Tour of Mr. Lincoln.
Mr. Lincoln at Buffalo — he Attends Church in Company with Mr. Fillmore--an Affecting Prayer — Lincoln's arrival at Albany, N. Y.--enthusiastic reception--vice President Hamiln, &c.On Saturday evening, the telegrams inform us. Mr.Lincoln and Mrs. Lincoln held separate levees in the parlors of the American House, at Buffalo, N. Y., which ended about 9½ o'clock.--The manner in which Sunday was spent is thus described: The cold, damp weather being unfavorable to out-door movements, the Presidential party spent most of their time about the hotel. Mr. Fillmore called at 10 A. M., with a carriage, for Mr. Lincoln, and both attended Divine service at the Unitarian Church. Dr. Hosmer, the pastor, invoked the blessings of heaven upon the incoming Administration in a most impressive manner in his opening prayer.--Many of the congregation were moved to tears. At the close of the service Mr. Lincoln was introduced to the minister and a number of prominent members of the church. From the church the Ex-President and President elect rode back to the hotel, and were joined by Mrs. Lincoln, when the party were driven to Mr. Fillmore's private residence to partake of a lunch. Mr.Lincoln and Mrs. Lincoln returned to the hotel at two o'clock P. M., and spent the remainder of the day in their rooms. They were called upon by a number of distinguished ladies and gentlemen in the course of the afternoon. After dinner Mr. Lincoln went to hear Father Beason, the Indian preacher. There was great curiosity to see him. A benediction was invoked in his behalf. The audience gathered at the door to shake hands with him. Mr. Lincoln's voice was yesterday nearly gone. John Nicolay, of Illinois, has been appointed private secretary during the Presidential term.
Reception at Albany.
Albany, Feb. 18.
--The President elect was greeted throughout his route from Buffalo to this city with great enthusiasm.
At Little Falls, the church bells were rung, and the excited crowd at the depot vociferously called for a speech, but Mr. Lincoln declined.
At Fonde, the inhabitants turned out en masse. Large crowds were also assembled at Amsterdam and Schenectady.
As the train approached the latter place, an over- elated gunner recklessly fired his cannon point blank at the first car, the concussion bursting open the door and breaking three windows, covering several persons with the fragments of the shattered glass, but no one was hurt.
The train reached Albany at 2.20 P. M., and was welcomed with a salute.
Mr. Lincoln was received with deafening cheers by the populace, and was formally welcomed by Mayor Thatcher, on behalf of the Council and citizens.
Mr. Lincoln replied as follows:
Mr. Mayor--I can hardly appreciate the flattering terms in which you communicate the tender of this reception as personal to myself.
I most gratefully accept the hospitalities tendered me, and will not detain you or my audience with any extended remarks at this time.
I presume in the two or three courses through which I shall have to go, I shall have to repeat somewhat, and I will therefore only repeat to you my thanks for this kind reception.
The route to the Capitol was densely thronged, and the windows filled with ladies.
Carriages crowded with ladies also lined each side of the road, and flags were displayed in profusion.
A piece of canvas was stretched across Broadway, bearing the inscription:--"Welcome to the Capital of the Empire State.
no more Compromises."
The greetings of the citizens to Mr. Lincoln were most cordial throughout.
In the Capitol Park an immense concourse of people was gathered, rendering the task of the military and police anything but easy.
Mr. Lincoln was conducted immediately to the Executive chamber, and introduced to the Governor of the State and the officers of the Governor's staff.
After welcoming the President elect, the Governor proceeded with him to the head of the steps of the Capitol, where he was greeted with a roar of applause.
Mr. Lincoln gazed at the crowd in apparent amazement at its vastness, and turning, said: ‘Governor, do you think we can make these people hear us?* Gov. Morgan replied with a doubtful shake of the head, and made one or two ineffectual efforts to be heard, waving his hat as a signal to still the noise of the multitude.
But the confusion rendered the speeches a dumb show.
except to those in the immediate vicinity.’
The Governor extended a welcome in behalf of the State, and his remarks were loudly cheered.
Mr. Lincoln replied, as follows:
Mr. Governor, I was pleased to receive an invitation to visit the capital of the great Empire State of this nation, on my way to the Federal Capital, and I now thank you, Mr. Governor, and the people of this capital, and the people of the State of New York, for this most hearty and magnanimous welcome.
