Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1864-04-22

BAITIMoRE.-The Maryland Sanitary Fair |
was opened at the American Institute Balti- |
more, on monday evening last, and the exer-
cises were highly impressive and interesting. |
Gov. Bradford made the Inaugural address
and Presi, ent Lincoln bling present was call |
ed for, and responded in a brief speech, Of
which the following is an abstract which we
take from the S. Republican. He referred to
the great change that had taken place in Bal,i-
more in the last hle years. Truly he said,
the world moves. Al the commencement of
the war the soldiers of the Union could not pass
through Baltimore unmolested, and now we
have this large assemhlnge of people brought
together TO do them honor and provide for
their wants and make them comfortable. All
honor to the brave patriots who had wrought
| the change, and TO the noble women who aided
them. When this war began scarcely one ind.
yidual supposed it would have lasted until now.
All thought it would have ended in some way
! in n much shorter time. Very few at that time
! thought the institution of slavery would he
much affected by it. But these expectations
were not realized, and here We are, Qanghter)
and slavery has been somewhat affected. (Great
laughter) So true is ii, my friends that man
| proposes and God diSpoScs. The word had
long been in want Of II correct definition of the
word freedom. Whilst all proiessed to advo-
cate liberty, there was in the minds Of many
people no opposite view of what liberty was.
! With one man lbert, implied To work icr him
self and do as he pleased with other men and
their labor. One of these two conflicting ideas
would have To give way to the other. He
thought from some occurrences which had only
recently taken place in Maryland that her peo-
pie were about TO determine which of these
views of freedom would control her destiny.
The president then passed on to refer to a
matter which he supposed was just now deeply
agitating the minds Of people all over the coun-
Try. He alluded to the occurrence which was
pporled 10 have taken place at Fort Pillow, on
The Mississippi river the massacre OF several
hundred colored soldiers by the confederates.
Many supposed that the government did not
intend to do its duty in regard to the protection
of these cOlored soldiers. He desired 10 say
that all such were mistaken. When tie ques-
ton Of employing cOored men as soldiers was
LEFT to the government il rested very much with
himself whether he should make soldiers Of
them or not. He pondered the matter care
fully. and when he became convinced that il
was a duty To so employ them, he did not hes
iate to do 50. lie stood before the American
people responsible for the art responsible be-
tore ih, Christian world; responsible in the
eyes of the historians responsible before God;
and he did not shrink from the decision he had
made, for he believed it was right But when
the government determined 10 make soldiers of
these negroes he thought it only jus, that they
should have the same protection as the white
soldiers, (applause) and be hesated rot 10 de-
clare that he government would so protect
them To the utmos, of its power. Whenever a
clear. authenticated case should be made out
, re,ribu,on would follow. II had hitherto been
, difficult to ascertain with that certainty which
should govern decision in matter serious
But in the affair at Fort Pillow he thought they
were likely TO find clear case. The govern
ment had no direct evidence to confirm the re-
ports in existence relative 10 the massacre, but
he himself feared that he facts as related were
true. When the government does konw The
I facts from official sources, and they substanti.
ate the reports, retrbutiop will he surely given.
Great applause) But how should that retri-
I button be administered, was "A question still to
be settled. Would it he right 10 take the lives
of prisoners in Washington, in Fort Delaware.
or wherever confined, for acts in which they
had not shared ? Would it he right to take
the prisoner captured, say at Vicksburg, and
shoot him for acts of which he was not guilty
ard which it vii probably be found were the
ordering of only few individuals, or possibly
OF only one man? No. The presiden, reter-
ated that the government would not fail TO Wis
} il retribulion when the facts were clearly prov
ed.
Throughout. his remarks were warmly APP
plauded, especially his enunciations of deter
, minaton for retribulion ior the barbarous deeds
of he rebels