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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 the universal； unanimous devotion of the whole people to
the Constitution； the Union； and to the perpetual liberties of
succeeding generations in this country。
I have neither the voice nor the strength to address you at any
greater length。 I beg you will therefore accept my most grateful
thanks for this manifest devotionnot to me； but the institutions of
this great and glorious country。
ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATURE OF NEW YORK； AT ALBANY；
FEBRUARY 18； 1861。
MR。 PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK：It is with feelings of great diffidence； and； I may say；
with feelings of awe； perhaps greater than I have recently
experienced； that I meet you here in this place。 The history of this
great State； the renown of those great men who have stood here； and
have spoken here； and have been heard here； all crowd around my
fancy； and incline me to shrink from any attempt to address you。 Yet
I have some confidence given me by the generous manner in which you
have invited me； and by the still more generous manner in which you
have received me； to speak further。 You have invited and received me
without distinction of party。 I cannot for a moment suppose that
this has been done in any considerable degree with reference to my
personal services； but that it is done in so far as I am regarded； at
this time； as the representative of the majesty of this great nation。
I doubt not this is the truth； and the whole truth of the case； and
this is as it should be。 It is much more gratifying to me that this
reception has been given to me as the elected representative of a
free people； than it could possibly be if tendered merely as an
evidence of devotion to me； or to any one man personally。
And now I think it were more fitting that I should close these hasty
remarks。 It is true that； while I hold myself； without mock modesty；
the humblest of all individuals that have ever been elevated to the
Presidency； I have a more difficult task to perform than any one of
them。
You have generously tendered me the supportthe united supportof
the great Empire State。 For this； in behalf of the nationin behalf
of the present and future of the nationin behalf of civil and
religious liberty for all time to come； most gratefully do I thank
you。 I do not propose to enter into an explanation of any particular
line of policy； as to our present difficulties； to be adopted by the
incoming administration。 I deem it just to you； to myself； to all；
that I should see everything； that I should hear everything； that I
should have every light that can be brought within my reach； in order
that； when I do so speak； I shall have enjoyed every opportunity to
take correct and true ground； and for this reason I do not propose to
speak at this time of the policy of the Government。 But when the
time comes； I shall speak； as well as I am able； for the good of the
present and future of this country for the good both of the North and
of the Southfor the good of the one and the other； and of all
sections of the country。 In the meantime； if we have patience； if we
restrain ourselves； if we allow ourselves not to run off in a
passion； I still have confidence that the Almighty； the Maker of the
universe； will； through the instrumentality of this great and
intelligent people； bring us through this as He has through all the
other difficulties of our country。 Relying on this； I again thank you
for this generous reception。
ADDRESS AT TROY； NEW YORK；
FEBRUARY 19； 1861
MR。 MAYOR AND CITIZENS OF TROY：I thank you very kindly for this
great reception。 Since I left my home it has not been my fortune to
meet an assemblage more numerous and more orderly than this。 I am
the more gratified at this mark of your regard since you assure me it
is tendered； not to the individual but to the high office you have
called me to fill。 I have neither strength nor time to make any
extended remarks on this occasion； and I can only repeat to you my
sincere thanks for the kind reception you have thought proper to
extend to me。
ADDRESS AT POUGHKEEPSIE； NEW YORK；
FEBRUARY 19； 1861
FELLOW…CITIZENS：It is altogether impossible I should make myself
heard by any considerable portion of this vast assemblage； but；
although I appear before you mainly for the purpose of seeing you；
and to let you see rather than hear me； I cannot refrain from saying
that I am highly gratifiedas much here； indeed； under the
circumstances； as I have been anywhere on my routeto witness this
noble demonstrationmade； not in honor of an individual； but of the
man who at this time humbly； but earnestly； represents the majesty of
the nation。
This reception； like all the others that have been tendered to me；
doubtless emanates from all the political parties； and not from one
alone。 As such I accept it the more gratefully； since it indicates
an earnest desire on the part of the whole people； with out regard to
political differences； to savenot the country； because the country
will save itself but to save the institutions of the country； those
institutions under which； in the last three quarters of a century； we
have grown to a great； and intelligent； and a happy peoplethe
greatest； the most intelligent； and the happiest people in the world。
These noble manifestations indicate； with unerring certainty； that
the whole people are willing to make common cause for this object；
that if； as it ever must be； some have been successful in the recent
election and some have been beaten； if some are satisfied and some
are dissatisfied； the defeated party are not in favor of sinking the
ship； but are desirous of running it through the tempest in safety；
and willing； if they think the people have committed an error in
their verdict now； to wait in the hope of reversing it and setting it
right next time。 I do not say that in the recent election the people
did the wisest thing； that could have been doneindeed； I do not
think they did； but I do say that in accepting the great trust
committed to me； which I do with a determination to endeavor to prove
worthy of it； I must rely upon you； upon the people of the whole
country； for support； and with their sustaining aid； even I； humble
as I am； cannot fail to carry the ship of state safely through the
storm。
I have now only to thank you warmly for your kind attendance； and bid
you all an affectionate farewell。
ADDRESS AT HUDSON； NEW YORK；。
FEBRUARY 19； 1860
FELLOW…CITIZENS：I see that you are providing a platform for me。 I
shall have to decline standing upon it； because the president of the
company tells me that I shall not have time to wait until it is
brought to me。 As I said yesterday； under similar cir