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peculiar circumstances； to say the least； it would have been proper
for all citizens to have greeted him as you now greet me。 It is an
evidence of the devotion of the whole people to the Constitution； the
Union； and the perpetuity of the liberties of this country。 I am
unwilling on any occasion that I should be so meanly thought of as to
have it supposed for a moment that these demonstrations are tendered
to me personally。 They are tendered to the country； to the
institutions of the country； and to the perpetuity of the liberties
of the country； for which these institutions were made and created。
Your worthy mayor has thought fit to express the hope that I may be
able to relieve the country from the present； or； I should say； the
threatened difficulties。 I am sure I bring a heart true to the work。
For the ability to perform it； I must trust in that Supreme Being who
has never forsaken this favored land； through the instrumentality of
this great and intelligent people。 Without that assistance I shall
surely fail； with it； I cannot fail。 When we speak of threatened
difficulties to the Country； it is natural that it should be expected
that something should be said by myself with regard to particular
measures。 Upon more mature reflection； however； others will agree
with me that； when it is considered that these difficulties are
without precedent； and have never been acted upon by any individual
situated as I am； it is most proper I should wait and see the
developments； and get all the light possible； so that when I do speak
authoritatively； I may be as near right as possible。 When I shall
speak authoritatively； I hope to say nothing inconsistent with the
Constitution； the Union； the rights of all the States； of each State；
and of each section of the country； and not to disappoint the
reasonable expectations of those who have confided to me their votes。
In this connection allow me to say that you； as a portion of the
great American people； need only to maintain your composure； stand up
to your sober convictions of right； to your obligations to the
Constitution； and act in accordance with those sober convictions； and
the clouds now on the horizon will be dispelled； and we shall have a
bright and glorious future； and when this generation has passed away；
tens of thousands will inhabit this country where only thousands
inhabit it now。 I do not propose to address you at length； I have no
voice for it。 Allow me again to thank you for this magnificent
reception； and bid you farewell。
ADDRESS AT ROCHESTER； NEW YORK；
FEBRUARY 18； 1861
I confess myself； after having seen many large audiences since
leaving home； overwhelmed with this vast number of faces at this hour
of the morning。 I am not vain enough to believe that you are here
from any wish to see me as an individual； but because I am for the
time being the representative of the American people。 I could not；
if I would； address you at any length。 I have not the strength； even
if I had the time； for a speech at each of these many interviews that
are afforded me on my way to Washington。 I appear merely to see you；
and to let you see me； and to bid you。 farewell。 I hope it will be
understood that it is from no disinclination to oblige anybody that I
do not address you at greater length。
ADDRESS AT SYRACUSE； NEW YORK；
FEBRUARY 18； 1861。
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN：I See you have erected a very fine and
handsome platform here for me； and I presume you expected me to speak
from it。 If I should go upon it； you would imagine that I was about
to deliver you a much longer speech than I am。 I wish you to
understand that I mean no discourtesy to you by thus declining。 I
intend discourtesy to no one。 But I wish you to understand that；
though I am unwilling to go upon this platform； you are not at
liberty to draw inferences concerning any other platform with which
my name has been or is connected。 I wish you long life and
prosperity individually； and pray that with the perpetuity of those
institutions under which we have all so long lived and prospered； our
happiness may be secured； our future made brilliant； and the glorious
destiny of our country established forever。 I bid you a kind
farewell。
ADDRESS AT UTICA； NEW YORK；
FEBRUARY 18； 1860
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN：I have no speech to make to you； and no time
to speak in。 I appear before you that I may see you； and that you
may see me； and I am willing to admit that so far as the ladies are
concerned I have the best of the bargain； though I wish it to be
understood that I do not make the same acknowledgment concerning the
men。
REPLY TO THE MAYOR OF ALBANY； NEW YORK
FEBRUARY 18； 1861。
MR。 MAYOR：I can hardly appropriate to myself the flattering terms
in which you communicate the tender of this reception； as personal to
myself。 I most gratefully accept the hospitalities tendered to me；
and will not detain you or the audience with any extended remarks at
this time。 I presume that in the two or three courses through which
I shall have to go； I shall have to repeat somewhat； and I will
therefore only express to you my thanks for this kind reception。
REPLY TO GOVERNOR MORGAN OF NEW YORK； AT ALBANY；
FEBRUARY 18； 1861。
GOVERNOR MORGAN：I was pleased to receive an invitation to visit the
capital of the great Empire State of this nation while on my way to
the Federal capital。 I now thank you； Mr。 Governor； and you； the
people of the capital of the State of New York； for this most hearty
and magnificent welcome。 If I am not at fault； the great Empire
State at this time contains a larger population than did the whole of
the United States of America at the time they achieved their national
independence； and I was proudto be invited to visit its capital； to
meet its citizens； as I now have the honor to do。 I am notified by
your governor that this reception is tendered by citizens without
distinction of party。 Because of this I accept it the more gladly。
In this country； and in any country where freedom of thought is
tolerated； citizens attach themselves to political parties。 It is
but an ordinary degree of charity to attribute this act to the
supposition that； in thus attaching themselves to the various
parties； each man in his own judgment supposes he thereby best
advances the interests of the whole country。 And when an election is
past it is altogether befitting a free people； as I suppose； that；
until the next election； they should be one people。 The reception
you have extended me to…day is not given to me personally；it should
not be so；but as the representative； for the time being； of the
majority of the nation。 If the election had fallen to any of the
more distinguished citizens who received the support of the people；
this same honor should have greeted him that greets me this day； in
testimony of