The weekly union record., 1865-03-11
The Inaugural Address,

A Washington dispatch of the 4th inst.
gives the inaugural address of President Lin
coin Notwithstanding the day was stormy
one. and the streets were almost impossible from
mud, Pennsylvania avenue was filed with
dense mass OF people. TIE inaugural cereno-
uies took place in the Senate Chamber The
Presidents address is as follows:
Fellow countrymeu At this second appear
ing to take The oath of Presidential Office there
Is less occasion for an extended address than
there was at hrst. Then statement somewhat
II detail OF the course to be pursued seemed
lifting and proper. Now, al the expiration of
four years, during which public declarations
have been constantly called forth on every
point and phase Of the great contest which still
sbsorbs the attention and engrosses the ener-
gies OF the nation, little that Is new could be
presented. The progress of our arms, on which
all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the
pubhc as to myself, and is, trust. reasonably
satisfactory aud encouraging. With the high
est hope Tor the future, DO prediction in regard
to II Is veutured. Ga an occasion correspond
Ing 10 this, four years ago, all thoughts were
anxiously directed to impending civil war. All
dreaded 1t; all sought 10 avoid it. While the
Inaugural Address was being delivered from
this place, devoted altogether to having the
Union without war, iusurgent agents were in
the city seeking TO destroy it without war
seeking 10 dissolve the Union aud divide its
effects By negotiation Both parties deprecated
war, but one of them would make war rather
than let The nation survive, aud the other would
accept war rather than let it perish War
came. One eighth of the whole population
were colored slaves, not distributed generally
over the Union, but localized in the Southern
part of it. These slaves constituted peculiar,
powerful interest. All knew this interest was
somehow the cause Of the war To strengthen
the institution and extend its interests was the
object for which the insurgents would rend the
Union by war while the Government claimed
no right 10 do more than restrict the enlarge
ment of it. Neither party expected war OF
the magnitude or duration which il has already V
attained. Neither anticipated that the cause
of 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. Each uvokes His
aid against The other. It may seem strange
that any man should dare to ask Just God 5
assistance in wrlDging his bread from the sweat
OF other mems faces; but let Us Judge noI. that
we be not JUDGED. The prayers of both could
not be answered That OF neither has been
answered fully. The Almighty has His own
purposes in the woes of the world because of lis
ofienSes. For it must needs be that ofenses
come; but woe to that man By whom offense
cometh If we shall suppose American slavery
one OF these ofieDses. which. in the Providence
Of God must needs come, but which, baying
continued through His appointed time, He
now wills to be 10 more, then Ee gives to both
North and South this terrible war Us the woe
due those by whom the ofiense came Shall
we discern therein any departure from those
divine attributes which believers in the living
God always ascribe to him? Fondy as We
hope for the event, do we pray that this mighty
scourge OF war mag speedily pass away. Yet
II God wills that it continue until all the wealth
piled by he bondmans two hundred and fifty
years unrequied toll should 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 judgments of the Lord
are true and righteous altogether. With
malice towards none, with charity to all, with
hrmness in the right. as God gives Us to see the
right, let US strive on TO fidish the work We are
10, TO bind up the national wounds, to care for
him who shall have borne the battle and for
bis widow and bis orphans, aud do all we may
to achieve and cherish a just aud lasting peace
among ourselves and with all nations.