The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-05-16
Mr.. Linco,n's Last Inaugral.

vi pdtuuay, mdrcil 4, 1000, ADTd-
ham Lincoln, reelected by the people
in the previous November, took the
oath of Office for the second time, TO
support the Constitution and laws OF
his country, it being the first time for
the past thirty-two years, that such an
honor as a re-inauguration had been
bestowed upon citizen. The weather
at Washington, in the morning, was
far from being propitious, and the pro-
cession which was to have escorted the
President elect from the Mansion to
the Capitol, was formed in "a pouring
rain. m
Before noon the weather was bright
and beautiful; procession was formed
in the Senate Chamber, and the Presi-
dent elect was escorted to staging
erected at the eastern portico, where the
oath of Office was administered to him
by Chief Justice Chase, and the Presi-
dent delivered the following address:
ow-Countrymen: At this Sec
ond appearing to take the oath of the
Presidential office, there is less occa-
sion for an extended address than there
was at the first, Then statement
somewhat in detail Of course to be
pursued seemed to be fitting and prop
er. Now, at the expiration of four
years, during which public declarations
have constantly been called forth on
every point and phase of she great con-
test, which still absorbs the attention
and engrosses the energies of the ma
ton, little that is new could be present
ed.
''The progress of our arms, upon
which all else chiefly depends, is as
well known to the public as to myself,
and it is, l trust, reasonably satisfacto-
ry and encouraging to all. With high
hope for the future, no prediction in
regard to it, is ventured. On the occa-
sion corresponding to this four years
ago, all thoughts were anxiously direct
ed to an impending civil war. All
dreaded it; all sought to avoid it.
While the inaugural was beirg deliver
ed from this place, devoted to saving
the Union without war, insurgent
agents were in the city seeking to de-
stroy it without war; seeking to dis
solve the Union and divide the effects
by negotiation. f, .ir
eBoth parties deprecated the war,
but one of them would make war rath-
er than let the nation survive, and the
other " ould accept war rather than let
it perish, and the war came.
"One eight Of the whole population
were colored slaves, not distributed
generally over the Union, but located
in the Southern part of it. Those
slaves constituted peculiar and pow
erful interest. All knew that this in
terest was somehow the cause of the
war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and
extend this interest was the object for
which she insurgents would rend the
Union by war, while the Government
claimed no right tn do more than re-
strict the territorial enlargement of it.
Neither party expected the magnitude
or the duration which it has already at
tanned, Neither anticipated that the
cause of the conflict might cease, even
before the conflict itself should cease.
Each looked for an easier triumph and
a result less fundamental and astound-
ing. 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 man should dare to
ask a Just Gods assistance in wr,nging
his bread from the sweat of other
mems fac IS; but let us Judge not, that
we be not judged. -,
'The prayer of both could not be
answered. That of neither has been
fully answered. The Almighty has his
own purposes. "Woe unto the world
because of offences, for it must needs
be that offences cometh." If We shall
suppose tha. American slavery is one
of the offences, which in the providence
of God must needs come, but ,h,
having through His appointed time, lie
now wills to remove, and 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 therc>
in any departure from those Divine
attributes which the believer in sod
always ascribe to him?
"Fondly do we hope, .fervently do
we pray that this mighty scourge of
war may pass away. Yet. flood wills
that it continue until all the wealth pill
ed by the bopdsman's two, hundred and
fifty years of unrequited toll shall be
sunk, and until every drop of blood
drawn by the lash shall be paid by an
other drawn by the sword, as was said
three thousand years ago, so still it
must be said, that the judgments OF
the Lord are true and righteous al
together. .9,.T a, .fi
"With malice toward none, with
charity for all, with firmness in the
right, as God gives Us to see the right,
let us strive on to finish the work we are
in, to bind up the nations wounds, to
care for him who shall have borne the
battle, and for his widow. and his or
phans, to do all which may achieve and
cherish just and lasting peace among
ourselves and with all nations" go
Mr.. LinooIn's Farewell to his