Enslavementto
freedom
Harrisburg on the eve
of Civil War
Study Areas
Lincoln's Speech in Harrisburg, February 22, 1861
A "Humble Instrument...In the Hands of the People"
See Abraham Lincoln in Harrisburg, 1861 & 1865.
Lincoln speaking to assembled Pennsylvania officials, from a 1909 postcard. Image
courtesy of James E. Schmick.
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 fact---the interesting fact perhaps we should say---that I for the first time appear at the Capitol 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 expressing with much regret that I had not more time to express something of my own feelings excited by the occasion---somewhat to harmonize and give shape to the feelings 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 flaunted gloriously to the wind without
an accident,
in the light glowing sun-shine 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 often have felt, that in the whole of that proceeding I was
a very humble instrument. I had not provided the flag; I had not
made the arrangement 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 here to use that force upon a proper emergency, while 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, (in so far as I may have wisdom to direct,) if so painful a result shall in any wise be brought about, it shall be through no fault of mine.
Allusion has also been made, by one of your honored Speakers, to some remarks recently made by myself at Pittsburgh, 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, significant 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.
References
Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph, Friday Afternoon, 22 February 1861, p4.
The Year of Jubilee
Vol. 1: Men of God and Vol. 2: Men of Muscle
by George F.Nagle
Both volumes of the Afrolumens book are out of print, but may be found used. You may also read the full text of the entire book free on this site. Read the book.
