Mr. Lincoln's tour — another speech.
The train bearing
Mr. Lincoln to
Cincinnati, Tuesday, was received with much enthusiasm along the route.
The signals at the switch stations were American flags.
At Laurenceburg, Ind., the ‘"
President elect"’ hoped that the people ‘"friendly wished"’ their neighbors the Kentuckians across the river.--Upon the arrival of the train at
Cincinnati, the street was so blocked up with people that the locomotives had to be stopped.
A dispatch says:
‘
The crowd was so great it was impossible to get out of the way at the depot, and it was found necessary to bring the military and police force into requisition to clear it away.--The streets through which the procession passed were crowded at an early hour, and the windows filled with ladies.
The
Burnet House, where the Presidential party stop, was handsomely decorated, and every arrangement made for the comfort of the distinguished guests.
The stars and stripes were flying from all the public and a number of private buildings.
On the arrival of the train,
Mayor Bishop introduced and welcomed the
President elect, who took a seat in a barouche drawn by six white horses, amid the deafening cheers of a vast concourse of people.
The procession, in charge of Miles Greenwood, took up its march passing through the principal streets, amid the cheers of men and waving of flags and handkerchiefs by the ladies, to the
Burnet House, which
Mr. Lincoln entered amid deafening cheers —
Mento's band playing ‘"Hail Columbia"’ and ‘"Star Spangled Banner."’
’
After a few moments' rest,
Mr. Lincoln made his appearance on the balcony, accompanied by
Mayor Bishop, who made a short introductory address.
Mr. Lincoln then spoke.
He said:
‘
"I have spoken but once before this in
Cincinnati.
That was a year previous to the late Presidential election.
On that occasion, in a playful manner, but with sincere words, I addressed much of what I said to the Kentuckians.
I gave my opinion that we, as Republicans, would ultimately beat them as Democrats, but that they could postpone that result longer by nominating
Senator Douglas for the Presidency than they could in any other way. They did not in any true sense of the word nominate
Mr. Douglas, and the result has come certainly as soon as ever I expected.
I also told them how I expected they would be treated after they should have been beaten; and I now wish to call their attention to what I then said upon that subject.
I then said:--'When we do as we say beat you, you perhaps want to know what we will do with you. I will tell you, as far as I am authorized to speak for the opposition what we mean to do with you. We mean to treat you as near as we possibly can, as
Washington,
Jefferson and
Madison treated you. We mean to leave you alone, and in no way to interfere with your institutions; to abide by all and every compromise of the
Constitution; and in a word, coming back to the original proposition, to treat you so far as degenerate men, if we have degenerated, may, according to the example of those noble fathers,
Washington,
Jefferson and
Madison.
We mean to remember that you are as good as we; that there is no difference between us other than the difference of circumstances.
We mean to recognize and bear in mind always that you have as good hearts in your bosoms as other people, or as we claim to have, and treat you accordingly.'
"Fellow-citizens of
Kentucky!
friends!--brethren may I call you in my new position — I see no occasion, and feel no inclination, to retract a word of this.
If it shall not be made good, be assured the fault shall not be mine."
The remarks were received with great enthusiasm.
In passing to his room, those that could, rushed at him, throwing their arms around him, patting him on the back, and almost wrenching his arms off. Politicians were thick; among them
George N. Sanders and others.
This evening, in the grand hall of the
Burnet House, which has been decorated for the occasion,
Mr. Lincoln will receive the people generally.
He looks well and in good spirits.
’ ‘
Mr. Lincoln arrived at
Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, and was received with a national salute.
He visited
Governor Dennison in the
Executive Chamber, and was subsequently introduced to the members of the Legislature in joint session, where he was formally welcomed by the
Lieutenant Governor, to which
Mr. Lincoln responded as follows:
It is true, as has been said by the
President of the Senate, that very great responsibility rests upon me in the position to which the votes of the
American people have called me. I am deeply sensible of that weighty responsibility.
I cannot but know, what you all know, that without a name — perhaps without a reason why I should have a name, there has fallen upon me a task such as did not rest upon the
Father of his Country.
And so feeling I cannot but turn and look for the support without which it will be impossible for me to perform that great task.
I turn, then, and look to the
American people and to that God who has never forsaken them.
Allusion has been made to the interest felt in relation to the policy of the new Administration.
In this I have received from some a degree of credit for having kept silence, from others, some deprecation.
I still think I was right in the varying and repeatedly shifting scenes of the present without a precedent which could enable me to judge of the past.--It has seemed fitting that before speaking upon the difficulties of the country, I should have gained a view of the whole field.
To be sure, after all, I would be at liberty to modify and change the course of policy as future events might make a change necessary.
I have not maintained silence from any want of real anxiety.
It is a good thing that there is no more than anxiety, for there is nothing going wrong.
It is a consoling circumstance that when we look out there is nothing that really hurts anybody.
We entertain different views upon political questions, but nobody is suffering anything.
This is a most consoling circumstance, and from it, I judge, that all we want is time and patience, and a reliance on that God who has never forsaken this people.
’
