ~, W Mn. LiSGoIS.
: isrlon 1 W Mr. n1usou' Mr. Lincoln said
hof,.a NV. Vi,aa s,;s nm invited ana called
u",oru you 70 par'spa1s IN raising above indie
apSd;,"Uoi i,n 'uv Lug VI V1u uouH"y, WIN an
auu'' w. e.ar up'n IT. Hheers,l propose
uom' ~ su'Auoe ~ performing ms very plea
J, words nropnss 70 Gov ,,i,n " 10y lew
ORIGINALLY raised hsre II bsa Int ,I;r,aa ma1
wisb 10 cal ymy a,tenton 10 Tho saot III s'a,s
dor tbe bessings NJ col asCh aq;,; I'M ~
added 10 that tsg boa sven oIj;,oaai I'll
md hannnsss Ia III cann,rv ~,,i, P;,vsPeri
vanced "a its nrssent conIi,inn anI ~ a