Republican "Invincible" and the inauguration of Lincoln.
--The
Philadelphia "Republican Invincible" held a regular monthly meeting on Wednesday evening, and after the transaction of the usual business, the subject of the visit to
Harrisburg to assist at the inauguration of
Gov. Curtin, was broached, and a member moved that--"It is inexpedient for the club to visit
Harrisburg." Some opposition was made to the motion, on the ground that it was unnecessary, in view of the fact that no motion to go had been made.
To this, the mover of the resolution replied, "that he wished the Republicans to stand by their principles, and he desired some decided expression of opinion, in order to ascertain if it was possible that the club would go to
Harrisburg after the 'Continental Speech!' " (Referring to
Gov. Curtin's remarks at the McClure dinner.)
The resolution was then adopted, and thus the
Harrisburg excursion dispensed with.
The Executive Committee having decided that the
Club should make an excursion to
Washington, to assist in the inauguration of
Mr. Lincoln, a motion was made that the
Club approve of that act.
Mr. Hamilton desired the members to deliberate well before passing upon the motion.--For one, he was ready to go to
Washington; but he wished the members to say whether they were prepared to go notwithstanding any obstacles.
There was no use disguising the truth; it was probable that an attempt would be made to stop them.
They might be prevented from going through
Maryland.
In view of these facts, were the members prepared?
Should they not go through a course of drilling?
Mr. Newport did not think the gentleman was correct in presuming that opposition would be made to their progress.
He had no right to suppose that any portion of our citizens would use force to prevent the Republicans from being present at the inauguration of
Abraham Lincoln.
A member of the
Club was of opinion that "forewarned was forearmed," and, consequently, the
Club should be on hand to make good the promise of one of its representatives at
Washington.
When
Mr. Iverson, of
Ga., vauntingly said that 500,000 Wide Awakes could not inaugurate
Mr. Lincoln,
Mr. Wade, of
Ohio, retorted, then 1,000,000 would be on hand.
Let the Republicans make good that promise.
Another member here interposed a mild objection.
He was a Republican, and he intended to be present at the inauguration of
Mr. Lincoln, but he would go in his individual capacity, and not as a member of the club.
He did not believe what
Mr. Iverson said any more than he believed what
Mr. Wade rejoined.
Mr. Lincoln was now the
President of the
United States, and not of the Republican party, and hence the Republicans would do wrong to go to
Washington in their organized capacity.
If they did go, it would only be giving force to the argument of the
South, that
Mr. Lincoln was the
President of a party.
After this speech, the subject was postponed until the next monthly meeting.
