there were unusual circumstances attending the close of mr. lincoln’s journey to the capital. so bitter was the feeling engendered among his opponents that plots were entered into against his life. dr. holland states that the president-elect was cognizant of his danger. an attempt was made to throw the train off the track on which he journeyed from springfield. there was a rumor that when he reached baltimore conspirators would surround his carriage in the guise of friends, and accomplish his assassination. these reports were probably exaggerated, and mr. lamon discredits them altogether, but it is likely that they were well founded. at any rate, measures were taken to ferret out the conspiracy, and, by advice of general scott and senator seward, then in washington, mr. lincoln quietly left{199} harrisburg by a special train in advance of his party, and arrived in washington at half-past six in the morning, when no one expected him except those who had arranged this deviation from the regular programme. the moment he left harrisburg the telegraph wires were cut, so that intelligence of his departure could not be sent to a distance.
it was strange and as yet unprecedented, this secret and carefully-guarded journey, but the circumstances seemed to make it necessary. his friends received him with a feeling of happy relief, and, as the morning advanced, and it was learned that he was in the city, washington enjoyed a sensation. there were many at the time who ridiculed the fears of mr. lincoln’s friends, and disapproved of the caution which counselled his secret arrival; but sad events that have since saddened and disgraced the nation, show that both he and his friends were wise. the assassination of lincoln on his way to the capital would have had far more disastrous effects than the unhappy tragedy of april, 1865, and might have established jefferson davis in the white house.
there was a strong disloyal element in washington,{200} and there were more perhaps who regarded mr. lincoln with hostility than with friendship, but among those who probably were heartily glad to hear of his arrival was president james buchanan, who was anxious and eager to lay down the sceptre, and transfer his high office to his lawful successor. timid by nature, he was not the pilot to guide the ship of state in a storm. no one ever more willingly retired to the peace and security of private life.
indeed, as we consider the condition of the country and the state of public feeling, we are disposed rather to condole with the new president than to congratulate him. in times of peace and prosperity the position of chief magistrate is a prize worth competing for; but, in 1861, even a strong man and experienced statesman might well have shrunk from assuming its duties.
general winfield scott was at that time in military command of washington. he was fearful that the inaugural exercises might be interrupted by some violent demonstration, and made preparations accordingly, but he was happily disappointed. the day dawned bright and clear. washington was in holiday attire. business was{201} generally suspended, and there was an unusual interest to hear mr. lincoln’s inaugural address. among the attentive listeners were the retiring president and chief-justice taney, of the supreme court, a man whose sympathies were with the slave power. it was a creditable and noteworthy incident of this memorable occasion, that among the friends who stood by mr. lincoln most staunchly, even holding his hat as he delivered his inaugural, was his old senatorial and presidential competitor, stephen a. douglas. whatever his sentiments were on the issues of the day, he was not willing to side with, or in any way assist, those who menaced the national existence. another defeated candidate, mr. breckinridge, was present, having just surrendered the vice-president’s chair to mr. hamlin. it was a scene for an artist. there could be no more striking picture than one which should faithfully represent abraham lincoln, reading his first inaugural before an audience of representative men, half of whom were hostile, and many of whom, three months later, were in arms against the government. all alike, foes as well as friends, were eager to hear what the new president had to say{202}. had it been seward instead of lincoln, they could have formed a reasonable conjecture, but this giant from the western prairies; this backwoods boy, who had grown to maturity under the most unpromising circumstances; this man, with his limited experience in but one national office, was an unknown quantity in politics, and no one knew what manner of man he was. but we shall never have such a picture. people had more important things to think of then, and it is too late now. in a time of intense feeling, when the national existence was at stake, and no one knew what events the next week would bring forth, there was little taste or time for art.
we, too, may well feel interested in the utterances of the president-elect. i should be glad to quote the entire address, but as this is impracticable, i will make a few significant extracts:
“i do not consider it necessary at present,” said mr. lincoln, “for me to discuss those matters of administration about which there is no special anxiety or excitement. apprehensions seem to exist among the people of the southern states, that, by the accession of a republican administration, their property and their peace and{203} personal security are to be endangered. there has never been any reasonable cause for such apprehension. indeed, the most ample evidence to the contrary has all the while existed, and been open to their inspection. it is found in nearly all the published speeches of him who now addresses you. i do but quote from one of those speeches, when i declare that ‘i have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists.’ i believe i have no lawful right to do so; and i have no inclination to do so. those who nominated and elected me did so with the full knowledge that i had made this, and made many similar declarations, and had never recanted them.”
further on he says:
“it is seventy-two years to-day since the first inauguration of a president under our national constitution. during that period fifteen different and very distinguished citizens have, in succession, administered the executive branch of the government. they have conducted it through many perils, and generally with great success. yet, with all this scope for precedent, i now enter upon the same task, for the brief constitutional{204} term of four years, under great and peculiar difficulties.
“a disruption of the federal union, heretofore only menaced, is now formidably attempted. i hold that in the contemplation of universal law and of the constitution, the union of these states is perpetual. perpetuity is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments. it is safe to assert that no government proper ever had a provision in its organic law for its own termination. continue to execute all the express provisions of our national constitution, and the union will endure forever, it being impossible to destroy it except by some action not provided for in the instrument itself.
“it follows from these views that no state, upon its own mere motion, can lawfully get out of the union; that resolves and ordinances to that effect are legally void; and that acts of violence within any state or states against the authority of the united states are insurrectionary or revolutionary, according to circumstances.
“i therefore consider that, in view of the constitution and the laws, the union is unbroken, and, to the extent of my ability, i shall take care,{205} as the constitution itself expressly enjoins upon me, that the laws of the union shall be faithfully executed in all the states. doing this, which i deem to be only a simple duty on my part, i shall perfectly perform it, so far as is practicable, unless my rightful masters, the american people, shall withhold the requisition, or in some authoritative manner direct the contrary.
“i trust this will not be regarded as a menace, but only as the declared purpose of the union, that it will constitutionally defend and maintain itself.”
after arguing at some length against separation, mr. lincoln closes his address with an appeal to his fellow-citizens:
“my countrymen, one and all, think calmly and well upon this whole subject. nothing valuable can be lost by taking time.
“if there be an object to hurry any of you, in hot haste, to a step which you would never take deliberately, that object will be frustrated by taking time; but no good object can be frustrated by it.
“such of you as are now dissatisfied still have{206} the old constitution unimpaired, and, on the sensitive point, the laws of your own framing, under it; while the new administration will have no immediate power, if it would, to change either.
“if it were admitted that you who are dissatisfied hold the right side in the dispute, there is still no single reason for precipitate action. intelligence, patriotism, christianity, and a firm reliance on him who has never yet forsaken this favored land, are still competent to adjust, in the best way, all our present difficulties.
“in your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. the government will not assail you.
“you can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. you have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the government, while i shall have the most solemn one to ‘preserve, protect, and defend’ it.
“i am loth to close. we are not enemies, but friends. we must not be enemies. though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.
“the mystic chords of memory, stretching from{207} every battle-field and patriotic grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”