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第46章

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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 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

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