"My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place and the kindness of this people I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born and one is buried.

I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him I can not succeed. With that assistance I can not fail.

Trusting in Him who can go with me and remain with you and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell."

*********************************************************************

Other Lincoln speeches / Addresses on this site which is maintained by Conor Cunneen who is an Irish keynote speaker living happily in Chicago.

Gettysburg Address

Abhraham Linconln First Inaugural Address

Abraham Lincoln Last Public Address

Abraham Lincoln Second Inaugural Address

Abraham Lincoln Springfield Farewell Address

The Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln related speeches

Edward Everett: Gettysburg Address

Abraham Lincoln by Joseph Choate

Lincoln related books / reviews

Great Presidential Wit

Ulysses S. Grant: Memoirs

The Gettysburg Gospel: The Lincoln Speech that Nobody Knows

Team of Rivals The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America