Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-04-22
From BaI,imore-speecI, by President Lincoln.


BALTIMORE, April l8.-The Inauguration ex-
ercises at the great fare at Maryland Institute
tonight was very imposing. The Presidents
appearance in the hall was greeted with trenen-
dous applause After the inaugural address of
Governor Bradford, the President was loudly
called for, and in response proceeded to make
brief address. He referred TO the great change
that had taken place in Baltimore within the
last three years. The world, he said, had long
been in want of the correct definition of the
word "freedom" Whilst all professed to advo-
cate liberty, there was in our minds many very
opposite views as to what liberty was. With
one man liberty implied work for himself and
do as he pleased with the proceeds of his labor;
with others liberty means to do as you please
with other men and their labor. One of these
two conflicted ideas would have TO give way to
the other. He thought from some occurrences
lately taken place in Maryland, that her people
were about to determine which of these views OF
Freedom should control her destiny.
He then alluded to the occurrences reported
there of having taken place at Fort Pillow, of
the massacre of several hundred colored soldiers
by the Conlederates. Many supposed the Gov
ernment did not intend TO do its duty in regard
to the protection of colored soldiers. He desir-
ed to say that all such were mistaken. When
the question of ofemploying coloTed men as SOL
diers was left to Government, it rested very
much with himself whether he should make
soldiers of them or not. He pondered the mat
ter carefully and when he became convinced it
was a duty to so employ them, he did not hesi-
tate to do so. He stood before the American
people responsible for the act-respOnsble be-
fore the Christian wOrld-responsibl he should
stand i'll the eye of the historian-responsible
for it he stood before God, and he did not shrink
from the decision he had made, for he believed
he was right.
But when Government determined to make
soldiers ofcolored people, he thought it only
Just they should have the same protection as
the white soldiers, applause,l and he hesltated
not to declare that the Government would so
protectth to the utmost OF its power. When
ever clearly authenticated case is made out,
retribution would follow.
Hitherto it has been difficult to ascertain to a
certainty which should govern a decision in
matter so serious, but in the affair at Fort Pill
low, he thought we were likely TO find clear
case The Government had no direct evidence
to confirm the report in existence relative to that
massacre, but he himself feared the facts related
were true. When Government does know the
facts from official sources and they substantiate
these reports retrbution will surely be given.
(Great applause But how retribution shall
be administered was question still to be set
tied. Would it be right to take the life of pris-
oners in Washington, Fort Delaware, or else
where, in retaliation for acts in which they had
not shared, and which will probably be found
to be the ordering of only few individuals or
possibly of only one man? The President reit-
Grated the Government would not fail to visit
retribution when the facts were clearly proven.
Throughout his remarks he was warmly ap-
plauded especially in his determination to
it retribution on the barbarous deeds of the reb-
els.