Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-03-09
The inaugural Address.

FHotC- G0tntrginea At TINS second ap-
pearance to take the oath of the presl-
dpntial office, there is less occasion Tor |
an extended address than there was at
the first. Then, a statement somewhat
in detail Of a course to be pursued |
seemed very fitting and proper. Now, |
at the expiration of four years, during !
which public declarations have been |
constantly cal ed forth on every point
and phase of the great contest which |
still absorbs the attention and engrosses
the energies 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 satisfactory and en-
Couraging to all. With high hopes for
the future, no prediction in regard to 1t
is ventured.
On the occasion corresponding to this,
four years ago al thoughts were anX-
iousy directed to an impending civil
war; all dreaded 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 divide
the effects by negotiation. Both parties
| deprecated war, but one of them would
| make war rather than let the nation sur
| vivp, and the other would accept war
rather than let it perish, and so the war
came.
One eighth Of the whole population
were COlOred slaves, not distTiOulrd gen
orally over the Union, but localized in
the southern part of it. These slaves
/ constituted peculiar and powerful in
terest. All knew that this interest was
/ somehow the cause of the war. To
strengthen, perpetuate and extend this
| interest was the object for which the
| insurgents would rend the Union by
war, while 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 already attained neither anticipat-
ed that the cause of the conflict might
cease, or even before the conflict itself
should cease. Each looked for an easy
triumph, and result less fundamental
and astounding. Both read the same
bible and pray to the same God and
| each lnVokeS his aid against the other.
1t may seem strange that any man
should dare to ask just Gods assist
ance in wringing their bread from the
sweat from other mems faces. But let
US Judge not, that we be not judged.
The prayer of both should not be an
swered; that of neither has been an
swered fully. The Almighty has his
81, i l,
cause Of its offences, for it must needs
be that offences come but woe to that
man by whom the offence cometh.
If We shall suppose that American
Slavery is one Of these otienses which,
in the providence Of God, must needs
come, but which, having continued
through His appointed time, He now
wills to remove, and that He gives to
both North and South this terrible war,
as the war due to those by whom the
| otfcnse came, shall we discern that
there is any departure from those di-
vine attributes which the believers in a
living God always ascribe to Him?
Fondly do we hope, fervcntly do we
pray that this mighty scourge of war
may speedily pass away. Yet if God
wills that it continue until all the
wealth piled by two hundred and fifty
years of unrcquited toll shall be sunk,
and until every drop Of blood drawn by
the lash shall be paid by another drawn
by the sword as it was said 5000
years ago so still it must be said, that
the judgments Of the Lord are true and
righteous altogether
With charity for all, with frmness in
the right, a. God gives us to see the right,
let us strive on to finish the work we
are in; to bind up the nations wounds,
and care for him who shamn have h;22rno
me battle, and for his widow and his
orphans; to do all which may achieve
a just and a lasting peace among our
selves and with all nations.
Sner,uau.s 0Dera,;ous