Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-19

Honored Sir. Chosen as you have been TO the
hqhest responsible ofico of the nation, or OF the
globe and journeying IS you are 70 the Federal
Capitol 70 enter gIoh yonr puoiiq !Se !S
Legislators, for the purpose Of brief soiourn at
the Capitol Of New York on behalf Of the people.
Irrespective OF political opinion. It Ia my privil
eye 70 greet you and extend cordial welcome
III you have found your fellow citizens elsewhere,
YOU have not found, and think you will not find
warmer hearts, or people more iaithI9l 10 lhe
Union the Constitution, and the laws, than yen
will meet In this time hOnored city and capital
The people thank you for the opportunity you
have this day afforded them, OF maniiesunB TO
you their crest respect, no less Tor yourself per
sonAlly, than for the high once you are destined
i,o9d cheers followed Gov Morgan's address,
when Mr. Lincoln replied rs follows:
Mr.. Governor-I was pleased TO receive an in
vitation 70 visit the Capi:Ol OF the great empire
| State OF this nation, on my way 70 the Federal
Capitol and I now thank you, Mr. Governor,
and the people Of this capital, and the people OF
the State ofNew York, for TINS most hear!y ana ana
great empire State az thls ttme contains greater
| population than ditthe United States OF Ame1
/ ca at the time she achieved her National lnde-
/ pendence. / am proud 10 be invited 70 pass
through your capital, and meet them IS have
now the honor 70 do
I am notified by your Governor, that the reeep-
i tion h given without distinction Of party l ac-
cept the more gladly because It s 90. Almost all
men In th country, and IN any country where
feedom L tolerated. attach themselves 20 politi-
/ cal parties II L. but ordinary charity to attri
butte this TO the fact that IN 80 atlaonlng hluSe
70 the party which his judgment prefers, the oiti
/ zen believes tnat he thereby promotes the best
interest of the whole country, and when an eec-
/ ton Is passed, Il ls altogether benehting free
people, that until the next election they should
/ be as one people.
| The reception you have given me this day given
10 me paFsoRsily II should not be so hut as the re-
presentatiye for the time being, Of the majority
/ Of the nation.
II the election had resulted IN the choice Of
either of the other paadidates, the same cordial
ity should have been extended 20 him as has been
extended TO me this day, as testimony OF The
devotion of the whole people to the Constitution
and TO the whole Union, and Of their desire 10
perpeiuate our Institution, and 10 hand them
down in their perfection to succeeding genera
| tions
Al have neither the voice nor the strength to ad.
/ dress you " any greater length | beg you will
accent my most crate fnl thanks for this devotion
not to me but to our great, glorious, and free
This address was accompanied and followed by
! loud applause, and Mr.. lincoln, after boWing to
/ the vast crowd. was conducted by committees TO
the Assembly Chamber
/ The Chamber presented fine appearance, be.
\ lag densely filled All those in the galleries and
most of those In the Lover lObies were ladies =
There were also JeVeral ladies within the bar oi
| the House.
Colvin who was selected by the Senate to receive
the President elect and by Speaker LittlejOhn
who stood on bis left.
| When Mr.. Lincoln entered the Chamber the
whole sssemblage rose and greeted him with loud
capping Of hands
Senator Ferry, advancing in front Of the speak
er's desk, said;
| Assembly Of the State of New York, in join
convention assembled, the Hon. Abraham Lin
coin, Of Illinois, President elect Of the United
States.
The speaker of the Assembly descended from
the desk, greeted Mr.. Lincoln, and leading hin
to the desk, introduced him TO Sena'Or Colvin.
| After shaking hands. Mr.. COvin descended
from the desk, leaving Mr.. Lincoln alone. Their,
he addressed him from the clerks desk as fol
lows:
Mr. Lincoln, on behalf of the Republicans o
the sovereign people of New York, We weioom'
you to the Capitol and to the representative hall
Of the State. We welcome you as President cleo
of three millions of people-we welcome you a
the President elect according to the forms of th'
Constitution Of the United States, and when
sir, you shall have assumed, as you soon will as
sumo, the OfiGe OF President ofthe United States
you may in the discharge of your constitutions
duties rely upon the support of the people of thi
great State. (Great applause have the pleas
ure, sir, to introduce you 10 the Legislature o
New York in joint convention assembled to wei
come the President elect Of the .. S.
Mr.. Lincoln responded as follows
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Legisla
ture of the State of New York 1t is with feel
ings Of great difidence, and may say with feel
ings of pleasure, perhaps greater than have re
Gently experienced, that meet You here in thi
place The history of this great State, the re
nown of those great men who have stood here
and spoken here, and been heard here, all croWC
around my fancy and incline me to shrink from
any attempt to address you, yet have some con
fdence given me by The generous manner il
which you have invited me, and by the still NOR
generous manner you have received me, TO speal
further. You have invited and received me with
out distinction Of party. I cannot for q momen
suppose that this has been done in any cOnsid
erable degree with reference to NY personal ser
vices, but that Il Is done in so far as am re
garded st this time as the representative of tht
majesty of this great nation. doubt not thi
is the truth and the whole truth of the case, anC
this is as it should be-
1t Is much more gratifying to me that th
reception has been given to me as q representa-
tive of Tree people than 1t could possibly be i
rendered me as an evidnce Of devotion TO me o
to any one man personally and now think Il
were more fitting that I should close those hasty
remarks. It is true, while honor myself without
mock modesty the humblest Of all individuali
thathave ever been elected to the PRESIDENCY thai
bave more difhcult task to perform thar
any enc of them you have generously ten
dered me the united support Of the great Empire
State
For this, in behalf of the nation, in behalf Of
the preseut and future of the nation in behalf oil
civil and religious liberty for all time to come
most gratefully do thank you.
| do not propose to enter into an explanation
Of any particular line of policy as TO our present
ministration. deem it just to you, 70 myself
and to all, that 1 should see everything, should
bear everything; that 1 should have every light
that can be brought within my reach. In order
that when do so speak shall have enjoyed ev
cry opportunity 70 take correct anu true ground
and for this reason l do not propose TO speak al
this time of the policy of the Government, but
when the time comes l shall speak as well as /
am able for the good of the present and future Of
| this country, for the good both of the North and
the South of this country, and Of all sections OF
the country. (Rounds of Applause.)
In the meantime if we have patience, If we
restrain ourselves, if we allow ourselves not to
| run of in passion, I still have confidence that
/ the Almighty Maker ofthe Universe will, through
the fundamentally of this great and intelligent
| people, bring Us through this as he has through
al the the'other difficulties of our country. Re
lying on this, again hank you for these gener-
Gus receptions. Applause and cheering.)
Immediately following the address the Speaker
| said the joint committee of both Houses will now
take recess to give m mbers of the Assembly an
opportunity Of an introduction to Mr.. Lincoln.
| In the Governors Room ME Lincoln was intro
duced to the State officers who were assembled to
receive him, and as he was conducted by Legis-
latiVe committee through the double ranks of the
the 25th regiment who presented arms to him as
he passed 70 his carriage.