Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-11-09


A SPEECH BY THE LATE PRESIDENT
LINooLN.-In the course of speech at
political meeting in Philadelphia, on
Sept 18th, Mr.. Forney read speech
which he said was made by President Lin
coin in 1854, and which had never before
been published. The circumstances, as
he narrated them, were that early in 1864,
a committee waited upon Mr.. Lincoln for
the purpose Of presenting to him certain
resolutions which had been unanimously
adopted by the Union League of Philadel-
phia demanding at the hands of the ma
tional convention his denomination for the
Presidency. The speech of Mr.. Line In,
Mr.. Forney said, was taken down by the
reporter in full, but never published. He
said:
IL 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 manitestation-of
which heard some lime ago, and which
is now formally presented to me-of the
confidence of the Union League of Phila-
delphia is very grateful to my feelings. II
it should extend TO tie presentation Of
what is similar TO il by the whole nation,
it would, by its comparatively greater size,
be still more grateful to my feelings
When this is said, so far as personal and
selfish considerations are concerned, all is
said that is pleasant to me in the light of
being here four years more. 1t is a situ-
alton which has been 10 me one of painful
anxiety and toll far beyond anything | had
ever before conceived of.
Having said this much in regard TO the
mere selfshness of the matter, will state
briefly what suppose to be the duty of
every true man in the country, myself in
Guided, and that is to do whatever he can
that will b'st advance the great cause of
saving our country.
Now, shall shrink from nothing that
shall appear to me to be required for that
object. ] shall not shrink from another
mans nomination for the Presidency with
any greater hesitation than l would from
my own. II il shall be made TO appear il
any way that the elements upon which the
salvation Of the country is 10 depend car
be better combined by Diminishing me, the
country can have no difficulty in getting
rid of me, On the contrary, ] suppose
need not hesitate TO say here, that if i
shall appear that the best way of concen
trating and consolidating the forces upol
the salvation of the country is TO depen,
on using me further, / can say l do no
shrink from it. Now, do moi know tina
it is best TO publish this but, after wha
has been said to me, / could not avoit
making ii public. 1t is easy to miscon
strue. 1t is easy TO say am in the field
openly for The Presidency-canvass nc foi
it. | hope | am not. 90 not think it i;
good for the country that it should be SC
construed and understood. AN sure here
tonight, in the presence of You gentlemen
and the Almighty, that there is not one
act that am conscious cf having done
that looked to this end for myself--tha
looked to any personal end. l think ,
man should, in times like these, so keeT
himself as to be conscious that whatever
he has done in this high position, and es
pecially in these extraordinarily difficult
times, he has done only for the good of thu
country"