Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-11-01

~
coLN.-In the course of a speech at a po-
ltical meeting IN Philadelphia, on Sept.
IS, Mr.. Forney read speech which he
said was made by President Lincoln in
1864, and which had never before been
published. The circumstances, as he
narrated them, were that early in 1864
committee waited upon Mr.. Lincoln
for the purpose Of presenting to him
certain resolutions which had been
unanimously adopted by the Union
League of Philadelphia demanding at
the hands of the national convention
his denomination for the Presidency.
The speech of Mr.. Lincoln, Mr.. For
ney said, was taken down by the re-
porter In full, but never published. He
said:
| suppose that all men are more or
less selfish, and l do not suppose that
am an exception TO the rule. | very
freely acknowledge that this manifesto
tion-of which / heard some time ago,
and which is now formally presented to
me-of the confidence Of the Union
League of Philadelphia is very grateful
to my feelings. If it should extend to
the presentation of what is similar to it
by the whole nation, it wonld, by it's
comparatively greater size, be still more
grateful to my feelings, When this is
said, so far as personal and selfish con-
siderations are concerned, all is said
that is pleasant to me in the light of
being here four years more. 1t is a sit
uation which has been to me one Of
painful anxiety and toll far beyond any
thing | had ever before conceived of.
Having said this much in regard to
the mere sefShneSS of the matter, |
will state BRIEFLY what l suppose to
be the duty Of every true man in the
country, myself Included and that is to
do whatever he can that will best adj
vance the great cause Of saving our
country.
|, Now, I shall shrink from nothing that
shall appear to me to be required for
that object. | shall not shrink from
another mans nomination for the Presi-
deuCy with any greater hesitation thar
| would from my own. If it shall be
, made TO appear in any way that the ele-
ments upon which the. salvation of the
country ID to depend can be better com
bined by dismissing me, the country can
have no difficulty in getting rid of me
: On the contrary, suppose I need not
: hesitate to say here, that if it shall ap-
, pear that the best way of concentrating
and consolidating the forces upon the
salvation Of the country is to depend or
using me further, I can say | do no
shrink from it. Now, do not know
that it is best to publish this; but, after
/. what has been said to me- l could mo-
avoid making it public. 1t is easy tt
, misconstrue. 1t is easy To- say am IL
the field openly fer the Presidency-can
wasting for it. 1 hope am not. dc
r not think it is good for the country tha
7 it should be so construed and under
stood. l am sure here tonight, in the
O presence Of you gentlemen and the AL
mighty, that there is not one act that
: am conscious of having done thatlookeC
i to this end for myself-that looked t
0 any personal end. think man should
: in times like these, so keep himself as t.
be conscious that whatever he has don,
: in this high position and especially il
d these extraordinarily difficult times
e he has done only for the good of tn,
q country.