Lincoln returns home, probably in late afternoon, after seeing stepmother in Coles County, Ill. Charles H. Coleman, Abraham Lincoln and Coles County, Illinois (New Brunswick, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1955), 210.

In writing Sen. Seward (N.Y.) of meeting with Cong. Kellogg (Ill.) on January 21, 1861, he states: "On the territorial question—that is, the question of extending slavery under the national auspices,—I am inflexible. I am for no compromise which assists or permits the extension of the institution on soil owned by the nation." Abraham Lincoln to William H. Seward, 1 February 1861, CW, 4:183.

Receives bronze medal of Henry Clay sent by Daniel Ullmann, New York attorney. Abraham Lincoln to Daniel Ullmann, 1 February 1861, CW, 4:183-84.

Accepts invitation of committee of citizens of Cincinnati to stop on way to Washington. Baltimore Sun, 4 February 1861; Abraham Lincoln to Benjamin Eggleston, Charles L. Moore, and A. McAlpin, 1 February 1861, CW, 4:182.

Lincoln invites Orville H. Browning, attorney who later succeeds Stephen A. Douglas in U.S. Senate, to accompany him to Washington. Browning agrees to go as far as Indianapolis. Browning, Diary.

Declines invitation from people of Massachusetts to visit state for "want of time." Abraham Lincoln to John A. Andrew and the Senate and House of Representatives of Massachusetts, 7 February 1861, CW, 4:186.

Accepts invitation to visit Columbus, Ohio. Acknowledges invitation from citizens of Dayton, Ohio: "I will endeavor to pass through and at least bow to the friends there." Abraham Lincoln to William Dennison, 7 February 1861, CW, 4:186-87; Abraham Lincoln to John G. Lowe, Thomas A. Phillips, and W. H. Gillespie, 7 February 1861, CW, 4:187.

Withdraws $104.70 from Springfield Marine Bank. Pratt, Personal Finances, 175.

Accompanied by son Robert and John G. Nicolay, private secretary to President-elect, Lincoln takes long walk shortly after sunrise. Interviews two committees representing former Gov. Nathaniel P. Banks (Mass.) and urging his appointment as secretary of war. Sen.-elect Ira Harris (N.Y.) calls on Lincoln in afternoon. Lincoln receives memorials from New York and Boston publishers requesting appointment of Cong. Schuyler Colfax (Ind.) as postmaster general. N.Y. Times, 27 February 1861.

Visits Senate to confer with Republican leaders. N.Y. Tribune, 27 February 1861.

Holds interview for several hours with Gov. Thomas H. Hicks (Md.), Sen. Douglas (Ill.), and others who recommend that he interpose his influence for settlement of pending difficulties. Baltimore Sun, 28 February 1861.

Replies to Sen. Trumbull (Ill.), and Congs. Washburne (Ill.) and Anson Burlingame (Mass.), committee of Congress reporting electoral count. Reply to Committee of Congress Reporting the Electoral Count, 26 February 1861, CW, 4:246.

[Irwin withdraws $98.68 from Springfield Marine Bank. Pratt, Personal Finances, 176.]

Mrs. Lincoln receives friends from 3 to 4 P.M. and from 8 to 10 P.M. Washington National Republican, 27 February 1861.

Lincoln walks two miles and holds long interview with former Sen. John Bell (Tenn.) before breakfast. N.Y. Times, 28 February 1861.

Washington, D. C. Mayor James G. Berret extends an official welcome to President-elect Lincoln, who resides at the Willard's Hotel. Mayor Berret expresses hope that Lincoln will "restore peace and harmony to our now distracted country." Lincoln acknowledges the "ill feeling that has existed and still exists between the people of the section from whence I came and the people here." He declares, "I have not now any purpose to withhold from you any of the benefits of the constitution . . . that I would not feel myself constrained to withhold from my own neighbors." New York Herald, 28 February 1861, 1:3; Reply to Mayor James G. Berret at Washington, DC, 27 February 1861, CW, 4:246-47.

Receives clerks of executive departments. Talks with Sen. Douglas (Ill.) who stays late to make impassioned plea for conciliation of South. National Intelligencer, 1 March 1861; Fletcher Pratt, History of the Civil War (New York: Pocket Books, 1956), 4.

Goes to Capitol and receives justices of Supreme Court in afternoon. N.Y. Times, 28 February 1861.

At 9 P.M. group of border statesmen, including former Sec. of Treasury James Guthrie of Kentucky and Alexander W. Doniphan of Missouri, calls to talk compromise. William E. Baringer, A House Dividing: Lincoln as President Elect (Springfield, IL: Abraham Lincoln Association, 1945), 315.

Sen. Crittenden (Ky.) calls to talk compromise. Several New York delegations see Lincoln about cabinet appointments and other matters. William E. Baringer, A House Dividing: Lincoln as President Elect (Springfield, IL: Abraham Lincoln Association, 1945), 319.

Cong. Elbridge G. Spaulding (N.Y.), capitalist, gives private dinner at National Hotel in honor of Lincoln and Vice President-elect Hamlin; Gen. Scott present, also some Republican leaders depressed by prospect of losing Southern business. Evening enlivened by Lincoln remarking, apropos news item about Georgian oath to wear no clothes produced under Republican regime, that he would like to see some Georgia gentlemen clad in the costume produced in their state—a shirt collar and a pair of spurs. Fletcher Pratt, History of the Civil War (New York: Pocket Books, 1956), 4-5; National Intelligencer, 2 March 1861.

Lincoln and Hamlin make speeches responding to serenade by Republican Association. Baltimore Sun, 2 March 1861; Response to a Serenade, 28 February 1861, CW, 4:247-48.

George S. Boutwell, former governor of Massachusetts, and Gen. Wool hold long interviews with Lincoln. N.Y. Times, 1 March 1861.