Nevertheless, amid the greatest difficulties of my Administration, when I could not see any other resort, I would place my whole reliance in God, knowing that all would go well, and that He would decide for the right.
I thank you, gentlemen, in the name of the religious bodies which you represent, and in the name of the Common Father, for this expression of your respect. I cannot say more.
Gentlemen of the Baltimore Synod: I can only say that in this case, as in many others, I am profoundly grateful for the support given me in every field of labor in which it can be given, and which has ever been extended to me by the religious community of the country. I saw before taking my position here that I was to have an administration, if it could be called such, of extraordinary difficulty, and it seems to me that it was ever present with me as an extraordinary matter that in the time of the greatest difficulty that this country had ever experienced, or was likely to experience, the man who, at the least of it, gave poor promise of ability, was brought out for duty at that time. I was early brought to the living reflection that there was nothing in the arms of this man, however there might be in others, to rely upon for such difficulties, and that without the direct assistance of the Almighty I was certain of failing. I sincerely wish that I was a more devoted man than I am. Sometimes in my difficulties I have been driven to the last resort to say God is still my only hope. It is still all the world to me.
I again say that I thank you in the name of the religious people of the country generally, and in the name of our common Father of returning you my thanks for the encouraging and most unanimous support that has been constantly given me. I know not that I can say more.
Annotation
[1] Washington National Republican, October 24, 1863, and National Intelligencer, October 26, 1863. Both versions are in substance the same, but show enough variation to make collation impossible. Other papers repeated one or the other of the versions here reproduced. The Baltimore Presbyterian Synod (Old School) repaired to the White House at 2 P.M., and were presented by the Reverend Dr. Phineas D. Gurley, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, which was attended by President and Mrs. Lincoln. Lincoln replied to the brief ``respects'' extended by the Moderator, Dr. Septimus Tustin.