The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-03-15
The Inauguration Seryices in
WASHINGTON YEsTERDAY-THE IN
AUGURAL OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN
VICE PRESIDENT JOHNSON, &c.


VICE PRESIDENT JOHNSON, &c.
WASHINGTON, March 4.-The process
sion reached the Capitol at about 11:40
A. ~, escorting the President elect. AT
subsequent period the President and
Vice President. together with the JUS
tices of the Supreme Court. members and
lex members of Congress, Fereign Min
listers and other persons Of distinction,
assent bled in the Senate chamber. There
the Vice President elect took the cath of
office, preceding it by an address.
Chief Justice Chase administered the
oath of Office on the eastern pertico,
when the President delivered his Inaugu-
raj Address. There was very large
ATTENDANCE and the scene was one of
marked interest.
The Presidents Inaugural.
FELLOW CITIZENS: At this second ap-
pearing to take the oath of the Presi-
Dental Office, there is less occasion fer
an extended address than there was at
the first. Then, a statement, somewhat
in detail, of course to be pursued, seem
cd fitting and proper.
Now, at 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 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 depeHds, is as well known
20 the public as 20 myself, and it is,
trust, reasonably satisfactory and enceur
aging to all With high hopes for ths
future, NO prediction in regard to it il
ventured On the occasion correspond
ing to this four years ago all thoughts
were anxiously directed to an impending
civil war; all dreaded it; all sought td
avoid it; while the Inaugural Addres!
was being delivered from this place, de
voted altogether to saving the Union with
out war, insurgents were in the city seek
ing to destroy it-without war seeking t.
dissolve the Union and divide the effects
by negotiation Both parties deprecated
war, but one of them would mako wal
rather than let the nation survive, ant
the other would acceptwar rather than le
1t perish, and the war came.
i One-eighth of the whole pspulatier
were colored slaves, not distributed gen
orally over the Union, but localized il
the southern part of it. These slave.
constituted a peculiar and powerful in
terest. ALI knew that this interest wal
somehow the cause of the war.
To strengthen, perpetuate and extent
this interest was the object fer which tht
( insurgents weuld rend the Union by war
while the Government claimed NO righ
to do more than restrict the territeria
enlargement Of it, Neither party sx
pected for the war the magnitude or th,
duration which it has already attained.
i Neither anticipated that the cause o
the conflict might cease, even before th'
conflict itself might cease. Each looket
fer an easier triumph and result les
fundamental and astounding. Beth reat
the same Bible and pray to the same God
and each invokes His aid against th'
Iother.
! 1t may seem strange that any mel
should dare to ask just Gods assistanc,
in <wringing their bread frsm the swea
of ether mems faces, but let rs judge no
lest we be judged. The prayers of botl
should not be answered. That of neithe
has been answered fully.
i The Almighty has His ewn purposes
Woe unto the world because Of its effsnses
for it must needs be that effsnses come
but woe unto the man by whom the Of
lfense eometh. If we shall sappese tha
American slavery is enc of these ofense
which in the Providence Of Ged, mus
needs come, but which, having continued
Through His appointed time, He now will
to remove, aud that He gives to betl
North and South this terrible war as tn,
woe due to those by whom the offens
leone, shall we discern that there is an,
j departure from these divine attribute
which the believers in living God Away
ascribo to hiM? Fondly do we hope, fer
yently do we pray that this mighty scourg
of war May speedily pass away; yet, i
God wills that it continue until all tn
wealth piled by the bondman's two hun
ldred and fifty years Of unrequitted toi
shall be sunk, and until every drop o
blood drawn with the lash shall be pai
by another drawn with the swerd, as wa
, said three thousand years age, SO still
must be said that the judgments of tn
Lord are true and righteous, although
4 with malice tevard meme, with charity 70
4 all, with frmness in the right, as Go
gives us to see the right, let us strive t
finish the work. We are to bind up tn
nations wounds and care for him VIII
shall have borne the battle, and for hi
widow and his orphans, to do all whicl
may achieve and cherish just and last
| ing peace ameng ourselves, and With al
Inatfens. -