The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-03-09


Today. The weather was clear aud beau
tiful, but on a,codnt of the recent rains the
streets were filed with mud Despite this
fact the crowd that assembled was exceed
ingly large, and thousands procee led to the
capitol TO witness the Inauguration ceremo
mes, and the procession moved from First
street and Pennsylvania Avenue at IL
o'clock.
President Lincoln has been at the capitol
all dav, and consequently did not accom-
pany the procession to the scene of the GER
emony. tsa s4gH ag q, .'y a .asfA'.
Two regiments of the Invalid corps, a
squadron ofcavairy. abatterya Of artillery
and four companies Of colored troops Grmed
the military escort. ri Il d se}psEigs1 4
Tho mayor and common counclmen from
Philadelphia, the Good win, franklin and
Perseverance, companies, each company
drawing its engine along with the process
sion. Among the benevolent societies pres.
ent were lodges of Odd Fellows and Ma
sons. including cclored lod % Of the latter
fraternity. y
The public and p incipal private bhla.
ings in Pennsylvania Aven,ie were gaiy
decorated with flags, and every window was
thronged with the fair sex, eager to catch
a glimpse Of the President elect. 'taEt =
The oath to protect and maintain the
Constitution Of the United States was ad-
ministerei to Mr.. Lincoln BY Chief Justice
Chase. in the presence Of the assembly, who
witnessed the interesting ceremony, VIII lie
standing in mud almost knee deep. ''F2
The inaugural was then read. after which
a'national saln'e was firel. The procession
then again moved up Pennsylvania Ave-
nue., the President being conveyed in an
open barouche. Seated with him was his
son and Senator Foster Of the Committee
of Arraogements The President was Ca
corted to the White House, after which the
procession separated. ft zFRsf 9iti
Everything passed OFF in the most iquiet
and orderly manner, and although thous-
ands participated in the oerern,ny, not an
accident occurred to mar the pleasures of
the day. o'1 /,
The Inaugural Address.
FELLOW CouNrRYMEN AZ this second ap
pearing to take the oath of the Presidential
office, there is less occasion for al. extended
address than there was at the first, Then a
statement somewhat in detail of the course
to be pursued, seemed very fitting and. prop
er. Now. at the expiration of four years.
during which public declarations have. been
called forth en- this point and others of the
great conflict which still absorbs the atten.
ton and engross es the energies of the ma.
ton, little that is new could be presented
The progress Of our arms. upon which all
else chiefly depends, is as well known to
tie public as to myself, and it is, trust,
reasonably satisfactory and 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, although many were anxiously looking
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
the Union and divide the effects by negotia-
ton. 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 1T perish and the war
came One eigth of the whole population
were colored slaves, not distributed general
" over the Union. but localized in the south
ern part of it. These slaves constituted
peculiar and powerful interest. All knew
that this interest was somehow the cause of
the war. Tostrengthen. perpetuate and ex-
tend 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 an
ticipated that the cause of the conflict might
cease. even before the conflict itself should
cease Each looked for an easy Triumph,
and result less fundamental and astound :
ing. Both read the same Bible and prayed
t, the same God, and each invoked His aid
against the other. 1t may seem strange
that any men should dare to ask AUST
Gods assistance in wringing their. bread
from the sweat of other mep's faces !; but
let US Judge not that we be not judged
The prayers of botn are admitted. !. those of
neither have been answered fully The Al
mighty has his own purposes. sWoe unto
the world because of offences, for itemust
needs be that offences come, bot. woe to the
man by whom the offence cometh. If we
shall suppose that American slavery is one
Of the offences which in the providence of
God must needs come, but which having
continued through His appointed time, He
now gives 10 both, North. and South this
trouble, war. as the woe due to, those by
whom the offence came, shall we discern
there is any departure from those Divine at
tributes which the believers in living God
always aseribe to Him Pondly do we hope
earnestly do we pray, that this mighty
scoulge Of war may speedily pass away
Yet IL God wills that it continue until aEfthe
wealth secured by the bondmen's $50 years