February 24, 1861; The New York Herald
The city was thrown into great commotion yesterday by the receipt of intelligence that Mr. Lincoln, the President elect, had unexpectedly appeared in Washington city. Our despatches from Harrisburg on Friday night reported Mr. Lincoln quietly housed at that place, resting himself after the fatigue of his day’s journey from Philadelphia and his reception at the Pennsylvania State capital. It will be seen, however, from the accounts given in another part of today’s paper, that Mr. Lincoln friends apprehended that an attempt would be made to do him personal injury, either on the route to or upon his arrival at Baltimore, and they therefore persuaded him to change the programme of his journey. Accordingly Mr. Lincoln, accompanied by one of his suite only, left Harrisburg early on Friday evening, reached Washington at six o’clock yesterday morning, and quietly proceeded to Willard’s Hotel. All our reports from Baltimore strenuously deny that there was the slightest ground for apprehending any indignity to Mr. Lincoln in that city. Arrangements had been made to give him a proper reception, and precautions had been taken to prevent any popular disturbance. The real cause for Mr. Lincoln’s sudden departure from Harrisburg yet remains to be revealed. Mr. Lincoln yesterday visited Mr. Buchanan and General Scott, and dined with Senator Seward. In the evening he held a reception, when the members of the cabinet, the Peace Commissioners, and a large number of ladies and gentlemen waited upon him to pay their respects. Mrs. Lincoln, and the party comprising the Presidential suite, reached Washington early last evening.
The Peace Convention at Washington yesterday did not succeed in agreeing upon a plan for settling the troubles of the nation. It is believed, however, that in spite of the opposition of the radical republicans, the Convention will eventually adopt the Guthrie plan of adjustment.