CHAP. XX. the above suggestions," writes Judd, "Mr. Lincoln assented, adding: 'I reckon they will laugh at us, Judd, but you had better get them together.' It was arranged that after the reception at the State-house, and before dinner, the matter should be fully laid before the following gentlemen of the party: Judge David Davis, Colonel E. V. Sumner, Major David Hunter, Captain John Pope, and Ward H. Lamon." Mr. Judd's narrative then further recites what occurred: The meeting thus arranged took place in the parlor of the hotel, Mr. Lincoln being present. The facts were laid before them by me, together with the details of the proposed plan of action. There was a diversity of opinion, and some warm discussion, and I was subjected to a very rigid cross-examination. Judge Davis, who had expressed no opinion, but contented himself with asking rather pointed questions, turned to Mr. Lincoln, who had been listening to the whole discussion, and said: "Well, Mr. Lincoln, what is your own judgment upon this matter?" Mr. Lincoln replied: "I have thought over this matter considerably, since I went over the ground with Pinkerton last night. The appearance of Mr. Frederick Seward, with warning from another source, confirms Mr. Pinkerton's belief. Unless there are some other reasons besides fear of ridicule, I am disposed to carry out Judd's plan." Judge Davis then said: "That settles the matter, gentlemen." Colonel Sumner said: "So be it, gentlemen; it is against my judgment, but I have undertaken to go to Washington with Mr. Lincoln, and I shall do it." I tried to convince him that any additional person added to the risk; but the spirit of the gallant old soldier was up, and debate was useless. The party separated about 4 P. M., the others to go to the dinner table, and myself to go to the railroad station and the telegraph office. At a quarter to six I was back at the hotel, and Mr. Lincoln was still at the table. In a few moments the carriage drove up to the side door of the hotel. Either Mr. Nicolay or Mr. Lamon called Mr. Lincoln from the table. He went to his room, changed CHAP. XX. his dinner dress for a traveling suit, and came down with a soft hat sticking in his pocket, and his shawl on his arm.1 As the party passed through the hall I said, in a low tone, "Lamon, go ahead. As soon as Mr. Lincoln is in the carriage, drive off; the crowd must not be allowed to identify him." Mr. Lamon went first to the carriage; Colonel Sumner was following close after Mr. Lincoln; I put my hand gently on his shoulder; he turned to see what was wanted, and before I could explain, the carriage was off. The situation was a little awkward, to use no stronger terms, for a few moments, until I said to the Colonel: "When we get to Washington, Mr. Lincoln shall determine what apology is due to you." It is needless to describe the various stages of Mr. Lincoln's journey. The plan arranged by the railroad and telegraph officials was carried out to the smallest detail without delay or special incident, and without coming to the knowledge of any person on the train or elsewhere, except those to whom the secret was confided. The Presidentelect and his single companion were safely and comfortably carried from Harrisburg to Philadelphia, and at midnight took their berths in the sleeping-car of the regular train from New York, passing through Baltimore unrecognized and undisturbed, and arriving in Washington at 6 o'clock on the morning of February 23. Here they were met by Mr. Seward and E. B. Washburne, and conducted to Willard's Hotel. The family and 1 Many caricatures and comments of that day were based upon the following sentence in a dispatch to the "New-York Times": "He wore a Scotch plaid cap and a very long military cloak, so that he was entirely unrecognizable." This de scription was the pure invention 1861. CHAP. XX. suite made the journey direct from Harrisburg to Baltimore, according to the programme, arriving in Washington late that evening. They encountered in Baltimore no incivility, nor any unusual disorder, though, as elsewhere, dense crowds, very inadequately controlled by the police, surrounded the railroad depots and filled the streets through which their carriages passed. All motive, however, to commit an assault was now past, since it was everywhere known that Mr. Lincoln was not with the party, but already at his destination. AR CHAPTER XXI LINCOLN'S INAUGURATION RRIVED in Washington and installed in the CHAP. XXI. spacious parlors of Willard's Hotel, fronting on Pennsylvania Avenue, Mr. Lincoln had a little more than a week to prepare for the inauguration. Of this a part was taken up with the customary introductory visits-to the outgoing President and Cabinet, where Mr. Buchanan and his councilors received him with cordial politeness; to the two Houses of Congress, where he was enthusiastically welcomed by friends and somewhat sullenly greeted by opponents; and to the Supreme Court of the United States, whose venerable chief and associate justices extended to him an affable recognition as the lawful successor in constitutional rulership. In his own parlors, also, the President-elect received numerous demonstrations of respect. President Buchanan and his Cabinet officially returned his visit. The Peace Conference, embracing distinguished delegates from all the free States and the border slave States, and headed by their chairman, ex-President Tyler, waited upon him in a body, in pursuance of a formal and unanimous resolution. His Presidential rivals, Douglas and Breckinridge, each made him a call of courtesy. "Proceedings of the Peace Con ference," pp. 336, 337. CHAP. XXI. The mayor and the municipal council came in an official visit of welcome. Several delegations and many high functionaries repeated these ceremonial calls, which again were supplemented by numerous cordial invitations to private hospitality. 1861. While all these tokens of respect were sincere and loyal, there was a deep anxiety in public feeling to learn how the new President would deal with an organized rebellion, which had been allowed by his predecessor to establish itself without the least hinderance, and which, while committing repeated acts of war, had as yet perpetrated no violence or bloodshed-only, however, because it had met neither official nor military resistance. Mr. Lincoln's chief labor during this interim was consultation with the more influential leaders of the Republican party, who, either as members of Congress, delegates in the Peace Conference, or as casual or special visitors to the capital, had a final word to offer about the composition of his Cabinet or the policy of his Administration. Thus, from the 23d of February to the 4th of March, every moment of the day and many hours of the night were occupied. As his doors were at all times freely opened, and as his life-long habit was to listen patiently to counsel from all quarters, it is safe to say that no President ever approached his task better informed of the temper of his followers, and decided more deliberately upon his general course of conduct. Yet, here as afterwards, he followed the practice of holding his convictions open to the latest moment, and of not irrevocably committing himself to specific acts till the instant of their execution. |