If I am not at fault, the great Empire State of New York, at this time, contains a greater population than did the United States of America when she achieved her independence.
I am proud to be invited to pass through your capital, and meet them as I have now the honor to do. I am notified by your Governor that this reception is given without distinction of party.
I accept it the more gladly because it is so.
Almost all men in this country, and in any country where freedom of thought is tolerated, attach themselves to political parties, and it is but ordinary charity to attribute this to the fact that in so attaching himself to a party which his judgment prefers, the citizens believe he thereby promotes the best interests of the whole country.
And when an election is past, it is altogether befitting a free people that until the next election they should be as one people.
The reception you give me this day is not given me personally — it should not be so — but as the representative for the time being of a majority of the nation.
If the election had resulted in the choice of either of the other candidates, the same cordiality should have been extended him as is extended to me this day in testimony of the devotion of the people to the Constitution, to the whole Union, and of their desire for the perpetuation of our institutions, and to hand them down in their perfection to succeeding generations.
I have neither voice nor strength to address you at any greater length, and beg you will accept my most grateful thanks for this evidence of devotion, not to me, but to this great, glorious and free country.
[Loud applause.]
After bowing to the vast crowd, Mr. Lincoln was conducted to the Assembly chamber, which was densely filled, the whole assemblage rising and greeting him enthusiastically.
After introductions to the members individually, Mr. Cobbin welcomed the President elect in behalf of the sovereign people of the State to the representative halls of the State, to which he responded as follows:
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Legislature of the State of New York: It is with feelings of great diffidence, and I may say with feelings of one 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 spoken here, and 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, and 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 majority of this great nation.
I doubt not that 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 representative of a free people, than it could possibly be if tendered to me as an evidence of devotion to me or any one man personally.
And now I think it were more fitting that I should close these hasty remarks.
It is true, whilst I hold myself without mock modesty as the humblest of all individuals that have ever been elevated to the Presidency, that I have a more difficult task to perform than any of my predecessors.
You have generously tendered me the support, the united support, of the great Empire State in behalf of the nation — in behalf of the present and future nation — in behalf of civil and religious liberty for all time to come.
Most heartily do I thank you.
I do not propose to enter into explanation of any particular line of policy as to our present difficulties to be adopted by the incoming administration.
I deem it but 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, that in order when I do so speak I shall have enjoyed every opportunity to take a correct and true ground.
For this reason I do not propose at this time to speak of the policy of the government, but when the time comes I shall speak and decide as well as I am able for the good of the present and the future of this country — for the good of the one and the other, and of all sections — for the good both of the North and the South.
[Rounds of applause.]
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 Maker of the universe will, through the instrumentality of this great and intelligent people, bring us through this as He has through all other difficulties of our country, and relying on him, I again thank you for this generous reception.
[Applause.]
Progress of Mr. Hamlin to Washington.
Bangor, Me., Feb. 18.
--Vice-President Hamlin and lady left here this morning en route for Washington.
He will arrive at Boston this evening, and leave for the West tomorrow morning.
He was escorted from Hampden to our city by a large number of his fellow-townsmen, and, was received here by the Mayor and ex-Mayor of this city, and an immense procession of citizens in single and double sleighs escorted the party to the railroad station.
Notwithstanding the early hour this morning, Mr. Hamlin was received with enthusiastic cheers and the warm greetings and affectionate farewell of thousands of his fellow-citizens.
In reply to a brief address by C. S. Crosby, Esq., Mr. Hamlin made a few remarks, and as the train was starting in the course of his remarks he said: ‘
"I go to the discharge of the official duties which have been conferred upon me by a generous people, and relying upon Divine Providence I trust that confidence shall never be betrayed.
I know full well that dark clouds are lowering around the political horizon, and that madness rules the hour; but I am hopeful still that our people are not only loyal to the Government, but they are fraternal to all its citizens; and when in practice it shall be demonstrated that the constitutional rights of all the States will be respected and maintained by following the paths illumined by Washington, Jefferson and Madison, may we not reasonably hope and expect that quiet will be restored, and the whole country will still advance in a career which will elevate man in a social, moral and intellectual condition?" ’ 