The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-03-11
EincOin's sns.UI ural Address.

IettoN-cCnHETyHtR. ~ tl.5 second ..D
pearlng 10 take the oath o.. the Presidential
Office. there Is less occasion Tor ai extended
address than there was at the first Then 4
statement what in detail, of j course to
be pursued. seemed very fitting and proper
Now, at the expiration d! foUc years, during
which public declaration. nave been cou slant
~ called forth ever point and phase of
the great contest which Still absorUs the at
:ention and engrosses the energies Of the
nation, little thar is new could b. presented
The progress Of our arms, upon which all else
chiefly depends, is well known to the pub
lie a. 10 myself and it il, trust, reasonably
encouraging to all.
With high hope for the future, no prcdic
ton in regard 10 it is ventured. On the oc.
casion corresponding to this. four years ago,
all thoughts were anxioUslv directed TO an
impending civil war. All dreaded it: all
sought TO avoid it: while the inaugural ad-
dre-, was being delivered from this place,
devoted altogether 20 saving the union with
out war. Insargeut agents were in the city
seeking 10 destroy it, without war seek ing
TO dcsolyc the CniOn and divide the effects by
neg citation.
Both parties deprecated war, but one Of
them would make war rather than let the
nation survive, and the other would accept
Idt.i'I lIi'i' ~ Il ptEl>H, anu III" "aE CANT
One-eichth Of the whole population were co!-
oced slaves, not disturbed generally over the
union bat localized Ia the southern par: of il.
These slaves constitute q peculiar and power
ful interest All knew that this interest was
somewhat the cause OF; the war. To strength
IN. lerre,uate and extend Ibis Interest, was
the object for which the insurgents would
remd the union BY war, while the government
claimed no right 10 DO more than restrict the
territorial enlargement oft.
Neither party expected for TIE war the
magnitude Or the duration which it has al
ready attained. Neither anticipated that The
cause OF The conflict mi ght cease. even be-
fore the conflict itself should CEASE. Each
looscd FOX an easier triumph, and result less
fundamental an! astonishing. Both read the
s..":U Bible and pray to the same God, and
each invoke His aid against the other. IL
may seem strange that any man should dare
to ask Il Us. Gods assistance in wringing
their bread from the sweat of other mems
faces. But let US Judge not, that we he not
Judged. The prayer OF both should not be
auswered-that OF neither has been answered
fully. The Almighty has his own purposes.
Woe unto the world, because Of offences,
for it must needs be that offences come, but
woe 10 that man by whom The offence
cO!uetA. ii VIC shaii suppose lA1t American
slavery is one Of the offences that i'll the
providence of God must needs come, but
which have continued through His appoint.
ed lime. He now wills TO move that He gives
to both North and South this terrible war as
the woe due to those by whom the offence
came. shall we discern that there is any de-
par,ment from those divine attributes which
lie wko believes in = living God always ascribcs
to him. Fondly DO We hope, ferven,ey do We
pray that this mighty scourse Of war may
speedily pass ANY, yet, if God wills
that II continue until the wealth piled by the
ondman's $50 years Of unrequited toll shall
lie 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 lie said tina; the
judgments Of the Lord are true aud rshte-
Gus altogether. With ,.,al,ce towards none.
With charity for all, with tirmuess in tho right
rs God gives US to see the {; ght, let us strive
on to finish the work We are in, to bind up
the nations wounds, and care for him who
shall have borne the battle, and for bis wld-
ow and orphans 10 DO all ~hiyh may achieve
and cherish just and lasting peace among
ourselves and with al nations.