s not to his liking.

As the time approached for his inauguration he visited his step-mother,
made a pilgrimage to the grave of his father, and on February 11 started
for Washington, after taking leave at Springfield, of his old friends,
who gathered at the station early in the morning and stood bareheaded in
the rain while he spoke these beautiful words of affectionate farewell
from the platform of the coach:

"My friends, no one not in my situation can appreciate my feelings of
sadness at this parting. To this place and the kindness of these people
I owe everything. Here I have lived for a quarter of a century and
passed from a young man to an old man. Here my children have been born
and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may
return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon
Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever
attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail.
Trusting to Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be
everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well.
To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend
me, I bid you an affectionate farewell."

On the way he made short informal speeches--tactfully avoiding any
announcement of policy--at Columbus, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany and New
York. On Washington's birthday at Philadelphia, he celebrated the
admission of Kansas as a free state by raising over Independence Hall a
new flag of thirty-four stars. He was deeply moved and spoke fervently
of "that sentiment in the Declaration of Independence which gives
liberty, not alone to the people of this country, but also hope to all
the people of the world for all future times; which gave promise that in
due time the weights would be lifted from the shoulders of all men, and
that all should have an equal chance." And finally, "If this country
cannot be saved without giving up that principle, I was about to say I
would rather be assassinated on this spot than to surrender it."

His reference to assassination may have been due to the report of
detectives that they had discovered a plot to kill him as he went
through Baltimore. Contrary to advice concerning his personal safety, he
kept his engagement to address the legislature at Harrisburg before
going on to Washington. In the Capital and the country thereabout were
many Confederate sympathizers.

Even during the few days that he