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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 you give to that remark ought to
justify me in closing just here。 I have not kept silence since the
Presidential election from any party wantonness； or from any
indifference to the anxiety that pervades the minds of men about the
aspect of the political affairs of this country。 I have kept silence
for the reason that I supposed it was peculiarly proper that I should
do so until the time came when； according to the custom of the
country； I could speak officially。
I still suppose that； while the political drama being enacted in this
country at this time is rapidly shifting its scenesforbidding an
anticipation with any degree of certainty to…day of what we shall see
to…morrowit is peculiarly fitting that I should see it all； up to
the last minute； before I should take ground that I might be
disposed； by the shifting of the scenes afterward； also to shift。 I
have said several times upon this journey； and I now repeat it to
you； that when the time does come； I s