Evening star., 1865-03-04

masters General; the Assistant Attorney Cen
arc 's aa M th Tpaa
ury; Solicitors of the several Department ts:
Commissioners, Treasurer, Judges, aud the
Mayors Of Washington and Georgetown, oc-
cupied seats on the right and left of the m ain
entrance
Members OF Cor rgress, and members elect.
entered the Senate Chamber by the main en-
trance, and occupied seats On ths left Of the
Chair.
Vice President Hamiin, in a brief farewell
address, feelingly alluded TO his connection
with the Senate as its presiding officer, and
after referring to the brilliant future OF the
Republic, concluded by wishing all a safe and
hanpy return to their families.
Vice President Johnson followed, referring
to his elevation from the ranks as an illustra
tion of American privileges, and proceeded at
length upon the subject of the subordination OF
Presidents and Secretaries to the will of the
people. at the conclusion OF which the oath OF
office was administered to him by Vice Pres
ident Hamlin, the Vice President elect taking
the bible in his hand and elevating 1t before
the audience, exclaiming, ~ kiss this book be.
fore my nation Of the United States"
Vice President johnson, after some further
remarks, then took the chair, and calling the
Senate to order, administered the oath 20 the
Senators elect to the 39th Congress, after which
the body repaired to the east front Of the Gap
itoI ...-..-
Meanwhile the threatening clouds had dis
persed, and the sun lighted up the "pomp and
circumstance Of glorious war; In the parks
most cheerfully, and Frightening with its beams
the snow white dome and uprurned faces OF
the throng, we'll accepted omen OF the better
days Just dawning on the country. As the
President. followed by the imposing cortege
that had filled the Senate Chamber, stepped
out from among the columns OF the eastern
portico, and in his unassumng way came into
full view Of the throng, q loud, long and en-.
thusiastic cheer welcomed him, with many
repetitions, that seemed as though they would
not be checked, even by the expectation for the
privileged visitors to the Senate Chamber clus.
tered on the porticoes and at the windows, and
in the universal hush, the President addressed
the people as follows:
The Inaugural Address.
Fellow -Uodntrymen: at this second ap-
pearing to take the oath Of the presidential Of
flee, there is less occasion for an extended ad.
dress than there was at the first. Then, q
statement, somewhat in detail, of a course to
be pursued, seemed fitting and proper.
Now, at the expiration OF four years, d1ring
which public declarations have been constant.
ly 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 depen DIS, Is as well known to the
public as to myself; and 1t is, l trust, reason
ably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With
hig hope for the future, no prediction in re-
gard TO il is ventured.
On the occasion corresponding to this four
years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed
to an impending civil war. All dreaded it
all sought to avert it, While the inaugural
address was being delivered from this place,
devoted altogether to Sauins the Union without
war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking
to destroy it without war-seekiag to dissolve
the Union, and divide effects, by negotiation.
Both parties deprecated war; but one Of
them would make war rather than let the
nation survive; and the other would accent
war rather than let it perish. And the 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 a peculiar and
powerful interest. ALI knew that this interest
was, somehow, the cause Of the war.
10 strengthen, perpetuate ard extend this
interest was the object for which the insur.
gents would rend the Union, even by war
while the Government claimed no right to do
more than to restrict the territorial enlarge
ment Of it. Neither party expected for the
war the magnitude or the duration which it has
already attained. Neither anticipated that the
cause Of the conflict might cease with, or
even before, the conflict itself shortld cease
Each looked for an easier triumph, and re.
suit less fundamental and astounding. Both
read the same Bible, and pray to the same
God and each inyokes His aid against the
other. It may rrvm .,roueu ti.~e s...y
should dare to ask a just Gods assistance 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 could not be
answered-that of neither has been answered
fully.
SSW On
unto the world because of offences for il must
needs be that offences come; but woe to that man
by whom the offence cometh." 1t we shall sup
pose that American slavery is one of those Of
fences which, In the providence Of God, must
needs come, bat which, having continued
through His appointed time, He NOW wills to
remove and that He gives to both north and
south this terrible war, as the woe due te those
by whom the offence came, shall we discern
therein any de eparture from those divine attri-
butes which the believers in a living God al
ways aScribe to Him
Fondly do we hope-fervently do we pray
that this mighty scsurge Of war Kaay speedily
pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue
until all the wealth piled by the bondman's
two hundred and fifty years OF unrequi ted
toll shall be sunk, and until every drop of
blood drawn W ith the lash shall be paid by an.
other drawn with the sword, as was said three
thousand years ago, so still it must be said,
"The judgments OF the Lord are true and
righteous altogether
With malice toward none; with charity for
all, with frmness III the right, as God gives us
to see the right, let us strive on to finish the
work we are in; to bind mp the nations wounds;
to care for him who shall have borne the bat.
tie, and tor his widow, and his orphan-to do
all which may achieve and cherish lust and
e lasting peace among ourselves, and with Eli
nations.
At the conclusion of the address, the pro-
cession was formed and moved towards the
Executive Mansion, President IIincoia ac-
companied in his carriage by his son, Master
"Tau' Lincoln. and Senator Foster, of Con-
necticut Next followed the carriage of Mrs
Lincoln, who was accompanied bT Senator
Anthony, Of Rhode Island, then ths carriage
OF Robert Lincoln, and next two OF the For.
eign MipisteCs. Succeeded by the Civic