Republican "Invincible" and the inauguration of Lincoln.
--The Philadelphia "Republican Invincible" held a regular monthly meeting on Wednesday evening, and after the transaction of the usual business, the subject of the visit to Harrisburg to assist at the inauguration of Gov. Curtin, was broached, and a member moved that--"It is inexpedient for the club to visit Harrisburg." Some opposition was made to the motion, on the ground that it was unnecessary, in view of the fact that no motion to go had been made. To this, the mover of the resolution replied, "that he wished the Republicans to stand by their principles, and he desired some decided expression of opinion, in order to ascertain if it was possible that the club would go to Harrisburg after the 'Continental Speech!' " (Referring to Gov. Curtin's remarks at the McClure dinner.)The resolution was then adopted, and thus the Harrisburg excursion dispensed with.
The Executive Committee having decided that the Club should make an excursion to Washington, to assist in the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, a motion was made that the Club approve of that act.
Mr. Hamilton desired the members to deliberate well before passing upon the motion.--For one, he was ready to go to Washington; but he wished the members to say whether they were prepared to go notwithstanding any obstacles. There was no use disguising the truth; it was probable that an attempt would be made to stop them. They might be prevented from going through Maryland. In view of these facts, were the members prepared? Should they not go through a course of drilling?
Mr. Newport did not think the gentleman was correct in presuming that opposition would be made to their progress. He had no right to suppose that any portion of our citizens would use force to prevent the Republicans from being present at the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln.
A member of the Club was of opinion that "forewarned was forearmed," and, consequently, the Club should be on hand to make good the promise of one of its representatives at Washington. When Mr. Iverson, of Ga., vauntingly said that 500,000 Wide Awakes could not inaugurate Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Wade, of Ohio, retorted, then 1,000,000 would be on hand. Let the Republicans make good that promise.
Another member here interposed a mild objection. He was a Republican, and he intended to be present at the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, but he would go in his individual capacity, and not as a member of the club. He did not believe what Mr. Iverson said any more than he believed what Mr. Wade rejoined. Mr. Lincoln was now the President of the United States, and not of the Republican party, and hence the Republicans would do wrong to go to Washington in their organized capacity. If they did go, it would only be giving force to the argument of the South, that Mr. Lincoln was the President of a party.
After this speech, the subject was postponed until the next monthly meeting.
