Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-03-09
President LincoIm's Inaugural
Address.


FELLOW CITIZENS. AT this second APP
pearing to take the oath of the Presidential
office, there is less occasion for an extended
address than there was at the first Then, a
statement somewhat in detail of Il course to
be pursued, seemed very fitting and proper.
Now, at the expiration Of four years, dur
ing which public declarations have been
constantly called forth on every point and
phase of the great contest which still abb
serbs the attention and cngrosScs the ener-
gies of the nation, little that is new could be
presented The progress of our arms, upon
which all else chiefly depends, is as we'll
known to the public Us to myself, and it is,
trust, reasonably satisfactory and encour-
aging to all With high hope for the future
no prediction in regard to it is vcnturcd.
On the occasion corresponding to this four
years ago, all thoughts were anxiously di-
rected to oil impending civil war. All dis
cerned it, all sought to avoid it. While the
inaugural address was being delivered from
this place, devoted altogether to saving the
Union without war, insurgent agents were
in the city seeking to destroy it--without
war seeking to dissolve the Union and di
vide the effects by negotiation. Both parties
deprecated war, but one of them would make
war rather than let the nation survive anc
the other would accept war rather than e
it perish and the war came. One eight
Of the whole population were called slaves
. not distributed generally over the Union, bu
localized i'll the Southern part Of it. Thes,
slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful
interest. All know that this interest wa
somehow the cause Of the war To strength
en- perpetuate and extend this interest, wa
} the object Tor which the insurgents wou
a. r,,I ,,,. | ,i,,, l,, ,,,b;l, ~
t ment claimed no right to do more than t
restrict the territorial enlargement oft
E Neither party expected for the war tn
, magnitude ordurationit has already attained
Neither anticipated that the cause of th
conflict might cease or even before the con
flct itself should cease. Each looked for a
easier triumph and result less fundamcnta
and astounding. Both read the same bibl
: and pray to the same God, and each invoke
iisaldagalnst the other. ltmay seem stranp
: that any men should dare to ask Jus
= God $ assistance i'll wrnging their brca
from the sweat OF other mens $ faces. Bu
Judge not that we be not Judged" TIL
prayers of both should not be answered
+ that Of neither has been answered fully. -
: The Almighty has his own purposes "Wo
, unto the world because of ofienses; for
t must needs be that olfenscs come; but wo
> to that man by whom the oifensc comcth.
: If we shall suppose that American SLAYER
5 is one of the so-called offenses which, i
4 the providence of God, must needs come
y but which having continued through Iii
!, appointed time, He now wills to remove
: and that He gives to both North and Sout
Il this terrible war as the woe due to those b
$ whom the offense come shall we discer
i there is any departure from these divine a
tributes which the believers in living Go
always ascrlbc to Him ?
l. Fondly do We hope, fcrvently do we pru
). that this mighty scourge of war may speed
IS lily pass away. Yet, if God wills that
q continue until all the wealth piled by IL
:. bondmcn's two hundred and fifty years
q unrequttcd toll, shall be sunk, aud unit
J. every drop of blood drawn with the las
q shall be paid with another drawn with II
g sword, as was said three thousand years az
IS still it must be said that the judgment
, Of the Lord are true and righteous alt,
gcther. With malice towards none, wit
Il charity for ALL with frmness in the rigl
4 as God gives us to see the right, let us striS
~ :, on to finish the work we are in, to bind Il
h the national wounds and care for him wi
d shall have borne the battle, and for his VIII
1t ow and his orphans, to do all which mi
r. achieve and cherish just and lasting peac
- among ourselves and with all nations.