Mr. Lincoln visits Manchester

If the number of new books being published about Abraham Lincoln is any indication, it would appear our 16th president is more popular than ever. Of course, this year is the 200th anniversary of his birth, and he was, arguably, our greatest president. So maybe this should come as no surprise.

Even Manchester is not immune to Lincolnmania. Indeed, the fine folks at the Millyard Museum have created an entire display chronicling candidate Lincoln's visit to the Queen City on March 1, 1860.

The reason for Lincoln's visit to New Hampshire was two-fold. First and foremost was in conjunction with his campaign for the presidency. Second was to visit his son Robert, who at the time was a student at Phillips Exeter Academy.

On the evening of March 1, Lincoln addressed an "immense crowd" at a now-defunct Elm Street venue known as Smyth Hall (the site of which currently houses Brady Sullivan Plaza):

According to the Manchester Daily American's account of Lincoln's speech published the following day, the future Great Emancipator made clear that that night that his priority was preserving the Union, not abolishing slavery. From the Daily American's report (italics mine):

What will satisfy the demands of the South upon the subject of Slavery? Simply this, said the speaker...This, and this only; cease to call slavery wrong, and join with them in calling it right. And this must be done thoroughly---we must place ourselves avowedly with them. Douglas's new sedition law must be enacted and enforced, suppressing all declarations that slavery is wrong, whether made in politics, in presses, in pulpits, or in private. We must arrest and return their fugitive slaves with greedy pleasure...

After the speech, Lincoln retired to the now-defunct City Hotel, located on the corner of Elm and Lowell streets. Here he signed the guest register, which is now in the possession of the Manchester City Library and is currently on display at the Millyard Museum:

Before leaving the city the next day, Lincoln visited the Millyard and received a tour of Manchester Print Works, part of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. While there, according to the exhibit, he was given a dozen pairs of stockings by the hosery division manager, who hoped the gift would influence Lincoln, if he made it to the White House, to enact an import duty on foreign hosery goods in order "that our home industry might be protected."

Lincoln said he would.

Abraham Lincoln: Manchester Remembers is on display through June 26, 2010, in the Henry Melville Fuller State Theatre Gallery at the Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Adult admission, $6, or free with a museum pass from the Manchester City Library.