The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-11-19

A SPEECH ny THE PREsIDHNr.-Tha
several Lincoln aud johnson clubs of ths
district Of Columbia serenaded Presidsns
Lincoln on Thursday night, and. he ID.
dressed them as follows:
Il has long been grave question wheth.
or any government not too stroo0 for ths
liberties Of its people can be stronS enousS
to maintain Its own existence In rresf
emergencies. On this point the pressnt
rebellion brought our republic to Z sever
test, and Presidential election occurr;ns
IN regular course during the rebellion. a.
ded not little to the strain. II the lovsI
people united were put to the utmoSt -
their strength BY the rebellion, must ths~
not fail when divided and partially nsrsY
yzed by political war among themselvsaS
but e6e election was necessity. We cannot
have free government without elections
and II the rebellion could force US to forecr
Or postpone national election, it mirHt
fairly claim to have already connueesS
and ruined US. The strife Of the election
Is but human nature practically applied tn
the facts OF the case. What has occurrsd
in this case must ever recur in similar
cases. Human nature will not chanpe-
In any future great national trial COMPARED
with the men OF this, we shall have as
weak and as strong, as silly and as wise
as bad and as good. Let rs Therefore
st udy the incidents of this election q nhi.,
lOsophers, to learn wisdom from them. ard
consider none of them as wrongs to be ra1
yenged. [Cheers.
But the election alone with its incidental
and undesirable strife has done good too
eminent can sustain n ational election in
the midst Of great civil war, renewed
cheers, until it has been known to thu
world that this was a possibility. 1t shows
also, how sound and h0w strong we still
are-it shows even among the candidates
Of the same party he who is most devoted
to the Union and most opposed to treason.
can receive most of the peoples votes.-
(Applause.) It shows also to the extent
yet known that we have more men than
we had when the war began. Gold il FOOD
IN Its place, but living, brave and patriotic
men are better than gold. prolonged
cheers.)
But the rebellion continues, and now that
the election is over, may not all having
common interest reunite in common e:-
fort TO save our common country? loud
cheers. For my own part, have striven
and shall strive, 10 avoid placing any OBJ
stacle in the way. (Cheers.) So long a. I
nave been here, have not willingly plan.
ted q thorn in any mans bosom. While
am deeply sensible to the high compliment
OF reelection, and duly grateful, as I
trust, to Almighty God for having directed
my countrymen to right conclusion, (as
think for their good, it adds nothing to
my satisfaction that any man may be dis
appointed by the result. (Cheers.j Nav I
ask those who have not differed with me to
Join with me in this same spirit towards
those who have. And now let me close bv
asking three hearty cheers for our brave
soldiers and seamen and their gallant and
skillful commanders.
The three cheers were enthusiastically
given, accompanied by music and cannon.
The crowd then called on Secretaries Sew
ard, Welles, and Bates, and Gen. Ord, each
OF whom addressed them, and on Secreta-
res Fessenden, Stanton and Usher, who
did not appear.