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this great and intelligent people。 Without that assistance I shall
surely fail； with it； I cannot fail。 When we speak of threatened
difficulties to the Country； it is natural that it should be expected
that something should be said by myself with regard to particular
measures。 Upon more mature reflection； however； others will agree
with me that； when it is considered that these difficulties are
without precedent； and have never been acted upon by any individual
situated as I am； it is most proper I should wait and see the
developments； and get all the light possible； so that when I do speak
authoritatively； I may be as near right as possible。 When I shall
speak authoritatively； I hope to say nothing inconsistent with the
Constitution； the Union； the rights of all the States； of each State；
and of each section of the country； and not to disappoint the
reasonable expectations of those who have confided to me their votes。
In this connection allow me to say that you； as a portion of the
great American people； need only to maintain your composure； stand up
to your sober convictions of right； to your obligations to the
Constitution； and act in accordance with those sober convictions； and
the clouds now on the horizon will be dispelled； and we shall have a
bright and glorious future； and when this generation has passed away；
tens of thousands will inhabit this country where only thousands
inhabit it now。 I do not propose to address you at length； I have no
voice for it。 Allow me again to thank you for this magnificent
reception； and bid you farewell。
ADDRESS AT ROCHESTER； NEW YORK；
FEBRUARY 18； 1861
I confess myself； after having seen many large audiences since
leaving home； overwhelmed with this vast number of faces at this hour
of the morning。 I am not vain enough to believe that you are here
from any wish to see me as an individual； but because I am for the
time being the representative of the American people。 I could not；
if I would； address you at any length。 I have not the strength； even
if I had the time； for a speech at each of these many interviews that
are afforded me on my way to Washington。 I appear merely to see you；
and to let you see me； and to bid you。 farewell。 I hope it will be
understood that it is from no disinclination to oblige anybody that I
do not address you at greater length。
ADDRESS AT SYRACUSE； NEW YORK；
FEBRUARY 18； 1861。
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN：I See you have erected a very fine and
handsome platform here for me； and I presume you expected me to speak
from it。 If I should go upon it； you would imagine that I was about
to deliver you a much longer speech than I am。 I wish you to
understand that I mean no discourtesy to you by thus declining。 I
intend discourtesy to no one。 But I wish you to understand that；
though I am unwilling to go upon this platform； you are not at
liberty to draw inferences concerning any other platform with which
my name has been or is connected。 I wish you long life and
prosperity individually； and pray that with the perpetuity of those
institutions under which we have all so long lived and prospered； our
happiness may be secured； our future made brilliant； and the glorious
destiny of our country established forever。 I bid you a kind
farewell。
ADDRESS AT UTICA； NEW YORK；
FEBRUARY 18； 1860
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN：I have no speech to make to you； and no time
to speak in。 I appear before you that I may see you； and that you
may see me； and I am willing to admit that so far as the ladies are
concerned I have the best of the bargain； though I wish it to be
understood that I do not make the same acknowledgment concerning the
men。
REPLY TO THE MAYOR OF ALBANY； NEW YORK
FEBRUARY 18； 1861。
MR。 MAYOR：I can hardly appropriate to myself the flattering terms
in which you communicate the tender of this reception； as personal to
myself。 I most gratefully accept the hospitalities tendered to me；
and will not detain you or the audience with any extended remarks at
this time。 I presume that in the two or three courses through which
I shall have to go； I shall have to repeat somewhat； and I will
therefore only express to you my thanks for this kind reception。
REPLY TO GOVERNOR MORGAN OF NEW YORK； AT ALBANY；
FEBRUARY 18； 1861。
GOVERNOR MORGAN：I was pleased to receive an invitation to visit the
capital of the great Empire State of this nation while on my way to
the Federal capital。 I now thank you； Mr。 Governor； and you； the
people of the capital of the State of New York； for this most hearty
and magnificent welcome。 If I am not at fault； the great Empire
State at this time contains a larger population than did the whole of
the United States of America at the time they achieved their national
independence； and I was proudto be invited to visit its capital； to
meet its citizens； as I now have the honor to do。 I am notified by
your governor that this reception is tendered by citizens without
distinction of party。 Because of this I accept it the more gladly。
In this country； and in any country where freedom of thought is
tolerated； citizens attach themselves to political parties。 It is
but an ordinary degree of charity to attribute this act to the
supposition that； in thus attaching themselves to the various
parties； each man in his own judgment supposes he thereby best
advances the interests of the whole country。 And when an election is
past it is altogether befitting a free people； as I suppose； that；
until the next election； they should be one people。 The reception
you have extended me to…day is not given to me personally；it should
not be so；but as the representative； for the time being； of the
majority of the nation。 If the election had fallen to any of the
more distinguished citizens who received the support of the people；
this same honor should have greeted him that greets me this day； in
testimony of the universal； unanimous devotion of the whole people to
the Constitution； the Union； and to the perpetual liberties of
succeeding generations in this country。
I have neither the voice nor the strength to address you at any
greater length。 I beg you will therefore accept my most grateful
thanks for this manifest devotionnot to me； but the institutions of
this great and glorious country。
ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATURE OF NEW YORK； AT ALBANY；
FEBRUARY 18； 1861。
MR。 PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK：It is with feelings of great diffidence； and； I may say；
with feelings of awe； 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
have spoken here； and have 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。 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 majesty of this great nation。
I doubt not 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 elected representative of a
free people； than it could possibly be if tendered merely as an
evidence of devotion to me； or to any one man personally。
And now I think it were more fitting that I should close these hasty
remarks。 It is true that； while I hold myself； without mock modesty；
the humblest of all individuals that have ever been elevated to the
Presidency； I have a more difficult task to perform than any one of
them。
You have generously tendered me the supportthe united supportof
the great Empire State。 For this； in behalf of the nationin behalf
of the present and future of the nationin behalf of civil and
religious liberty for all time to come； most gratefully do I thank
you。 I do not propose to enter into an explanation of any particular
line of policy； as to our present difficulties； to be adopted by the
incoming administration。 I deem it 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； in order
that； when I do so speak； I shall have enjoyed every opportunity to
take correct and true ground； and for this reason I do not propose to
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 t