Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-05
LiNCOLN'S INAUGURATION.

AS q ma Orlty OF the voters Of the
last election were unborn or too young
10 know from recollection the clrcum-
stances of Mr. Lincoln's Inauguration,
reproduction of the principal Incl
dents will prove interesting, writes a
Washington correspondent to the
Philadelphia Times
On the morning of FEB. II, 1861,
the citizens OF Springfield, H., began
TO assemble at the depot and by
s o'clock large Number had assem-
bled. The day was gloomy, the sky
dark, and rain was falling. AT pre-
cisely five minutes before s o'clock
Mr.. Lincoln and a single attendant
emerged from a private room and
walked slowly to the car, the people
feling back, and as many as could
shaking his hand From the platform
of the car, after removing his hat and
drawing himself up to his full height,
ne stood in profound silence for
several seconds, surveying the faces
of his friends and neighbors. An &C
count says there was an unusual
culver ON his lip, and q still more un-
usual tear on his shTiveltd cheek
His solemn manner and his long
silence were as full OF melancholy
eloquencc as any words he could have
uttered. The crowd stood uncovered
with unmistakable sympathy. Be
ginning slowly, and in husky voice
ne spoke as follows
Friends, no one who has never
been placed in like position can un-
derstand my feelings at this hour, nor
the oppressive sadness ] feel at this
parting. For more than a quarter of
century had lived among you, and
during all that time l have received
nothing but kindness at your hands
Here / have lived from my youth,
until now | am an old man. Here
the most sacred ties of earth were
born, and here one of them lies buried.
To you, dear friends. owe all that l
have, all that am. all the strange,
checkered past seems TO crowd now
upon my mind. To-day ] leave you.
go to assume a task more difficult
than that which devolyed upon Wash
ington. Unless the great God who
assisted him shall be with me and aid
me, | must fail, but if the same omni-
scent mind and almighty arm that
directed and protected HIM guide aud
support me, / shall not fail shall
succeed. Let us all pray that the
God of our fathers may not forsake
us now. TO Him / commend you all.
Permit me to ask that with equal
sincerity and faith you invoke His
wisdom and guidance for me With
these few words l must leave you, for
how long / know not Friends, one
and all | now bid you an affechonate
farewell"
Mr.. Lincoln had never appeared SO
affected before, and his simple clio
quence moved his listeners deeply.
The train moved out, and his neigh
bors, with few exceptions never saw
him after. When little more than
four years mad passed his remains
were brought back 10 the same place
for burial.
Al nearly every place on the route
to Washington the people came out to
greet Mr. Lincoln, and at the princi-
pal cities he adore ssed them. In every
instance he referred to the great cues
ton with which he was to grapple.
He did not believe there was to be
serious trouble He said that the
clouds would soon clear away, and
that TIE sun was shining behind
them. In Indianapolis he said that
the federal laws must be upheld, but
recoiled from coercion" and ''inva-
sion" At Columbus he said he con
soled himself that there was nothing
worse than anxiety-that there was
nothing yet seriously doing wrong.
1--WE entertain different views upon
political questions but nobody is
suffering anything, This is q most
consoljng circumstance, and from 1t
! Judge that all we want is time and
patience, and reliance on that God
who has never f0rsaken this people
These observations he repeated at
Pittsburg and many other places with
greater fullness and increased empha-
sis. As Harrisburg he said 1t is
not with any pleasure that | c0ntem-
plate the possibility that a necessity
may arise in this country for the use
of the military ann. Referring TO
the presence in the streets Of a military
force as a part of the great throng who
had come out to welcome him, he
said: Il desire 10 rereat, in order 10
preclude any possible misconstruction
that do most sincerely hope thu. We
shall have no use for them that it
will never become their duty to shed
blood, and most especially never to
sned fraternal blood
Mr.. Lincoln arrived in Philadelphia
from New York ON the DIST, ard was
received with unbounded enthusiasm.
News was here brought that there
was Matching in Baltimore c6nspir-
acy to assassinate him as he passed
through that city. Conferences were
held with railroad officials, the civil
magistrates, and citizens. Many
doubted the existence of any such
conspiracy, though many alleged facts
We're related to sustain the report :
nevertheless it was thought best to
act with prudence Mr.. Seward sent
word from Washington of the cou-
spiracy, setting It forth as much
greater IN scope than the first reports
ID -,