Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-04-22
PRESIDENT LINCOLN Al BALTI.
MORE,
BALTIMORE, April 1,

l. g.. a-s.rs.. 81. .... BALTIMORE, aPfh ~.
The Inauguration exercises Of the great
Sanitary Fair, at the Maryland Institute last
night, were very imposing. President Lin
coins appearance in tho hall was greeted by
tremendous applause.
After the inaugural address Of Governor
Bradford, the President was loudly called for,
and, in response. proceeded 10 make brief
address lie referred to The great change
that had taken place IN Baltimore during tho
last three years, The world, he said, has
long been in want Of correct definition of
tho word freedom Whilst all protested 10
advocate liberty, there were in the minds of
many very opposite views as to what liberty
was. With one man, liberty implied work
for himself and 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 way to the 9th.
er. He thought from some occurrences lately
taken place in Mary land that her people are
about to determine which of these views of
freedom should control her destiny. e.
lie then alluded to the occurrence reported
to have taken place at Fort Pillow the mas
sacrc Of Several hundred colored soldiers by
the Confsderates. Many supposed that the
Government did not intend to do its duty in
regard to the protection of its coorcd soldiers
Tie drsrcd to say that all such were mistaken
When the question Of employing colored
Inen as soldiers was left TO the Government,
II rested very much with himself whether he
should make soldiers OF them or not. lie
pondercd the matter carefully, and when he
became convinced that it was duty So to
employ them, he did not hesitate to do so.-
lie stood before the American people respon.
slbic for tha act--gesponsible before tho
Christian world-ho was rcsponible for i. and
should stand so in 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 the Government determined to !
make soldiers OF the colorcd people, he tho't
II only just that they should have the same
protection as the white soidiers-[applause
and ne hcsiiated not to declare that the
Government would so protect them to the ut,
most OF its power. VI henever clearly au.
thcnticated case WAS made out, relrbut;on
wenla follow. Hitherto it has been difIicul,
toascer.an to a certainty which should govern
decision in matter SO serious, but in the
affair at Fort Pillow, he thought we were
likely to find clear case. The Government
has no direct evidence to confirm the reports
in existence relative 10 the massacre, but he
himself feared that The facts related were too
true. When the Government does know the
facts from official sources, and they substan-
tate the reports, retribution will be surely
given. tGreat spplausel. But how retribu-
ton was to be administered was a question
still to be settled. Would it be right to take
the life Of prisoners in Washington, Fort
Delaware or elsewhere in retaliation for acts
in which they had not shared. and which will
probably be found to have been ordered by
only few individuals, or, possibly, by only
one man3
The President reiterated that the Govern
ment would not fail to visit retribution. when
the facts were clearly proven.
Throughout his remarks he was warmly
app!andod, especially his declared determine.
ton to visit retribu,ion for the barbarous
deeds Of the rebels.