The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1911-02-17
LINCOLN's
BIRTHDAY
This Year Also Semi Cen
tennial.
Of Civil War Opening Started
for White House Fifty
Years Ago.


rested on that mans shoulders.
The secession of the South was a
fact-the Civil war was about to be-
gin.
TIE semicantennial of thhe Rebellion
Is with us. And now, in another cen-
fury, bet us measure the tremendous
load that res5sd on Abraham Lincoln,
as he quietly passed the few days
preceding his birthday in Springfield
ILL.,. the Pressdent-elect of a divided
nation.
In less than three weeks he would
be In the White House succeeding
James Buchanan
The State of South Carolina had
seeded by Legislative ordinance on
Dec, 20, a month and half ahter
Lincoln's election.
Mississippi followed on Jan. 8.
Florida seceded on Jan. 10.
Alabama seceeded on jan IL
Georgia seeded on Jan. 49,
Louisiana Sacesded ON Jan. &c.
Texas seeded on the first of Feb
ruary.
virginia was trembling in the bal
ance between secession and loyalty.
So ware North Carolina, Arkansas and
Tennessee. Kentucky was torn with
dissension. Missouri was half in ia
vcr of secession, half in favor of re-
manning in the union.
The United States tneasury was emp
ty. Senators and snitatiNes ac-
tually could not gst enough money
from the Fed,sral Governm emit Ito pay
their board bills.
Governor after Governor of the So
called Cotton States had placed his
State troops in seaboard FORTS There
r.matned only Fort Sumter in Charles
ton harbor, FIT. Pickens at Pensacola
FIT Taylor at Key West, and Ft. JEFF
ferson a. TOrtugas island in the hands
of the Federal Government.
Custom houses had been taken
charge of by the seeding Governors
Custom revenues in the South we're
bd.rg used to uniform and arm men
for the Confederacy. ALI trle arsenals
in the South were in the hands of
the secess.Onists.
The Star of THE West, ship SAINT
with food to tn beloagured garrison
of about sixty men at FIT. Sumter,
had been fired upon January 3. and
was forced to abandon h5r mission.
Then began the siege of FIT. Sumter
in Charleston harbor, to which Maj.
Anderson had removed all his troops
from Forts Pickney and Moultrie, and
which ended WHEN the union flag was
drawn down and the union forces gave
mp the fort.
Fifty years ago to-day Lincoln was
standing in the waiting room of the
tiny depot ait Springfield, Ill. 1t was
a stormy morning, which added ito the
gloom of the fniends and neighbors
who had gathered to bid the Presi-
dsnt-elect goodby.
The party, consisting of the follow
ing people-Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln and
their three sons. RobGt T. William
and Thomas, DIR. W. S. Wallace. John
G. Nicoiay, John Hay, N. B. judd Hor
N. b. Judd, Hon David Davis, Col. II.
v. Summer, Capt George w. Hazard
Capt John Pops. Col w. II. Iamon,
Col. E. f. Elllslwonh. J. NJ. Burgess.
George G. Latham, w. S. Wood and
3. Forbes-and few other personal
friends and Other dignilarlos sntsrJd
the train
AS the locomotive bell gave "a warn
ing departure the Presidort-sIect APP
peared ON the mar platform and said.
mo one not in my situation can
appreciate the sadness of thls PARTING
Here my children have boon bern.
| now leave NOT knowing when or
whsther | may return. no His care
commanding you. | hope In your
prayer you will commGrn mo, 1 bid yo
train was gone.
Before night fall the train was In
indianapolis. where Indana's famous
war Governed. o. r. Morton, WELDON
ed Lincoln IN bshalf Of his people
At Columbus. o.. the State Lsgisla-
ture convened dn joint session. Go greet
him AS phe Lincooln train swept
through Stats after s1ata eastward
crowds everywhere walled TO see and
hear themsn who was to be thsir
nsxt President.
Perhaps An no one of the many AID
dresses delivered during his tour was
Lincoln so vislby moved and AFFECTED