Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-29
ur. Lineein's Tour 20 the Federal
Capital ne President elect


ur. Lineein's Tour 20 the Federal
Capital ne President elect
On the morning Of the llth Of February,
1861. Mr.. LISooLs left Springfield for the feder-
al capital to assume the duties OF the chief
magistrate of the nation. be arrived in this city
on the evening Of that day, having been received
on the route hither With the most enthusiastic |
demonstrations of respect and regard. He was
me, attbe state line by committee of the legis-
Is,ure then 10 session. and 10 response to speech
OF welcome TO the state he made the following
characteristic response:
Gentlemen Of Indiana: am happy TO meet
you on this occasion, and enter again the state OF
my early life. and almost of my nativity. am
under many obligations TO you for your kind re
cepsiou, and TO Indiana for the aid she rendered
the cause which think eminently just one.
Gentlemen, | shall address you at greater
length at indianapolis. but not much greater.
Again, gentlemen, | thank you for your warm
hearted reception.
Not only large concourse of the people of
the city and the state welcomed his arrival here,
but delegations aud committees from other cities
and states were present upon the occasion. his
visit was quite an event in the history OF Indian
apolis--it was the first visit of president cleo,
20 our city. Mr. LINCOLN Was welcomed in
speech by Governor MoRToS, as be lef, the cars.
20 which be briefly responded When he reached
the Bates House he appeared on one of the bal
comics Of that building and addressed the large
crowd OF people present in a speech which at the
time was regarded as foreshowiDg the policy
which should govern his administration OF the
government. The following report of his ad.
dress was revised BY himself. and we reproduce
il to show the current OF his thoughts at the time,
and bis estimate Of the grave responsibilities he
was about to assume He said:
Felio1 Citizens Of The State Of Indiana:
am here to thank you much for this magnif-
cent welcome. and still more for the very gener-
Gus support given by yOar state TO that political
cause which think is the true and just cause of
the whole country and the whole world.
Solomon says there Is" time 70 keep silence,
and when men wrapgle by the mouth with no
certainty that they meaR the same thing while
using the same trord. il perhaps were well il
they should keep silent.
The words coercion" and invasion are mnch
used in these days: and often with some temper
and hot blood. Let make sure, if We can,
that we do not misunderstood the meaning Of
those who use them. Let " get exact defni-
tons Of these words, not from the dictionaries.
but from the men themselves. who certainly de
precate the things they would represent from the
use of the words. What then Is coercion
What il ''invasion"f Would the marching of
an army into South Carolina without the consent
Of her people, and with hostile inten, towards
them be ''invasionf" | certainly think il would.
and it would be coercion" also, II the South
Carolinians were forced to submit. But if the
United States should merely hold aud retake its
own forts and other property, aud collect duties
foreign importations or even withhold the mails
from places where they were habiiually violated
would any or all of these things be invasion
or "coercion"l Do profcssed lovers of the
union but who sptefully resolve that they will
resist coercion and invasion, understand that
such things these on the part of the United
States would be coercion or invasion oil state!
IL so. their idea of means To preserve the object
of their great affections, would seem TO be ex-
ceedingly thin and airy. II sick the little pills
of the homeopathists would be much too large
for il to swallow. In their view. the union. as
family relation, would seem TO DC no marriage.
but rather a sort OF "free love" arrangement. to
be maintained only on ''passional attraction"
By the way, in what consists the special
credness OF slater speak not of the position
assigned to a state ia the unon By the consti-
tuition. for that, by the bond. all recog
nize That position, however. state can
II. 4
of that assumed primary right OF a
state 10 rule all which is less than itself aud ruin
oil that is larger than itself Ii state aud
county in given should be equal in extent
OF territory, and equal in number OF inhabitants,
IN what, as = matter of prinrple, is the state bet
ter than the county, Would an exchange Of
names be an exchange of rights upon principle?
On what rghtful principle may a state. being not
more than one fftieth part of the nation. in soil
ulaffo fha nd
coerce q proportionably larger sub division of
itself in the most arbitrary way? What mystic
rious right TO play tyrant is conferred on district
of country with its people, by merely calling IL
stafe2
Fellow citizens, am not asserting anything.
am merely asking questions for you to consider.
And nov allow me to bid you farewell.
Mr. LINCOLN could not have put his argument
in a stronger form. And reviewing it from the
present stand point after the bitter experience Of
the past four years, We can appreciate his homely
uttersnces in this city. the first ntimation he had
given Of his views of our then pending national
difficulties. as the key note of the policy which
should and which did control him. The speech
Was also eminent. characteristic Of the man.
At the the time il was delivered it appeared to
be common place. but subsequent events proved
its significance and the practical sagscity which
enabled him 10 comprehend and solve the most
intricate questions of public policy. But few
men in any age of this world possessed this pow
er in more eminent degree
Mr.. LINCOLN had no presidents TO guide him
in the discharge OF the responsible duties which
be had been called to discharge. lie was with
out chart or compass to direct him The ship of
state was usversing unknown sea. but the
pilot proved himself equal to the emergency and
doubtless if he had lived TO have finished the
voyage be would have landed the vessel in The
desired haven
How varied have been the scenes OF the past
fifty months Mr. LINCOLN was obliged to 60
from Harrisburg to Washington elandestinely TO
escape assassination Now his remains come
back over the same route to his prairie home
honored by all Over his bier the voice Of fac
ton IS hushed. and the whole nation nouns his
untimely end.
On his way 10 the national capital be was vel
eomed here by thousands but tens OF thousands
will be here to morrow to manifest their appre
citation of the nations affection. and their deies
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