February 28, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
BALTIMORE, February 24, 1861.
As if the cup of our country’s deep, and, I fear lasting degradation were not already filled to overflowing by the ill timed harangues of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, made during his recent trip from Springfield to Washington, his stealthy midnight transit through Maryland on Friday night last would seem to be sufficient for the purpose. Loud and deep are the anathemas hurled at him now by hundreds of our citizens, who, only a few days since, were willing, for the sake of the Union, to give his administration a trial, and this last most disgraceful act of his has made many converts to the ranks of Secessionists. Having been in the upper portion of Pennsylvania on business, your correspondent was induced to visit Harrisburg on Friday, for the double purpose of witnessing the celebration of the natal day of the Father of his Country, and to get a glimpse of the man who, while journeying to the Federal Metropolis for the purpose of taking the helm of the dismasted Ship of State, has had the audacity to proclaim, again and again, that the present was only an crisis, and that so far nobody has been hurt, and I now purpose furnishing, for the amusement of your readers, some of the scenes and incidents of the day, together with an account of LINCOLN’S inglorious flight from the Capital of Pennsylvania.
The morning of the 22d was a lively one in the town of Harrisburg. The Legislature had adjourned for the day, and from every prominent point was displayed flags, streamers and banners. Many of the latter, to the shame of Pennsylvanians be it said, coupled the name of WASHINGTON with that of LINCOLN. During the morning long trains of cars came in from every direction, filled with soldiers; and by the time that LINCOLN arrived at two in the afternoon, there must have been not less than thirty thousand troops drawn up in line to receive him. A procession was formed, over three miles long, and the man of Pennsylvania’s choice placed in a barouche and conducted all over the town, stopping at the Jones House, where the formal reception took place. Gov. CURTIN made a short address, very carefully prepared, and at which the most extreme Southerner could take no exception. Not so with the lion of the day. His reply was uttered in disjointed sentences, the greater portion of them having no meaning whatever, and the whole affair would have done no credit to any public school boy in the country. The procession was again formed, and LINCOLN and his suite escorted to the State House, where the reception by the two Houses of the Legislature took place, Mr. Speaker PALMER addressing LINCOLN, and the latter replying in one of his unique but senseless speeches. The party were then escorted to the Jones House, and that was about the last the people saw of ABRAHAM LINCOLN. From dusk on Friday until daylight on Saturday, the town appeared to be given up to scenes of debauchery and drunkenness. The half dozen large hotels were filled to overflowing with the army of hungry office seekers that has followed LINCOLN from his home, and which has gained strength at every stopping place, so that it was impossible for a stranger to even procure a chair on which to rest his weary limbs, and the consequence was that many were compelled to walk the streets the entire night. At almost every step one would stumble over either a drunken or a very sick soldier, and on Saturday morning many of them looked like they had been steeped in a whiskey bath. During all this time every one, the proprietor of the hotel not excepted, were under the impression that LINCOLN was quietly snoozing away the weary hours. The train from Baltimore that came in about 11 o’clock last night, brought a self constituted committee of office cormorants. They waited on Mr. WOOD, the private secretary of Mr. LINCOLN, and made an arrangement for an interview at 8 in the morning, at the very time that WOOD was nearly the only man in the town that was aware of the fact that the bird had flown. I am credibly informed that Mrs. LINCOLN being much fatigued with travel, retired early, thinking her husband was asleep in the adjoining room, and that the first intimation she received of his inglorious flight, was a despatch from him early on Saturday morning, announcing his safe arrival in Washington. Mrs. L., with whom I travelled from Harrisburg to Baltimore, is a high spirited Kentucky lady, and appeared very indignant at the apparently cowardly action of her liege lord. She informed some of her fellow passengers that at the present time she has a brother and a brother-in- law in the Florida forces about to invest Fort Pickens.
The Baltimore office seekers were compelled to return home, sad and disappointed; while, during the trip of eighty miles to Baltimore, the estimable Col. JOHN S. GITTINGS, one of the truest and best friends of Southern institutions in our midst, did all in his power to entertain and explain the prominent points to Mrs. L. He pressed her to dine with his family at his hospitable mansion; but she, having but one hour to spend in Baltimore, declined.
Of the causes which led Mr. LINCOLN to steal through Maryland under cover of night, no doubt his Republican keepers will invent some plausible one; but the only and true one I happen to know. Those whose deep interest it is to have him alive in Washington were afraid to allow him to pass the State of Maryland by daylight, and with this end in view, numerous despatches were received by his keepers in Harrisburg on Friday night, to the effect that the train on the Northern Central Railway would be thrown from the track at a point where the death of all on board would be inevitable. These despatches were sent by General SCOTT, Senator SEWARD, and others, who averred their information was from reliable sources of information in Baltimore. LINCOLN was hurried off by the circuitous way of Philadelphia, not even allowed to take his wife and children with him, but compelled to let them take the very train that he had been directed to avoid. What did the interested ones care for poor Mrs. LINCOLN and her smiling children, so that the great aim of their ambition, the fool they have elevated in the Presidency was safely and securely caged in Washington? What will the world think of a man, no matter how high or low his position, who will shrink from danger, and at the same time allow his wife and children to encounter it? Why the instincts of the veriest brute in the animal creation compels it to protect its offspring from danger.
The danger apprehended was all a matter of moonships. No accident could possibly occur on the railroad, for a man was stationed every half mile of the entire route. It was the mortal fear of the man who was to manage the affairs of Washington. If the Republicans entertain no evil designs on the rights of the South, if they intend to act free and aboveboard, why this sneaking of their precious charge across Mason and Dixon’s line in the dead of the night? Why so much secrecy in the departure front Harrisburg? Why were they afraid to impart the secret of his leaving to their Republican friends from Baltimore? A guilty conscience need no accuser. They do meditate a wrong, and they were afraid for the action of an outraged but forbearing people. Had LINCOLN come to Baltimore at midday, as was expected by the tens of thousands who congregated at the depot, he would not have been molested. He would have been allowed to arrive and depart in quietness; but of one thing you can rest assured – he would not have been allowed to have uttered sentiments that he has been reported to have made use of in other places.
There was the largest crowd at the depot when the special train arrived, that has, perhaps, ever been congregated in Baltimore and much was the disappointment of the mass in not getting a sight of LINCOLN. As is usual on such occasions, there was much pushing and shoving but as far as I am able to learn no indignity was offered to any one. Even those who made themselves obnoxious by their joining the Republican ranks, were allowed to quietly leave the premises. Mrs. LINCOLN and her two sons were treated with every courtesy, and after a hasty dinner at the Eutaw House, proceeded to Washington to meet their runaway husband and father.