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hope； to the world for all future time。 It was that which gave
promise that in due time the weight would be lifted from the
shoulders of all men。 This is the sentiment embodied in the
Declaration of Independence。 Now； my friends； can the country be
saved upon that basis？ If it can； I will consider myself one of the
happiest men in the world if I can help to save it。 If it cannot be
saved upon that principle； it will be truly awful。 But if this
country cannot be saved without giving up that principle； I was about
to say I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it。
Now； in my view of the present aspect of affairs； there need be no
bloodshed or war。 There is no necessity for it。 I am not in favor
of such a course； and I may say； in advance； that there will be no
bloodshed unless it is forced upon the Government； and then it will
be compelled to act in self…defence。
My friends； this is wholly an unexpected speech； and I did not expect
to be called upon to say a word when I came here。 I supposed it was
merely to do something toward raising the flag。 I may； therefore；
have said something indiscreet。 I have said nothing but what I am
willing to live by and； if it be the pleasure of Almighty God； die
by。
REPLY TO THE WILMINGTON DELEGATION；
FEBRUARY 22； 1861
MR。 CHAIRMAN：I feel highly flattered by the encomiums you have seen
fit to bestow upon me。 Soon after the nomination of General Taylor；
I attended a political meeting in the city of Wilmington； and have
since carried with me a fond remembrance of the hospitalities of the
city on that occasion。 The programme established provides for my
presence in Harrisburg in twenty…four hours from this time。 I expect
to be in Washington on Saturday。 It is； therefore； an impossibility
that I should accept your kind invitation。 There are no people whom
I would more gladly accommodate than those of Delaware； but
circumstances forbid； gentlemen。 With many regrets for the character
of the reply I am compelled to give you； I bid you adieu。
ADDRESS AT LANCASTER； PENNSYLVANIA；
FEBRUARY 22； 1860
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF OLD LANCASTER：I appear not to make a
speech。 I have not time to make a speech at length； and not strength
to make them on every occasion； and； worse than all； I have none to
make。 There is plenty of matter to speak about in these times； but
it is well known that the more a man speaks the less he is
understoodthe more he says one thing； the more his adversaries
contend he meant something else。 I shall soon have occasion to speak
officially； and then I will endeavor to put my thoughts just as plain
as I can express myselftrue to the Constitution and Union of all
the States； and to the perpetual liberty of all the people。 Until I
so speak； there is no need to enter upon details。 In conclusion； I
greet you most heartily； and bid you an affectionate farewell。
ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATURE OF PENNSYLVANIA； AT HARRISBURG；
FEBRUARY 22； 1861
MR。 SPEAKER OF THE SENATE； AND ALSO MR。 SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES； AND GENTLEMEN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE
OF PENNSYLVANIA：I appear before you only for a very few brief
remarks in response to what has been said to me。 I thank you most
sincerely for this reception； and the generous words in which support
has been promised me upon this occasion。 I thank your great
commonwealth for the overwhelming support it recently gave； not me
personally； but the cause which I think a just one； in the late
election。
Allusion has been made to the factthe interesting fact perhaps we
should saythat I for the first time appear at the capital of the
great commonwealth of Pennsylvania upon the birthday of the Father of
his Country。 In connection with that beloved anniversary connected
with the history of this country； I have already gone through one
exceedingly interesting scene this morning in the ceremonies at
Philadelphia。 Under the kind conduct of gentlemen there； I was for
the first time allowed the privilege of standing in old Independence
Hall to have a few words addressed to me there； and opening up to me
an opportunity of manifesting my deep regret that I had not more time
to express something of my own feelings excited by the occasion； that
had been really the feelings of my whole life。
Besides this； our friends there had provided a magnificent flag of
the country。 They had arranged it so that I was given the honor of
raising it to the head of its staff； and when it went up I was
pleased that it went to its place by the strength of my own feeble
arm。 When； according to the arrangement； the cord was pulled； and it
floated gloriously to the wind； without an accident； in the bright；
glowing sunshine of the morning； I could not help hoping that there
was in the entire success of that beautiful ceremony at least
something of an omen of what is to come。 Nor could I help feeling
then； as I have often felt； that in the whole of that proceeding I
was a very humbled instrument。 I had not provided the flag； I had
not made the arrangements for elevating it to its place； I had
applied but a very small portion of even my feeble strength in
raising it。 In the whole transaction I was in the hands of the
people who had arranged it； and if I can have the same generous
co…operation of the people of this nation； I think the flag of our
country may yet be kept flaunting gloriously。
I recur for a moment but to repeat some words uttered at the hotel in
regard to what has been said about the military support which the
General Government may expect from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania
in a proper emergency。 To guard against any possible mistake do I
recur to this。 It is not with any pleasure that I contemplate the
possibility that a necessity may arise in this country for the use of
the military arm。 While I am exceedingly gratified to see the
manifestation upon your streets of your military force here； and
exceedingly gratified at your promise to use that force upon a proper
emergencywhile I make these acknowledgments I desire to repeat； in
order to preclude any possible misconstruction； that I do most
sincerely hope that we shall have no use for them； that it will never
become their duty to shed blood； and most especially never to shed
fraternal blood。 I promise that so far as I may have wisdom to
direct； if so painful a result shall in any wise be brought about； it
shall he through no fault of mine。
Allusion has also been made by one of your honored speakers to some
remarks recently made by myself at Pittsburg in regard to what is
supposed to be the especial interest of this great commonwealth of
Pennsylvania。 I now wish only to say in regard to that matter； that
the few remarks which I uttered on that occasion were rather
carefully worded。 I took pains that they should be so。 I have seen
no occasion since to add to them or subtract from them。 I leave them
precisely as they stand； adding only now that I am pleased to have an
expression from you； gentlemen of Pennsylvania； signifying that they
are satisfactory to you。
And now； gentlemen of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania； allow me again to return to you my most sincere thanks。
REPLY TO THE MAYOR OF WASHINGTON； D。C。；
FEBRUARY 27； 1861
Mr。 MAYOR：I thank you； and through you the municipal authorities of
this city who accompany you； for this welcome。 And as it is the
first time in my life； since the present phase of politics has
presented itself in this country； that I have said anything publicly
within a region of country where the institution of slavery exists； I
will take this occasion to say that I think very much of the ill
feeling that has existed and still exists between the people in the
section from which I came and the people here； is dependent upon a
misunde