Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-06
President LincOIn's inaugural ADJ
dress.

FELLOW CITIZENS AT this second ap-
pearing to take the oath of the Presidential
office, there is less occasion for an extended
addless than there was at the first. Then, a
statement somewhat in detail of course to
be pursued, seemed very fitting and proper.
Now, at the expiration of four years, dur
ing which public declarations have been
constantly called forth on every point and
phase of the great contest which still alb
serbs the attention and engrosses the ener-
gies 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,
L trust, reasonably satisfactory and encour-
aging to all. With high hope for the future,
no prediction in regard to it is ventured.
On the occasion corresponding to this four
years ago, all thoughts were anXiously di-
rected to an impending civil war. All dis
cerned it, all sought to avoid it. While the
inaugural address was being delivered
from this place, devoted altogether to saw
ing the Union without war, insurgent
agents were in the city seeking to destroy
it-wthout war seeking to dissolve the
Union and divideth effects by negotiation.
Both parties deprecated war, but one of
them would make war rather than let the
nation survive; and the other would
accept war rather than let it perish; and
the war came. One-eighth of the whole
population were called slaves, not distrib-
uted generally over the Union, but local
lied in the Southern part of it. These
slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful
interest. All know that this interest was
some how the cause of the war. Tostrength-
en-, perpetuate and extend this interest, was
the object for which the insurgents would
rend the Union by war, while the Govern
ment claimed no right to do more than to
restrict the territorial enlargement of it.
Neither party expected for the war the
magnitude or duration it has already at
tanned. Neither anticipated that the cause
of the conflict might cease, or even before
the conflict itself should cease. Each look
ed for an easier triumph and result less
fundamental 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 Just
Gods assistance in wringing their bread
from the sweat of other mems faces. But
Judge not that we be not judged" The
prayers of both should not be answered;
that of neither has been answered 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."
If we shall suppose that American slavery
is one of the so-ealled offenses which, in the
providence of God, must needs come, but
which having continued through His APP
pointed time, He 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 otfenses came, shall we discern
there is any departure from these divine at
tributes, which the believers in living God
always ascribe to Him? - ,..H h .au
Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray,
that this mighty scourge of war may speed
lily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it
continue until all the wealth piled by the
bondmen's two hundred and fifty years of
unrequited toll, shall be sunk, and until
every drop of blood drawn with the lash
shall be paid with another drawn with the
sword, as was said three thousand years
ago, still it must be said that the judgments
of the "Lord are true and righteous alto
gether." With malice towards 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 national wounds and care for him who
shall have borne the battle, and for his wild
ow and his orphans, to do all which may
achieve and cherish just and lasting peace
among ourselves and with all nations.