February 15, 1861

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I appear before you merely to greet you and say farewell. I have no time for long speeches, and could not make them at every stopping place without wearing myself out. If I should make a speech at every town, I would not get to Washington until some time after the inauguration. [Laughter.] But as I am somewhat interested in the inauguration, I would like to get there a few days before the 4th of March.

Source: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler.