The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-04-21
President Eincoln at Baltimore.

BALTIMORE, April ~.
The inauguration exercises of the great
Sanitary Fair, at the Maryland Institute last
night, were very imposing. President Lin
coins appearance in the hall was greeted by
tremendous 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 during the
last three years. The world, he said, has
long been in want of a correct definition of
the word .tJeedom. Whilst all protested to
advocate liberty, there were in the minds of
many very opposite views as to what liberty
was. With one man, liberty implied work
for himselfand to do as he pleased with the
proceeds Of his labor With others liberty
meant to do as you pleased with other men
and their labor. One Of these two conflict
ing ideas would have to give away to the
other He thought from occurrences lately
taken place in Maryland, that her people were
about to determine which of these views of
freedom should control her destiny.
lie then alluded to the occurrence report
ed to have taken place at Fort Pillow the
massacre Of several hundred colored soldiers
by the confederates. Many supposed that
the Government did not intend to do its du-
| ty in regard to the protection Of its colored
soldiers. He desired to say that all such
were mistaken. When the question Of en-
| ploying colored men as soldiers, was left Ito
the Government it 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 ii
was duty so to employ them, he did not
hesitate to do SO. He stood before the
American people responsible for the act-re
sponsible before the chrstian world-he was
responsible for and should stand so in The
eyes Of the historian-res for it be
stood before God, and he did not shrink
from the decision he had made for he believ.
ed he was right
But when the Government determined tt
make soldiers of the colored people, he
thought it only just that they should hav'
the same protection as the white soldiers
,ltapplause and he hesitated not to declare
that the Government would so protect then
to the utmost of its power. Whenever ;
clearly authenticated case was made out
retributiou would follow. Hitherto it ha
Ebeen difficult to ascertain to a certainty
which should govern decision in a matte
50 serious, but in the affair at Fort Pillow
he thought we were likely to find ciea
case. The Government has no direct evi
dence to confirm the reports in existence rel
alive to the massacre. but he himself feare,
that the facts related were true When tn,
Government does know the facts from off
cial sources, and they substantiate the report
retribution will be surely given. -Great APP
plause. But how retrihution was to be ad
ministered was a question still to be settled
Would it be right to take the life Of prison
ers in Washington, Fort Delaware or else
where in retaliation for acts in which the
had not shared, and which will probably b
found to have been ordered by only a fey
individuals Or possibly by only one man?
The President reiterated that the Gov
ernment would not fail to visit retribution
when the facts were clearly proven.
Throughout his remarks he was warml
: applauded, especially his declared determin
alton to visit retribution for the barbarou
deeds Of the rebels.