(Lincoln, Abraham) | Hello, I must be going

(Lincoln, Abraham)

Group of 5 newspapers relating to Abraham Lincoln's election as president and his journey as president-elect to Washington

The Evansville Daily Journal, Vol. XII, No. 218. Evansville, Indiana: James H. McNeely, Saturday Morning, May 19, 1860. 4-page folio newspaper, text in seven columns. The third and fourth columns of the front page carry an extensive story on Lincoln’s nomination at the Republican National Convention, sent by telegraph from Chicago "Exclusively for the Journal" and printed under an animated series of headlines: "Chicago Convention. | Enthusiastic & Harmonious Proceedings. | The East and the West Join Hands. | Abraham Lincoln for President. | Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, for Vice President. | A Strong Ticket." The Journal details the three ballots needed for Lincoln to overtake frontrunner William Seward, U.S. Senator from New York, prior to the convention making the nomination unanimous. The convention was perhaps inspired by a Mr. Delano, delegate from Ohio, who gave the seconding speech for the eventual nominee: "I desire to second the nomination of a man who can split rails, and maul the democrats—Abraham Lincoln." 

The New-York Times, Vol. X, No. 2937. New York: Tuesday, February 19, 1861. 8-page folio newspaper, unopened, text in six columns. Among the "Affairs of the Nation" reported on the front page is an update on the ongoing Peace Conference in Washington, D.C., and news of President-Elect Lincoln’s travel from Buffalo to Albany. In Buffalo Lincoln was greeted by former president Millard Fillmore, who "though not sympathizing with the principles of the Chicago platform, is nevertheless, the leading citizen of the city, and represents the Union-loving sentiment of the place." The paper also remarks that "Mr. Lincoln’s ground, most firmly taken, is that he is to be the President of the American people and not of the Republican Party." The Times further reports Lincoln’s informal remarks at Rochester, Clyde, Syracuse, and Utica, as well as his several speeches in Albany, including one to the state legislature. At Clyde: "Ladies and Gentlemen: I merely appear before you to say good morning and farewell, I have no time to speak in, and no speech if I had." Lincoln was described as having worn the entire trip "a shocking bad hat, and a very thin old over-coat," which was finally replaced at Mrs. Lincoln’s insistence in Utica. The final page of this issue includes a report on the inauguration of Jefferson Davis as president of the Confederate States of America, including his inaugural address.

The New-York Times, Vol. X, No. 2941. New York: Saturday, February 23, 1861. 8-page folio newspaper, text in six columns. Front-page news in this issue features continuing coverage of Lincoln’s progress towards Washington, covering his trip from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, including transcripts of relatively lengthy speeches given at Independence Hall and the Pennsylvania capitol, as well as at Lancaster. At Independence Hall, Lincoln helped raise a thirty-four—star American flag, indicating an undivided United States. Much of the rest of the paper is given to coverage of Southern affairs, including a false report that Arkansas would be remaining in the Union.

The New-York Times, Vol. X, No. 2942. New York: Monday, February 25, 1861. 8-page folio newspaper, text in six columns. This issue announces the safe arrival of Lincoln in Washington, having secretly departed Harrisburg and travelled through Baltimore without stopping in order to foil an assassination plot. "[A]n organized body of men had determined that Mr. Lincoln should not be inaugurated, and that he should never leave the City of Baltimore alive, if, indeed, he ever entered it. The list of names of the conspirators presented a most astonishing array of persons high in Southern confidence, and come whose fame is not confined to this country alone. Statesmen laid the plan, Bankers indorsed it, and adventurers were to carry it into effect. As they understood, Mr. Lincoln was to leave Harrisburgh [sic] … by special train, the idea was, if possible, to throw the cars from the road at some point where they would rush down a steep embankment and destroy in a moment the lives of all on board. In case of the failure of this project, their plan was to surround the carriage on the way from dépôt to dépôt in Baltimore, and assassinate him with dagger or pistol shot." 

The New York Herald, Vol. XXVI, No. 61, Whole No. 8941. New York: James Gordon Bennett, Sunday morning, March 3, 1861. 8-page folio newspaper, text in six columns. With Lincoln’s inauguration looming, the Herald reports on all of the changes in Washington: last acts of President Buchanan, Lincoln’s proposed cabinet, the program for the inauguration, and the resignation of many army, navy, and civil officers.

Together 5 full newspaper issues, various sizes. Some statining, some wear, particularly at folds, occasional repair, some printing over creases, marginal chips and tears to Herald. Most disbound.