Among onlookers outside the White House, seemingly innocent bystanders enjoying a show worth while, were groups of Negroes. Nearly two hours they hung around gazing at those coming and going. Nearly two hours they waited, some of them wearing fine clothes, others in pickings from various discards ready for the rag bag.
At last they agreed the time had come for them to go in. Why not? Who would throw them out? Surely not the one man in the house they wanted to see. And an observer for the New York Independent wrote: "For two long hours Mr. Lincoln had been shaking the hands of the 'sovereigns,' and had become excessively weary, and his grasp languid; but here his nerves rallied at the unwonted sight, and he welcomed this motley crowd with a heartiness that made them wild with exceeding joy. They laughed and wept, and wept and laughed- exclaiming, through their blinding tears: 'God bless you!' 'God bless Abraham Lincoln!' God bress Marse Linkum!' Those who witnessed the scene will not soon forget it. For a long distance down the Avenue, on my way home, I heard fast young men cursing the President for this act; but all the way the refrain rang in my ears,- 'God bless Abraham Lincoln!' "
From Abraham Lincoln, page 642- 643
At last they agreed the time had come for them to go in. Why not? Who would throw them out? Surely not the one man in the house they wanted to see. And an observer for the New York Independent wrote: "For two long hours Mr. Lincoln had been shaking the hands of the 'sovereigns,' and had become excessively weary, and his grasp languid; but here his nerves rallied at the unwonted sight, and he welcomed this motley crowd with a heartiness that made them wild with exceeding joy. They laughed and wept, and wept and laughed- exclaiming, through their blinding tears: 'God bless you!' 'God bless Abraham Lincoln!' God bress Marse Linkum!' Those who witnessed the scene will not soon forget it. For a long distance down the Avenue, on my way home, I heard fast young men cursing the President for this act; but all the way the refrain rang in my ears,- 'God bless Abraham Lincoln!' "
From Abraham Lincoln, page 642- 643