Nominations as One of President Lincoln's Finest Speeches

[David Lockmiller]

My nomination is President Lincoln's Address to the 166th Ohio Regiment on August 22, 1864.

(In terms of context, please note that this speech was made on the day before President Lincoln wrote the "blind memorandum" for signature by the members of his Cabinet on August 23, 1864.)

SOLDIERS--I suppose you are going home to see your families and friends. For the services you have done in this great struggle in which we are engaged, I present you sincere thanks for myself and the country.

I almost always feel inclined, when I say anything to soldiers, to impress upon them, in a few brief remarks, the importance of success in this contest. It is not merely for the day, but for all time to come, that we should perpetuate for our children's children that great and free government which we have enjoyed all our lives. I beg you to remember this, not merely for my sake, but for yours. I happen, temporarily, to occupy this big White House. I am a living witness that any one of your children may look to come here as my father's child has. It is in order that each one of you may have, through this free government which we have enjoyed, an open field, and a fair chance for your industry, enterprise, and intelligence; that you may all have equal privileges in the race of life with all its desirable human aspirations--it is for this that the struggle should be maintained, that we may not lose our birthrights--not only for one, but for two or three years, if necessary. The nation is worth fighting for, to secure such an inestimable jewel.

[Gene C]

I've always liked Lincoln's farewell speech at the Springfield train depot as he leaves Springfield heading to Washington DC.

https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfiel...d=11440385
Unfortunately the mural depicting this event was never completed, and the building torn down.
The train depot is still there though.

[David Lockmiller]

(03-21-2023 06:33 PM)Gene C Wrote:  I've always liked Lincoln's farewell speech at the Springfield train depot as he leaves Springfield heading to Washington DC.

https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfiel...d=11440385
Unfortunately the mural depicting this event was never completed, and the building torn down.
The train depot is still there though.

Good choice, Gene.

"I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington."

The extemporaneous Farewell Address was given on February 11, 1861 at the Illinois Great Western railroad depot in Springfield, Illinois.

"My friends -- No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe every thing. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young 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 the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you and be every where 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."


This is the official version which President-elect Lincoln wrote after his train pulled away from the Springfield station.

The original manuscript at the Library of Congress shows the first part of the pencil-written remarks in Lincoln's handwriting; the remainder is in the handwriting of John Nicolay, his secretary, who took down what Lincoln dictated.

(Information source: Abraham Lincoln Online - Speeches and Writings)

[RJNorton]

I think the one I am most curious about is the Lost Speech. Apparently the speech was so good that the audience sat in astonishment. I wish the actual text were available as maybe I could then understand why the people listening reacted as they did.

[David Lockmiller]

(03-22-2023 03:56 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  I think the one I am most curious about is the Lost Speech. Apparently the speech was so good that the audience sat in astonishment. I wish the actual text were available as maybe I could then understand why the people listening reacted as they did.

Roger, are you aware of this effort: ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S LOST SPEECH - MAY 29, 1856

THE lost speech of Abraham Lincoln was delivered at the first Republican State Convention of Illinois, at Bloomington, on the 29th of May, 1856. The excitement caused among the audience by the speech was so great that the reporters forgot to take their notes, and for many years it was generally supposed that no record of the speech had been preserved. It appears, however, that Mr. H. C. Whitney, then a young lawyer of Illinois, did take notes of the speech, which he preserved; and after a lapse of forty years they were transcribed and were published in “McClure’s Magazine” for September, 1896, together with a letter from Mr. Joseph Medill, of the “Chicago Tribune,” who was present at the Convention and confirms the accuracy of Mr. Whitney’s report.

By the kind consent of Mr. Whitney, and through the courtesy of Mr. S. S. McClure, the speech is now reproduced by the Republican Club of the City of New York as a souvenir of Lincoln for its Annual Dinner on the 12th of February, 1897.

[RJNorton]

Yes, I am aware of the Whitney version of the Lost Speech.

In the Abraham Lincoln Encyclopedia Dr. Mark E. Neely, Jr. writes as follows regarding Abraham Lincoln's Lost Speech:

"Henry Clay Whitney later claimed to have made notes on the occasion, and in 1896 he sold McClure's Magazine the text of the speech, which the magazine published in its September issue. Joseph M. Medill, who had heard the speech, endorsed it as a 'close reproduction,' but John G. Nicolay, who also had heard it, thought it spurious. Nicolay was vindicated in 1930 when a brief account of the speech was found in the Alton Courier of June 5, 1856. The description differed so markedly from Whitney's version that no one now accepts Whitney's account."

[David Lockmiller]

(03-23-2023 03:55 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Yes, I am aware of the Whitney version of the Lost Speech.

In the Abraham Lincoln Encyclopedia Dr. Mark E. Neely, Jr. writes as follows regarding Abraham Lincoln's Lost Speech:

"Henry Clay Whitney later claimed to have made notes on the occasion, and in 1896 he sold McClure's Magazine the text of the speech, which the magazine published in its September issue. Joseph M. Medill, who had heard the speech, endorsed it as a 'close reproduction,' but John G. Nicolay, who also had heard it, thought it spurious. Nicolay was vindicated in 1930 when a brief account of the speech was found in the Alton Courier of June 5, 1856. The description differed so markedly from Whitney's version that no one now accepts Whitney's account."

Roger, I thought that I was going to let you know something that you did not know.

Then, you let me know that what I thought to be the truth was incorrect.

Thanks, Roger. As Lincoln said "If history is not the truth, it's not history." [or, words to that effect]

Professor Burlingame references the (Alton Courier of June 5, 1856 story at Abraham Lincoln: A Life, Volume One, page 418, footnote 43. In turn, this footnote references Complete Works of Lincoln, Vol. 2, page 341.

[David Lockmiller]

(03-22-2023 03:56 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  I think the one I am most curious about is the Lost Speech. . . . I wish the actual text were available as maybe I could then understand why the people listening reacted as they did.

Roger, I believe part of the answer for the effectiveness of Lincoln's words were the detailed descriptions by the prefatory speaker of the crimes recently committed in Lawrence, Kansas.

Abraham Lincoln: A Life, Vol. One, page 418
Chapter 11 - "Unite with Us, and Help Us to Triumph": Building the Illinois Republican Party (1855-1857)

The next day, another fugitive from Kansas, James S. Emery of Lawrence, portrayed the outrages he had witnessed in that territory. After Emery described the sacking of Lawrence he watched Lincoln stride to the podium with a giraffe-like gait. His hair was tousled, his clothes were not neat, and his shoulders were stooped. But the delegates, so arrested by Lincoln's intensely serious look, scarcely noticed his appearance. Emery recalled that he “at once held his big audience and handled it like the master he was before the people, pleading in a great and just cause.”

Incredibly, Lincoln’s words on that occasion have not survived, and this oration, believed to be one of his masterpieces, has become known as the “lost speech.” Reporters were allegedly so carried away by it that they dropped their pencils and listened spellbound. Although many journalists were present, only two brief accounts of the speech’s substance are extant.

[RJNorton]

Thanks, David. It was indeed one amazing speech.