Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-21
TIE PRESIDENTS Speech AT BA1,rImoRp.

President LINCOLN attended tho inauguration Of the
SANITARY FAR at Baltimore on Monday evening last.
rVng ia that city at about O'clock ia company with
the Secretary Of State aud other distinguished gentlemen
is appearance at the large Hall of the Maryland Ins
tate where the Fair is held was greeted with general and
hearty applause II
The Fair was opened with an impressive PRAYER offered
up ny the Rev Bishop Nottingham Then followed an
inaugural address by Governor Bradford of Maryland.
Inc PRESIDENT was then loudly called for by the as
seoase' and Ia response he delivered an address, OF
which We have the following report:
Ladies and Gentlemen: Calling it to mind that We are
~ we cannot fail to note that the ward moves
Looking upon the many people see assembled here 10
as they BEST may the soldiers of the Union ii occurs
70 me mat three years ago those soldiers could not
nrodgn balIlmore would say, blessings upon the men
% aso wrought these changes, aud the ladies' who have
assisted them. This change which has taken place in
IS part only OF far wider change that is taking
place all over the country. .
When the war commenced three vears aoo no ona -
pected that it would last this long and no one
Una! tne institution Of slavery would be materially affected
~ " But here we are. The is not yet ended and
slavery mas peen very materially affected or interfered
with 80 true is it that proposes and God sposes
Inc world IS in want OF good definition of the word
liberty we all declare ourselves be- for liberty, but
we 40 not all mean the same thing Some mean that
man can do as he pleases with himself and bs pronertv
Win others IT means tn at can do as they please
WIN other men ard other mems labor Each Of these
:,
different TO give illustration shepherd drives the
wolf from the throat of his sheep when attacked by him
ana the sheep OF course thanks the shepherd the pre-
seryation OF his life but the wolf denouuces him ma de
spelling the sheep Of his liberty if be- black
sheep This same difference Of opinion prevails among
some OF the people Of the North But the people Of Mary
nave recently been doing something to properly de-
nne Inc meaning OF the word and thank them from the
Dottom OF my heart for what they done and doing
IL Is not very becoming for President to make
speech az great length but there is painful aoat
ubIr
said ~ 10 reported that there has been wanton mas
sacre OF some hundreds of coored soders at Fort Pillow
sssspp, curing recent engagement there, and think
NJ " explain some facts in relation to the affair 1t n
said ny some persons that the Government il NOT in this
matter dong It's duty At the commencement of the war
was doubtful whether black would be used as sol
oilers or not Ihe matter was examined into very care
iuliy and after mature elaboration the whole matter
resting as ~ were with myself my judgment decided
nae .hey should l am responsible for the act to the
hercah people, 70 Christian nation, to the future g.
toran and, above all to God to whom shall have one
day 10 render an account of my ste wardship $50
resident proceeded to say that in his opinion the
oack soldier should have the protection ~ the white
soldier and he should have it, was an error to say that
the government was not acting in the matter The Gov
ernment has no direct evidence confirm the reports in
existence relative to this massacre but he himself believed
the facts ia relation it to be "a stated When tho Cav
ernmebt shall know the facts official sources and thew
suosantate the reports, retribuon will be surely given
nat reported ne thought would make clear case
is not true then all such stories to be
az iase III proved true, when the matter is thoroughly
examined what shape is to be given to the retrbution
Gan we Take the man who captured at
shoot n Tor the victim OF this massacre If it should
that it was the act of only man. what course
is 10 De pursued then? IL matter requiring careful
examination and deiberation and if it should be subsan
tated by sufficient evidence all might rest assured that
rctributon would be had
The President was repeatedly interrupted his address
by the applause of the audience and while he remained at
the Hall extended to many of the spectators an opporu
nifty of shaking hands with him. He retired at about
o'clock to The residence Of Mr. Wm j. Albert, and re-
turned TO Washington about noon of yesterday.