February 14, 1861; The New York Herald
ALBANY, Feb. 13, 1861.
The committee to entertain the President elect is yet in hot water. Gov. Morgan insists that he shall have his own way, and that Lincoln shall dine at his house with a select party. He informed one of the committee that the dinner had been arranged, Lincoln had been invited and had accepted, and the committee might do as they pleased – that had been fixed.
The Committee convened again at twelve o’clock in the Executive Chamber. The Governor appeared before them, and insisted that he should meet Lincoln at the depot and ride up in the carriage with him; but on a direct vote of the committee it was decided that he should not, but on the contrary, should be in the rotunda of the Capitol, and welcome him in behalf of the Sate; and that the Mayor and Common Council should meet him at the depot. This decision was like a wet sheet to the Governor. They also decided that the Senate Committee shall take him to the Senate and the House Committee to the Assembly Chamber. They also agreed that he should be at the Delavan on the morning of Tuesday, for one hour, to receive calls from the ladies of Albany. The question then arose as to what should be done with him in the evening, and where he should dine. On this the Governor commenced to dictate, holding that it should be at his residence. Says one of the committee, ‘What will you do with Lincoln’s staff or those in his company?’ Says the Governor, ‘The State will pay their expenses – take them to any hotel that you please.’ A portion of the committee insisted that there shall be a legislative dinner…. Being unable to come to any conclusion, after a lengthy wrangle, it was agreed that a committee, consisting of the Governor, Mayor, Chairman of the Senate and Assembly Committee, should draw up a programme and submit it to the committee tomorrow morning for their action. The Governor is pleading with the members tonight for his plan, placing it on a point of honor. His position is looked upon as sublimely ridiculous. He seems to think that he owns the State. There are bitter denunciations uttered against Senator Ferry for his sneaking course. A movement is on foot tonight to get the Assembly to instruct the committee in favor of a legislative dinner.
There is intense excitement on the subject, and everybody is asking, ‘Will the Governor monopolize Lincoln?’ Really, what shall be done with the rail splitter? Shall the office seekers or the Legislature entertain him? What a trouble it is to have a President the first time.