Speeches of Abraham Lincoln 1861 - Address At New York City
by Abraham Lincoln
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 it--and
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
silence--of 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 scenes--forbidding an
anticipation with any degree of certainty to-day of what we shall see
to-morrow--it 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 shall then take the ground that I think is right--right for
the North, for the South, for the East, for the West, for the whole
country. And in doing so I hope to feel no necessity pressing upon me to
say anything in conflict with the Constitution, in conflict with the
continued union of these States, in conflict with the perpetuation of the
liberties of this people, or anything in conflict with anything whatever
that I have ever given you reason to expect from me. And now, my friends,
have I said enough? [Loud cries of "No, no!" and, "Three cheers for
LINCOLN!"] Now, my friends, there appears to be a difference of opinion
between you and me, and I really feel called upon to decide the question
myself.