February 14, 1861; The New York Herald
Last evening a large torchlight procession marched to the Burnet House and called out Mr. Lincoln, who briefly returned his thanks for the honor done him. A number of citizens afterwards had the pleasure of shaking Mr. Lincoln’s hand.
It was not until after midnight that the corridors of the Burnet House were vacated by the last of the thousands that had come to take a look at the President elect, and quietness settled over the immense edifice. A strong police force had charge of the hotel all night, and secured the Presidential party the rest they so greatly needed.
At half past six o’clock this morning the call to rise was made on the floor assigned to the President, his family and suite. Shortly after seven o’clock the entire company partook of breakfast. The Governor and other prominent representatives of Indiana and the city committees then took formal leave of Mr. Lincoln and party, and soon after eight o’clock the carriages conveyed them to the Little Miami depot.
Several thousand people were assembled around the depot to bid farewell to the distinguished visiter. An efficient police escort prevented, however, any close approach, and the cars were entered without any uncomfortable crouding. At nine A.M. precisely the whistle was sounded, and the train rolled out amidst the cheers of the innumerable spectators.
Mr. Lincoln stood on the platform of the rear car as the train went out of the depot, bowing his farewell to the crowd, who cheered enthusiastically. Mr. A. Stager, General Superintendent of the Western Telegraph Company, goes with the Presidential party as far as Buffalo, with apparatus for making a connection with wires between the stations, in case of accident to the train.
COLUMBUS, Feb. 13, 1861.
The magnificent weather today again favored the President travels. This, together with the happy appointments of those in charge of the special train, rendered the trip to Columbus the most pleasant portion of the journey thus far accomplished. The train consisted of three passenger cars in which only about a hundred persons were comfortably distributed. The Presidential family and suite occupied the rear, the local company the middle, and the representatives of the press the front car. Of prominent individuals there were aboard Adjutant General Carrington, deputed by the Governor of the State to escort Mr. Lincoln to the capital; Col. McGlan, Judge R. P. Spaulding, of Cleveland; Gen. Robinson, of Pittsburg; and Larz. Anderson, the brother of Major Anderson, and the members of the legislative reception committees.
The President, although somewhat stiffened in his limbs by his hand shaking exertions last night, and suffering from a cold, was in the best of humor all day, and chatted and laughed continually. Mrs. Lincoln was likewise in her most pleasant mood, and conversed with the ladies and gentlemen around her in the most lively manner. Bob did not seem to feel any the worse from the sparkling Catawba with which the republican youths of Cincinnati had plied him so liberally the previous evening, and contributed much to the general good feeling by his gay colloquial ways. The two youngest Lincoln sprigs were also exurberant with juvenile delight at the exciting scenes they passed through.
The train rushed on at the rate of thirty miles an hour, and reached this point before three P.M. Short stoppages were made only at Milford, Loveland, Morrow, Xenia and London stations, although large and enthusiastic crowds had gathered, with bands of music and artillery at all others.
The President was slightly hoarse from his frequent speaking in the open air on the two preceding days, and his friends desired him to maintain a strict silence, but his good naturedness made it impossible for him to remain unmoved at the anxiety manifested everywhere to hear and to see him. He appeared on the platform and spoke a few kind words at each of the stopping places. In Xenia a countless multitude, very largely sprinkled with colored people, awaited his arrival, and indulged in the wildest demonstrations of enthusiasm. An intense scramble for a touch of his hand ensued upon the conclusion of his remarks, and it was with difficulty that he beat a safe retreat into his car. An equally demonstrative ovation was made at London, the whole population of which appeared to have turned out. Owing to some misunderstanding among the Committee of Arrangements, no provision had been made for dinner on the way; the appearance of two baskets full of cakes shortly after twelve o’clock was, therefore, the signal of great rejoicing among the company. A rush, headed by Bob, who swooped upon his prey with a yell of delight, was made, and the contents disposed of in a twinkling.
