The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-19
THE BAL TIMORE SANITARY FAIR.
Important Speech OF Presi-
dent Lincoln.
THE FORT PILLOW MASSACRE
Protection for COl0red Soldiers and Retalia.
tion Upon the Enemy,
Ae., Ae., As.

BALTIMORE, April 10, 1864
The inauguration exercises Of the great Fair at tho
Maryland Institute tonight very imposing. Tho
display exceedingly fine. The immense building
was thronged. President Lincoln made speech
Speaker Colfax and Senator Wilson accompanied the
President 20 Baltimore The Presidents appearance in
the ball was greeted with tremendous applause which
continued moments. After The inaugural address
OF Governor Badford the President loudly called for
and in response be proceeded to make brief address,
rHE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
He referred 70 the great change that had taken place
Baltimore in the last three years. Truly, he said the
world moves AZ the commencement OF the war the sol
diers OF the Union could not pass through Baltimore
moested and have this large assemblage Of
people brought together to do them honor and provide
for their wants and make them comfortable All
honor the brave patriots who had wrought the change
and to the noble womeo who aided them, when this
began scarcely individual supposed IL would have
lasted iii now, All thought it would ended in
way much shorter time Very few az that time
thought the institution OF slavery would be very much
affected by 1t; nut these expectations
realized, and here daughter land slavery has
been somewhat affected. (Great aughier) so true is
it, my friends that "man proposes and God disposes
The world, he said, had long beer want of correct
definition the word freedom. Whilst all proiessed
TO advocate liberty, there was in the minds OF
many very opposite view Of what liberty was.
With man liberty implied to work for himself and do
as ne pleased with the proceeds Of his. labor. With
| others liberty meant to do you pleased with
| other and their labor. One " these
| two conflicting ideas would have TO give way
! 10 the other. lie thought, from some occur
rences which had only lately taken place IN Maryland,
that her people about TO determine which OF these
views Of freedom should control ner destiny The Pres
| dent then passed on TO refer TO matter which
he said hs supposed just deeply agiiaing the
minds OF the people oil the country He alluded 10
the occurrence which reported to have taken
place at Fort Pillow, The Mississippi river
The OF hundred colored soldiers the
rebels Many supposed that the government did not
intend 10 DO its duty regard TO the protection OF these
coored soldiers He desired 10 say that all such
mistaken. When the question Of employing coored
soldiers left TO the government. rested very
much with himself whether he should make soldiers Of
them He pondered tho matter carefully whom
ne became convinced that the duty employ them
ne die hesitate do So lie stood before the Anne.
people responsible for inc ac.-rcsponsbie before
the Christian world. Responsible FOR il be should
stand the eye Of the historian. Responsible for
i he stood before God and he did shrink from the
decision be had made, for he believed was right But
when the government determined to make soldiers OF
these coored people, ne thought u only just that they
thouid have the same protection as the white soldier.
applause And he hesitaied TO declare that the
government woald protect them TO the utmost OF
It's power Whenever clear, authenticated should
be made out re,riDuton would follow. II had hitherto
been difficult TO ascertain with that certainty which
should govern decision in matter serious. But in
the aar at Fort Pillow be thought they likely
ind clear case. The government had direct evi.
deuce TO confirm the Reports in existence relative TO
the massacre. But he himself feared that the fact
as related true. When the government does
know the facts from official sources and they sub
stantiated the reports, retribution will be surely
given. Great appause.) But how should that
reiribution be administered, question still
TO DO settled Woud u DO right 70 take
the life Of prisoners in Washington, Fort Delaware
elsewhere, retaliation for which they had not
shared Would II be right to take the prisoners
captured, say at vicksburg, and shoot them
for acts Of which he not guilty, and which 1t vii
probably be the ordering Of only few ind
vduals possibly OF only The President re-
terates that the Government would no, fa 70 visit reri
button whom the facts clearly proven.
Throughout his remarks warmly applaudsd, es.
pecially bis last enuncation of determination to vist
retroution for tue barbarous deeds Of the rebels.