St. Cloud Democrat., 1865-03-09
PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S SECOND IN.
AUGURAL.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN's SECOND IN
AUGURAL.
President Lincoln delivered the fol-
lowing brief inaugural, in the Senate
Chamber, on the 18th inst.
FELLOW CoUNTRYMEN.-At this
second appearing to take the oath of
the Presid entail Office, there is less oc-
casion for an extended address than
there was at the first. Then a state
ment 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 called forth or ev-
cry point and phase Of the great con-
test which still absorbs the attention
and .ngrosses 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 fo'
the future, no prediction in regard te
! it is ventured.
On the occasion corresponding TO this
four years ago, all thoughts were anx'
iously directed to an impending civil
war all dreaded it-alI soug ght to avoid
it While the inaugural address was
being delivered from this place, dcvo-
ted altogether to saving the Union with
out war, insurgcnt agents were in the
city seeking to destroy it without war ;
seeking to dissolve the Union and d.
vide the effects by negotiation. Both
parties deprecated war, but one Of them
would make war rather than let the ma
tion eurvive, and the other would ac-
cept war rather than let it perish. So
the war came.
Onc.eighth Of the whole population
were colored slaves, not distributed gen.
orally over the Union, but located 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 aad 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 restrict the ter
ritorial enlargement Of it. Neither
party expected for tue war tho magni-
tude or the duration which it has a.
ready attained. Neither anticipated
that the cause of the conflict might
cease even before the conflict itself
should cease. Each looked for an cas-
ier triumph and a result less fundamcn-
tai and astounding. Both read the
same Bible and pray to the same God,
and each invokes His aid against the
other. 1t may seem strange that any
men should dare to ask a just Gods as
sistance in wringing their bread from
the sweat of other mems faces but let
US judge not, that We be not Judged
The prayers Of both should not be an
swered 3 that Of neither has been an
swered fully. The Almighty has his
own purposes. "Woe unto the world
because of offenses, for it must needs be
that offenses come, but woe to that man
by whom the offense cometh."
Ii we shall suppose that American
slavery is one Of those ofenses which
! the Providence of God must needs come
but which, having continued through
out his appointed time, he now wills to
remove, and that he gives to both North
and South this terrible woe due to
those by whom the offense came, shall
We decree that there is any departure
from those divine attributes which the
believers in a living God always ascribe
to him? Fondly do We hope, fervent-
ly do We pray, that the mighty scourge
Of war may speedily pass away. Yet
! if God wills that it continue until all