Mr. Lincoln arrived here at two o’clock, the announcement being made by the firing of cannon. The city is crowded. Under a military escort Mr. Lincoln and suite arrived at the State capital. He was visited by Governor Dennison, in the Executive room, and after introductions proceeded to a joint session of the Legislative in Representative Hall, and was welcomed by Lieutenant Governor Kirk in a short address, to which Mr. Lincoln responded.
Verily, the journey of the President elect is a march of triumph. Columbus is only a second class city, of twenty thousand inhabitants, but its population must have been tripled today by the invasion of curious myriads from the rural districts. The public street and squares were literally black with human beings, of all ages, sexes and conditions, while the procession moved towards the State House with the honored guest of Ohio, such universal, genuine, spontaneous rejoicing as burst forth in every direction at the sight of the choice of the nation for the highest office in the land, proves most irresistibly that the popular mind of this section of the great Buckeye State is fully convinced that Abraham Lincoln will be worthy of the confidence reposed in him, and in the fulfillment of his high mission look only to his country’s mood. Party distinctions seem to be entirely wiped out among the western masses; the maintenance of the Union, the constitution and the federal laws, is the all pervading sentiment to which men of all parties expect the future chief Magistrate of the country to respond in a truly patriotic manner.
The reception of the President elect by the General Assembly presented a most solemn and touching scene, and all that witnessed it felt the deepest emotion. Mr. Lincoln was so profoundly moved as to be hardly able to do himself justice in his reply to the address of the President of the Senate; but the earnestness and conscientiousness that plainly shone on his face effected more than the audience than words could. The following was Mr. Lincoln’s address: –
MR. PRESIDENT AND MR. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
It is true, as has been said by the President of the Senate, that a very great responsibility rests upon me in the position to which the votes of the American people have called me. I am deeply sensible of that weighty responsibility. I cannot but know what you all know, that without a name, perhaps without a reason why I should have a name, there has fallen on me a task such as did not rest even on the Father of his country, and so feeling I cannot but turn and look for the support without which it will be impossible for me to perform that great task. I turn on, and look to the American people and to that God who has never forsaken them. Allusion has been made to the interest felt in relation to the policy of the new administration. In this I have received from some degree of credit for having kept silence, and from others some deprecation. I still think that I was right. In the trying and repeatedly shifting scenes of the present , and without a precedent which could enable me to judge the past, it has seemed fitting that before speaking on the difficulties of the country, I should have gained a view of the whole field, to be sure, after all, being at liberty to modify and change the course of policy as future events may make a change necessary. I have not maintained silence from any want of real anxiety. It is a good thing that there is no more than anxiety for there is nothing going wrong. It is a consoling circumstance that when we look out there is nothing that really hurts anybody. We entertain different views upon political questions, but nobody is suffering anything. This is a most consoling circumstance, and from it we may conclude that all we want is time, patience and a reliance on that God who has never forsaken this people. Fellow citizens, what I have said, I have said altogether extemporaneously, and will now come to close.
The curiosity of the thousands that filled the spacious State House was so persistent that Mr. Lincoln could not tear himself away to enjoy his dinner until four o’clock. From that hour until half past six he and his family enjoyed the quietness of Governor Dennison’s private residence. At that time its doors were thrown open to the State officers, members of the Legislature, and other prominent men of all political complexions.
The ease, frankness and readiness with which he entered upon all subjects presented to him in the course of conversation, was the subject of general laudation. His personal appearance was pronounced by all much better than had been inferred from his portraits. At eight o’clock a collation was served up, after which the President was again escorted to the State House, where an immense assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, were in waiting for a shake of his hand; but their intended victim plead great fatigue, and returned to the gubernatorial mansion after a brief stay.
Mr. Lincoln was apprised by special telegraph of the counting of the electoral vote this afternoon, and heartily congratulated by his friends. Mrs. Lincoln abandoned her intentions to start from Springfield a week after Mr. Lincoln upon the suggestion of General Scott, who thought a separate journey might be construed into a sign of apprehension of danger.
Mr. Lincoln leaves here at half past seven o’clock tomorrow morning.
Mr. Lincoln is expected to speak at Pittsburg, Buffalo, Albany, New York and Harrisburg.
Mr. Lincoln will arrive in Washington on Saturday of next week, and will stop at a private house.