Indiana Magazine of History Volumexxiv

INDIANA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY VOLUMEXXIV. MARCH, 1928 NUMBER1. Lincoln In Indianapolis By GEORGES. COWMAN,Indianapolis With the ever-increasing volume of literature about Abra- ham Lincoln it would seem as if nothing further could be said except in the way of repetition ; nevertheless much new matter will doubtless be yet uncovered. For example, an historical account of the great emancipator’s presence in Indianapolis- twice when living, once when dead-has never been given with fulness or accuracy, and the tradition that exists reveals both omissions and errors. 1859 As regards omissions, virtually no one now living knew until recently that Lincoln had delivered a speech in the Hoosier capital prior to 1861. The fact that he did.was dis- covered some months since by Earl W. Wiley, and also, in- dependently, by Miss Olga Ruehl, of the Indiana State Library staff, when examining the files of the Indianapolis Daily Atlas, a now forgotten newspaper. Thedate of the speech was Sep- tember 19, 1859; the place of delivery, the old Masonic Hall; the occasion, an echo of the state campaign in Ohio, where both Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas had been stumping as a sort of aftermath to their famous joint debate of the year before. Lincoln, on his way from Springfield to Ohio, passed 2 Indiana Magazine of Hzs tory through Indianapolis, as is shown by a fuller examination of the Aths files. That seems to have inspired the Republi- cans there to secure him; an invitation followed him to Col- umbus. It was accepted, and a little later, when on his way homeward from Cincinnati, he gave the Indianapolis address by way of good measure, as it were. It is somewhat curious that this visit and speech should have dropped wholly out of sight, until last year, no historian or biographer, so far as I can find, making any mention of it. The address was not re- printed verbatim, but reported in the form of a running account and even in that condensed form occupies three col- umns.‘ 1861 It is well known to all Lincoln students that Indianapolis was included in the itinerary of the president-elect in his journey from Springfield to Washington, preceding his inaugura- tion in 1861. In the Indiana city the event is commemorated by a bronze tablet set in the wall of the Claypool Hotel, just beneath the spot where he spoke from the balcony of the old Bates House, the predecessor of the Claypool. Confusion has arisen from the fact that the distinguished guest made two Indianapolis speeches during that visit, though in some ac- counts he is credited with but one. It happens that the quota- tion on the tablet mentioned is from ‘his first remarks, delivered in another place, while the Bates House speech, now almost forgotten, was the one that created all the newspaper comment at the time. Had those who sponsored the tablet and those who have written about it taken the pains carefully to examine the contemporary newspaper files of the city they could have ascertained what was done and where. This article is an attempt at such a study of the contemporaneous evidence. To appreciate fully the brief and restrained utterances of Lincoln during that memorable journey from Springfield to Washington one must consider the situation. Prior to that he had taken part as a statesman in the questions of the day- 1. This has been spoken of as a “lost speech” of Lincoln’s in the newspaper notices following the discovery. A comparative study shows that in large part it was a repetition of the ideas expressed in preceding addresses in Ohio at Columbus and Cincinnati, though the Atles account has in it matter not to be found in those speeches. It has recently been published in Earl W. Wiley, Four Speeches by Abraham Lzncoln (Col- umbus, Ohio, 1921). Cottman ; Lincoln in Indianapolis 3 questions that under the stress of political passions had grown so acute as to threaten to disintegrate the nation. Then with his election to the presidency in the fall of 1860 his position in the maelstrom suddenly became that of supreme leader for weal or woe. Nothing was to be expected of his predecessor, who still held the helm, but who was siqply swamped by the magnitude of affaixs, and so the eyes of the cour ry were turned on the president-elect, noting his every act ,nd word. He had already given evidence of statesmanship, at least in a theoretical way, but in the role that lay before hix with its untried ways he was an unknown quantity, as any other man would have been. What were his views on these questions that were racking the country? How would he meet them? What qualities would he show? Of all Lincoln’s traits none was more marked than his sense of responsibility. Aside