The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-04-29
Presid ent Lincoln's Speech.

AT the opening of the Sanitary Fair, in
Baltimore, recently, President Lincoln
was introduced, and made the following
speech +: n-" '.T" '.'..' .. t.-.
Calling to mind that We are in Balti-
more, we cannot fail to note that the world
moves! [Cheers Looking Upon the
many people met here to care as best they
may for the soldiers of the Union, it re-.
ours at once that the same soldiers could
not pass through Baltimore three years
ago. Blessings on the men who wrought
this great change, and the fair women
who have sustained them in it. But the
change suggests more 1t suggests far
wider change. When this war began
neither party, nor any man, expected that
it would last until now Each expected
that it would end in some way long ere
this. Neither was it then expected that
slavery would be affected by it, But here
we are. The war goes on yet, and slavery
has been somewhat affected. Man pro-
poses and God disposes. We want a good
definition of the word liberty. We all de-
clare for liberty, but we all do not mean
the same thug. With some, liberty
means to do as be pleases with the pro.
duct of his labor, while others call it lib
erty to do what they please with the pro.
ducts of other mems labor, and denounce
it as the destruction of all liberty because
they cannot do SO. They are incompati.
bic, the one being liberty, the other tyr
RAINY. '
To illustrate-the shepherd drives the
wolf from the sleeps throat, and the
sheep thanks him, but the wolf denoupces
him as the destroyer of liberty, especially
as the sheep was black one. The wolf
and the sheep disagreed as to the defni-
ton of liberty. The same difference exists
at the North to-day. Hence we see thous-
ands pressing from the yoke of bondage,
hailed by some as liberty, aud denounced
by others.
The people of Maryland have been do
ing something to define the word ''liberty,"
and we thank them that the VOLTS die
tionaryis repudiated It is not becoming
for a President to make speech of great
length, but there is one subject filing the
minds Of the American people, to which I
will revert-the painful occurrence repor-
ted at Fort Pillow-the massacre of hum
dreds Of colored soldiers at the place. We
think proper to give some explanation of
that matter, as it may be thought the
government is not doing its duty. In the
beginping of the war, it was questionable
whether to employ that class. When I
deemed it my duty to employ them, did
50, and l am responsible for that act and
| stand before my country, history and
my God, to whom will have to answer.
And will not shrink from it. .'t
Having made them soldiers, all the pro-
lection given to the white soldiers is due
tothem, and shall be given to them. The
government has not eceived official notice
of the massacre at Fort Pillow, but we be-
liece it, and when we make sure thing
OF 1t we will make the retribution as Sc
we're. We do not wish to take white
soldier Of the Confederates and shoot him.
upon ihe.sssumption of the fact of the
Fort Pillow affair. Ii the massacre has
taken place, as we believe it has, we will
notfsit to-reach the proof Then we can.
not take man who was captured at Get!
tjsburg ard make him suffer. We must
first know if it was the, act Of an individu.
al or the policy Of their government IF
the latter, the retribution will be sure.
The President was frequently Interrupt.
ted by applause go 2 "f'ff b