按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
brought to me。 As I said yesterday； under similar circumstances at
another gathering； you must not draw the inference that I have any
intention of deserting any platform with which I have a legitimate
connection because I do not stand on yours。 Allow me to thank you
for this splendid reception； and I now bid you farewell。
ADDRESS AT PEEKSKILL； NEW YORK；
FEBRUARY 19； 1861
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN：I have but a moment to stand before you to
listen to and return your kind greeting。 I thank you for this
reception； and for the pleasant manner in which it is tendered to me
by our mutual friends。 I will say in a single sentence； in regard to
the difficulties that lie before me and our beloved country； that if
I can only be as generously and unanimously sustained as the
demonstrations I have witnessed indicate I shall be； I shall not
fail； but without your sustaining hands I am sure that neither I nor
any other man can hope to surmount these difficulties。 I trust that
in the course I shall pursue I shall be sustained not only by the
party that elected me； but by the patriotic people of the whole
country。
ADDRESS AT FISHKILL LANDING
FEBRUARY 19； 1861
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN：I appear before you not to make a speech。 I
have not sufficient time； if I had the strength； to repeat speeches
at every station where the people kindly gather to welcome me as we
go along。 If I had the strength； and should take the time； I should
not get to Washington until after the inauguration； which you must be
aware would not fit exactly。 That such an untoward event might not
transpire； I know you will readily forego any further remarks； and I
close by bidding you farewell。
REMARKS AT THE ASTOR HOUSE； NEW YORK CITY； FEBRUARY 19； 1861
FELLOW…CITIZENS：I have stepped before you merely in compliance with
what appears to be your wish； and not with the purpose of making a
speech。 I do not propose making a speech this afternoon。 I could
not be heard by any but a small fraction of you； at best； but； what
is still worse than that； I have nothing just now to say that is
worthy of your hearing。 I beg you to believe that I do not now
refuse to address you from any disposition to disoblige you； but to
the contrary。 But； at the same time； I beg of you to excuse me for
the present。
ADDRESS AT NEW YORK CITY；
FEBRUARY 19； 1861
Mr。 CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN：I am rather an old man to avail myself
of such an excuse as I am now about to do。 Yet the truth is so
distinct； and presses itself so distinctly upon me； that I cannot
well avoid itand that is； that I did not understand when I was
brought into this room that I was to be brought here to make a
speech。 It was not intimated to me that I was brought into the room
where Daniel Webster and Henry Clay had made speeches； and where one
in my position might be expected to do something like those men or
say something worthy of myself or my audience。 I therefore beg you
to make allowance for the circumstances in which I have been by
surprise brought before you。 Now I have been in the habit of
thinking and sometimes speaking upon political questions that have
for some years past agitated the country； and； if I were disposed to
do so； and we could take up some one of the issues； as the lawyers
call them； and I were called upon to make an argument about it to the
best of my ability； I could do so without much preparation。 But that
is not what you desire to have done here to…night。
I have been occupying a position； since the Presidential election； of
silenceof avoiding public speaking； of avoiding public writing。 I
have been doing so because I thought； upon full consideration； that
was the proper course for me to take。 I am brought before you now；
and required to make a speech； when you all approve more than
anything else of the fact that I have been keeping silence。 And now
it seems to me that the response you give to that remark ought to
justify me in closing just here。 I have not kept silence since the
Presidential election from any party wantonness； or from any
indifference to the anxiety that pervades the minds of men about the
aspect of the political affairs of this country。 I have kept silence
for the reason that I supposed it was peculiarly proper that I should
do so until the time came when； according to the custom of the
country； I could speak officially。
I still suppose that； while the political drama being enacted in this
country at this time is rapidly shifting its scenesforbidding an
anticipation with any degree of certainty to…day of what we shall see
to…morrowit is peculiarly fitting that I should see it all； up to
the last minute； before I should take ground that I might be
disposed； by the shifting of the scenes afterward； also to shift。 I
have said several times upon this journey； and I now repeat it to
you； that when the time does come； I shall then take the ground that
I think is rightright for the North； for the South； for the East；
for the West； for the whole country。 And in doing so I hope to feel
no necessity pressing upon me to say anything in conflict with the
Constitution； in conflict with the continued union of these States；
in conflict with the perpetuation of the liberties of this people； or
anything in conflict with anything whatever that I have ever given
you reason to expect from me。 And now； my friends； have I said
enough？ ＇Loud cries of 〃No； no ！〃 and' Three cheers for LINCOLN！〃＇
Now； my friends； there appears to be a difference of opinion between
you and me； and I really feel called upon to decide the question
myself。
REPLY TO THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY；
FEBRUARY 20； 1861
Mr。 MAYOR：It is with feelings of deep gratitude that I make my
acknowledgments for the reception that has been given me in the great
commercial city of New York。 I cannot but remember that it is done
by the people who do not； by a large majority； agree with me in
political sentiment。 It is the more grateful to me because in this I
see that for the great principles of our Government the people are
pretty nearly or quite unanimous。 In regard to the difficulties that
confront us at this time； and of which you have seen fit to speak so
becomingly and so justly； I can only say I agree with the sentiments
expressed。 In my devotion to the Union I hope I am behind no man in
the nation。 As to my wisdom in conducting affairs so as to tend to
the preservation of the Union； I fear too great confidence may have
been placed in me。 I am sure I bring a heart devoted to the work。
There is nothing that could ever bring me to consentwillingly to
consentto the destruction of this Union （in which not only the
great city of New York； but the whole country； has acquired its
greatness）； unless it would be that thing for which the Union itself
was made。 I understand that the ship is made for the carrying a