from the propriety of reserve while his predecessor was still in office it would be very easy for him to make a mistake, es- pecially as a hostile press lay ready to pounce upon his every word and act. Hence in the series of talks when on his way to take the presidential seat he always spoke cautiously, and repeatedly said in so many words that he did not wish to speak prematurely. The Indianapolis speeches, which were his first utterances worthy of note after leaving Springfield, were of this character.2 The Lincoln special train was scheduled to reach Indian- 2. Since writing the above I have found in the Indianapolis News of February 12, 1897, an anonymous article describing the Lincoln visit of 1861. The writer, seemingly, drew upon personal recollections a8 well as from records, and the article has the ring of authenticity. It has in it some information additional to that above set forth, which is here appended. “During the latter part of January, 1861 the Indiana legislature passed a joint resolution appointing a committee composed df Senators George K. Steele, of Parke; Walter March, of Delaware : J. D. Conner, of Wabash : Aaron B. Line, of Franklin, and Allen Hamilton, of Allen: Representatives David C. Branham, of Jefferson: David M. Jones, of Vermillion: James 0. Veach, of Spencer: R. A. Cameron, of Porter; John A. Hendricks, of Jefferson. J. H. Stotsenberg, of Floyd, and M. A. 0. Packard, to invite Mr. Lincoln to become a’ guest of the state on his way to Washington. Mr. Lincoln accepted the invitation and named February 11 as the day on which the committee could meet him at Indiana’s boundary line and escort him to the city as it desired.” On February 4 a public meeting of citizens was held at the old court house and appointed a committee to represent Indianapolis and cooperate with the state authori- ties in the reception. This committee consisted of Mayor Samuel B. Maxwell, A. H. Conner, James Blake, A. H. Davidson, Jacob Vandegrift, Dr, J. S. Bobbs and William Wallace. At the state line the Lincoln train “was greeted by thousands of people from In- diana and Illinois, who had assembled in the open prairie, with cheers an+ wtving of flags, hats and handkerchiefs.” General Steele, the chairman of the Joint lesslative committee made a speech of welcome: Mr. Lincoln replied, and the trains moved on amidst shouts and the waving of flags, and other demonstrations. All along the way from Spring- field to Indianapolis the crowds were gathered to greet and if possible, to hear a few words from the man of the hour. 4 Indiana Magazine of History apolis by way of Lafayette at 5 P.M.,February 11, and a committee of prominent citizens were delegated to meet it at the Illinois state line as a preliminary welcome. There was much interest in the event, and all day long the city was crowded with people, many of whom, says one newspaper, had come “fully fifty miles in wagons, in carriages and on horseback.” It was said to have been the greatest gathering ever in the city up to that time. For some reason the point of debarka- tion was fixed, not at the Union Depot, but at the intersection of West Washington and Missouri Streets, where the Lafay- ette track crosses Washington. Here, as the time of arrival approached, was a crowd that jammed the streets and filled all available windows, house-tops and even telegraph poles. There were also segregated the elements for a grand parade- carriages, two brass bands, the Indianapolis National Guards, the Indianapolis Zouaves and other organizations. Governor Oliver P. Morton, in a barouche to which was attached a nhtched team of four beautiful white hourses decorated with plumes and flags, was stationed at the crossing ready to re- ceive the president-elect with a speech of welcome. Others in attendance were state, county and city officials, members of the legislature, visiting cmlnittees from the legislatures of Kentucky and Ohio, and municipal officers from Columbus and Cincinnati. Promptly at five o’clock the special arrived, stopping with its rear end at the crossing, and Mr. Lincoln at once appeared upon the rear platform. Governor Morton then arose and, standing in his barouche, spoke as follows: SIR:-In behalf of the people of llndiana I bid you welcome. They avail themselves of this occasion to offer their tribute of high respect to your character as a man and a statesman, and your person to honor the high office to which you have been elected. In every free government there will be differences of opinion, and these differences result in the formation of parties; but when the voice of the people has been expressed through the forms of the Constitution all patriots yield to it obedience.

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