Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-06
MI. Lincoln's Speech.

MOVEMENTS OF MR.. LINCOLN.
Yesterday afternoon the President-elect
had interviews with various persons and
delegations. Mr.. Horace Greeley, Senator
Douglas, Mr.. John Bell, Governor Hicks of
Maryland Messrs. Guthrie of Kentucky and
Rives of Virginia were among his visitors
late in the day. At night Mr.. and Mrs.
Lincoln received" in their rooms, and the
throng Whereabouts was somewhat of the
densest. and even the policemen stationed
In the passages with difficulty maintained
their foothold.
INTERVIEW OF THE CITY AUTHORI-
TIES WITH MR.. LINCOLN.
The city authorities yesterday, after their
farewell interview with Mr.. Buchanan, pro-
ceeded to Wizards Hotel to welcome the
President-elect to this city, On arriving at
the hotel they were ushered into one of
announced that Mr.. Lincoln was ready to
receive them. Marching up the stairs in
double file, the party with the rear brought
up by the chief of police, Captain Goddard,
were introduced into the presence of our
future President. Mayor Berret having
been introduced to Mr. Lincoln by DR..
Blake, commissioner of public buildings,
proceeded to address MIN as follows:
Mr.. Lincoln: AS the President-elect, under
the Constitution of the United States, you
are soon to stand in the august presence
of a great nation of freemen, and enter
upon the discharge of the duties of the
highest public trust known to our form of
government, and under circumstances
menacing the peace and permanency Of the
republic, which have no parallel in the
history of our country. 1t is our earnest
wish that you may be able, as we have no
doubt you WILL to perform the duties in
such a manner as shall restore peace and
a n
and finally bring the old ship Of state into
harbor of safety and prosperity, thereby
deservedly securing the universal plaudits
of the whole world l avail myself. sir, of
TINS occasion to say that the citizens Of
Washington, true to the instinct of con-
stitutional liberty, will ever be found faith
full to all the obligations of patriotism, as
their chief magistrate, and in accordance
with the honored usage / bid YOU welcome
to the seat of government
Mr.. Lincoln replied as follows:
Mr.. Mayor: thank you, and through you
the municipal authorities of this city who
accompany you, for this welcome. And as
1t Is the first time in my. life, since the
present phase of politics has presented it
self in this country. that 4 have said any,
thing publicly within region of coun-
try where the institution Of slavery exists,
W., VIII take TINS OCCASION 70 SAY that
existed and still exists between the peo-
pie in the sections from whence I came
and the people here is dependent upon a
misunderstanding Of one another. I. there
fore, avail myself of this opportunity to
assure you, Mr.. Mayor, and all the gen
tlemen present, that have, not now, and
never have had. any other than as kindly
feelings toward you as to the people OF
my own section. / have not now, and
never have had, any disposition to treat
you in any respect otherwise than as my
own neighbors. l have not now any pur-
pose to withhold from you any of the bene-
fits of the Constitution, under any circum-
stances, that would not feel myself con-
strained to withhold from my own neigh
bors; and hope, in word. that when we
shall become better acquainted-and I say
1t with great coniidence-we shall like each
other better. I thank you for the kindness
of this reception.
The members of the city councils were
then severally introduced to the President
elect, together with a few of our private
citizens, and after a few minutes of social
conversation the party retired. In intro
ducing the chief of police Captain God
dard, Mayor Berret pleasantly added: The
gentleman who attends to the peace OF the
city," to which Mr.. Lincoln laughingly re-
piled, II hope he will continue in his folly
Everything passed on pleasantly. and the