February 20, 1861; The New York Herald
The great metropolitan event yesterday was the arrival at three o’clock P.M. of Abraham Lincoln, President elect of the United States. In another column we give an interesting and detailed account of the ceremonies of reception from the time he left Albany until a late hour last evening, embracing speeches en route and in this city, the procession, decorations, sketches of the Presidential suite, the reception room, dinner, incidents and accidents generally. We also publish the programme for today.
The Peace Convention at Washington makes but slow progress. Yesterday they spent some five hours discussing a motion in favor of half hour speeches. And this trumpery question is still pending.
One of our Washington correspondents furnishes some important revelations respecting the probable financial and military policy of the Southern confederacy.
In Congress yesterday the Senate took up the Tariff bill, and after the adoption of several amendments and considerable debate the bill was reported. In the House Mr. Fenton, of New York, presented a resolution affirming, as the judgment of the House, that the existing troubles of the country should be referred to the National Convention, to be called in the mode prescribed in the constitution. The bill authorizing the President to accept the services of volunteers was then taken up, the question being on its third reading and engrossment. The bill was strongly opposed by the democrats, and the discussion was warm and irritating. Mr. Bocock moved to lay the subject on the table, which was decided in the negative by a vote of 68 to 1105. The debate terminated with the expiration of the morning hour. The Senate resolution repealing the act of last session for the benefit of Degroot was adopted. The Naval Appropriation bill was taken up, the question being on agreeing with the Senate’s amendments. The amendment providing for the construction of additional steam sloops of war was discussed till recess. The evening session was devoted to debates on the crisis.