Annotation
[1] Pittsburgh Dispatch, February 16, 1861. The Dispatch version has been selected in preference to that of the New York Tribune of the same date because it more closely parallels the incomplete manuscript in that portion of the speech and because it sounds more like Lincoln throughout. In some instances, however, where the Dispatch reporter seems to have missed a phrase, the Tribune variant is given in a footnote. The New York Herald, February 16, gives the same version as the Tribune and follows it with a shorter version taken from Lincoln's manuscript. The manuscript, preserved in the Lincoln Papers, is here printed following the Dispatch version. All brackets are in the source. Lincoln was introduced by Mayor George Wilson.
[2] Tribune reads ``I am,'' probably correctly.
[3] Tribune reads ``by turbulent men, aided by designing politicians.''
[4] Compare the remainder of the speech with the prepared manuscript, infra.
[5] AD, DLC-RTL.
[6] This sentence has been crossed out, but the Dispatch version corroborates its inclusion.
[7] Not in Lincoln's handwriting.
[8] The remainder of the manuscript is in pencil and was probably written later than the first portion.