LINCOLN, ABRAHAM. 



415 



present and of the futnre of this country for 

 the good of the North and of the South for 

 the good of one and of the other, and of all 

 sections of it. In the mean time, if we have 

 patience, if we maintain our equanimity, though 

 some may allow themselves to run off in a 

 burst of passion, I still have confidence that the 

 Almighty Ruler of the Universe, through the 

 instrumentality of this groat and intelligent 

 people, can and will bring us through this diffi- 

 culty, as he has heretofore brought us through 

 all preceding difficulties of the country. Rely- 

 ing upon this, and again thanking you, as I for- 

 ever shall, in my heart, for this generous recep- 

 tion you have given me, I bid you farewell." 



At Albany, he was met by a delegation from 

 the city authorities in New York, and on the 

 19th started for that city. Vast crowds greet- 

 ed him at every important station on the Hud- 

 son River Railroad. At Poughkeepsie, he was 

 welcomed by the mayor of the city, who hoped 

 that he would so administer the affairs of the 

 Government that the whole country would bless 

 him. Mr. Lincoln in reply said : 



" I am grateful for this cordial welcome, and 

 I am gratified that this immense multitude has 

 come together, not to meet the individual man, 

 but the man who, for the time being, will 

 humbly but earnestly represent the majesty of 

 the nation. These receptions have been given 

 me at other places, and, as here, by men of 

 different parties, and not by one party alone. 

 It shows an earnest effort on the part of all to 

 save, not the country, for the country can save 

 itself, but to save the institutions of the coun- 

 try those institutions under which, for at least 

 three-quarters of a century, we have become the 

 greatest, the most intelligent, and the happiest 

 people in the world. These manifestations 

 show that we all make common cause for these 

 objects ; that if some of us are successful iu an 

 election, and others are beaten, those who are 

 beaten are not in favor of sinking the ship in 

 consequence of defeat, but are earnest in their 

 purpose to sail it safely through the voyage in 

 hand, and, in so far as they may think there 

 has been any mistake in the election, satisfying 

 themselves to take their chance at setting the 

 matter right the next time. That course is en- 

 tirely right. I am not sure I do not pretend 

 to be sure that in the selection of the indi- 

 vidual who has been elected this term, the 

 wisest choice has been made. I fear it has not. 

 In the purposes and in the principles that have 

 been sustained, I have been the instrument se- 

 lected to carry forwird the affairs of this Gov- 

 ernment. I can rely upon you, and upon the 

 people of the country ; and with their sustain- 

 ing hand, I think that even I shall not fail in 

 carrying the Ship of State through the storm." 



The reception of President Lincoln in New 

 York City was a most imposing demonstration. 

 Places of business were generally closed, and 

 hundreds of thousands were in the streets. On 

 the next day, he was welcomed to the city by 

 Mayor Wood, who, in his address, spoke of the 



state of public affairs in very emphatic terms, 

 as follow-; : 



'Mr. Lincoln: As Mayor of New York, it 

 becomes my duty to extend to you an official 

 welcome in behalf of the Corporation. In 

 doing so, permit me to say that this city has 

 never offered hospitality to a man clothed with 

 more exalted powers, or resting under graver 

 responsibilities, than those which circumstances 

 have devolved upon you. Coming into office 

 with a dismembered Government to recon- 

 struct, and a disconnected and hostile people 

 to reconcile, it will require a high patriotism, 

 and an elevated comprehension of the whole 

 country, and its varied interests, opinions, and 

 prejudices, to so conduct public affairs as to 

 bring it back again to its former harmonious, 

 consolidated, and prosperous condition. 



" If I refer to this topic, sir, it is because 

 New York is deeply interested. The present 

 political divisions have sorely afflicted her peo- 

 ple. All her material interests are paralyzed. 

 Her commercial greatness is endangered. She 

 is the child of the American Union. She has 

 grown up under its maternal care, and been 

 fostered by its paternal bounty ; and we fear 

 that if the Union dies, the present supremacy 

 of Ne\v York may perish with it. To you, 

 therefore, chosen under the forms of the Con- 

 stitution as the head of the Confederacy, we 

 look for a restoration of fraternal relations be- 

 tween the States only to be accomplished by 

 peaceful and conciliatory means aided by the 

 wisdom of Almighty God." 



Mr. Lincoln immediately replied, but without 

 affording any satisfaction on those subjects of 

 which the Mayor expressed anxiety. 



" Mr. Mayor : It is with feelings of deep 

 gratitude that I make my acknowledgments for 

 the reception given me in the great commercial 

 city of New York. I cannot but remember 

 that this is done by a people who do not, by a 

 majority, agree with me in political sentiment. 

 It is the more grateful, because in this I see 

 that, for the great principles of our Govern- 

 ment, the people are almost unanimous. In 

 regard to the difficulties that confront us at 

 this time, and of which your Honor has thought 

 fit to speak so becomingly and so justly, as I 

 suppose, I can only say that I agree in the sen- 

 timents expressed. In my devotion to the 

 Union, I hope I am behind no man in the na- 

 tion. In the wisdom with which to conduct 

 the affairs tending to the preservation of the 

 Union, I fear that too great confidence may 

 have been reposed in me ; but I am sure I bring 

 a heart devoted to the work. There is nothing 

 that could ever bring me to willingly consent 

 to the destruction of this Union, under which 

 not only the great commercial city of New 

 York, but the whole country, acquired its great- 

 ness, except it be the purpose for which the 

 Union itself was formed. I understand the ship 

 to be made for the carrying and the preserva- 

 tion of the cargo, and so long as the ship can 

 be saved with the cargo, it should never be 



