The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-03-09
The Presidents Inaugural Address.

The following is the Presidents Tnaugu-
raj Address:
FsttoD-C0uatrymen: AT this second an
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 a course
to bea pursued, seemed very fitting and
proper. Now, at the expiration of four
years, during which public declarations have
been constantly called forth OH every point
and phase of the great contest which still
absorbs the attention and engrosses the en-
|ergies of the nation, little that is new could
be presented. The progress OF our arms
upon which all else chiefly depends, is as
well known to the public as to myself, and
it is, | trust, reasonably encouraging to
all.
With high hope for the future, no pre-
diction in regard to it is ventured. On the
occasion corresponding to this, four years
ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to
an impending civil war. All dreaded it !;
all sought to avoid; 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-sek-
| ing to dissolve the Union and divide the eff
fects by negotiation.
Both parties deprecated war, but one of
them would make war rather than let the
nation survive, and the other would accept
war rather than let the nation perish, aud
the war came. One-eghth of the whole
population were colored slaves, not
distributed generally over the Union, but
localized in the Southern part of it. These
slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful
interest. All knew that that this interest
was somehow the cause of the war. Tc
strengthen, perpetuate and extend this in
terest, was the object for which the insur-
gents would rend the Union by war, Will,
the Government claimed no right to do more
| than to restrict the territorial enlargement
| of it.
| Neither party expected for the war the
magnitude or the duration which it has al
ready attained. Neither anticipated that
the cause IF the conflict might cease
even before the conflict itself should cease
Each looked for an easier triumph, and a
result less fundamental and astounding
Both read the same Bible and pray to the
same God, and each invoke His aid agains
the other. 1t may seen strange that any
man should dare to ask just Gods assist
ance i'll wringing their bread from the sweat
of other mems faces But let us Judge not
that we be not judged. The prayer O
both should not be answered-that IF neither
has been answered fully. The Almighty
has his own purposes.
"Woe unto the world, because of otfenses
for it must needs be that otfenses come, but
woe to that man by whom the offense com.
eth" If we shall suppose that American
alavery lis one Of the offenses that in the
providence of God must needs come, but
which, having continued through His ap-
pointed time, He now wills to move that
He gives to the North and South this ter
rible war as the Woe due to those by whom
the offense came shall we discern that there
is any departu re from those divine attri
butes which the believers in living Goo
always ascribe to him. Fondiy do we hop,
fervently do we pray, that this mighty
scourge of war may speedily pass away
yet, if God wills that it continue until al
the wealth piled up by the bondmaus 25(
years of unrequited toll chall be sunk, and
until every drop of blood drawn with the
lash shall be paid by another drawn with
the sword, as was said three thousand years
ago, so still it must be said that the iudg-
ments Of the Lord are true and righteous al
together.
With malice towards none, with charity
for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives
us to see the right, let us strive on to finish
the work we are i'll, to bind up the nation S
wounds, and care for him who shall have
borne the battle, and for his widow and his
orphans-to do all which may achieve and
cherish a just and lasting peace among our
selves and with all nations