The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-03-15
The Presidents Inaugural.

= The Presidents Inaugural.
FELLOW CoUNTnYMEN:"AttIis Sec
bnd appearing to. oko, the oath" of: the
Presidential Office, there 'is LESS occasion
far m extended address than there was
at the first. Then, a statement, some'
what in detail, of course to be pursued,
seemed fitting aud proper. .,..". ..,
Now, ut 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 ubsorbs tho attention aud en-.
crosses the energies Of the patton, little
hit is new could be presented. .,...,..
The progress Of our arms, upon WHICH
all else chiefly depends, is as well known
to,thc public us to myself, and it is, /
trust, reasonably satisfactory and en-
couraginy to you all. With high hopes
for the future, no prediction in regard to
i, is vcn,ured. On the occasion cores
ponding to this. four years ago, all
thoughts were anxiously directed to nn
impending civil war; all dreaded it; all
scuaht to avoid it. While the inaugural
address WIS being delivered from this
place, devoted altogether to saving the
Union without wur, insurgents were inthe
city seeking to. destroy it-without wal
seeking to dissolve the Union and divide
tho effects by negotiation. Both parties
deprecated war. but ono Of them would
make war ruther than let the nationi sur
yiyc, and the other would accept wal
rather than let it perish, and the wal
came. ... -, q. .,..,...' ."L"s
Onc.cishth Of the whole population
we're coored slaves, not distributed
generally over the Union, but localizet
ia the southern part Of it. These slaves
constituted peculiar and. powerful in
tcrest. All knew that this interest wa'
somehow the cause Of the war. II
streng gthcn. pcrpetuatc and extend tll:
interest was the Object for Which the 10.
surgonts wound rcnd the Union BY war
while the Government claimed no rish
to do more than restrict the territorla
enlargement Of it. Neither party ex
pected for the war the magnitude or th'
duration which it hus already attained.
Neither anticipated that the cause o.
the conflict might cease; even before th'
conflict stsclf might cease. Each leoke'
for IN. cusier triumph, and d result les
Fundamental and astounding: Both rcar
the saue Bible and prny'tto the saln'
God, and each invoke His aid ugnins
the other. ... .'.".".'' ,'. '''.i '.''
It may seem strange that any mer
should dare to ask just Gods assistance
in wrineiug their bread from tho swea
Of other men's faces, but lot US judge no
lest We be judged. Tho prayers OF boil
should not be. answered. That oI
pciiher has been answered, fully. i,;a.s
The Almighty has His own purposes
Woe unto the world because Tot its Of,
tfenscs, for it must needs be that oHense'
come but woe unto the man by, whom
the ofIensc cometh. live shall suppose
that American slavery is one Of these Of
fenscs which, iu the Providence cf God
must needs comes, but which,, .Eayins
continued through His appointed. time
he now wills to remove, and that. FL
gives to both North and South this ter
riblc war as the woe duo 10 those bj
whom the offence comes, shall VIC discern
that there is any departure from tlos'
divine attributes whichithe believers il
living God always ascribei TO- him
Fondly do we hope, ,ferveptly do I'VE
pray that this mighty scouragp OF: yar
may speedily pass awayi., yet, If nGoe
wills that it continue until all the wealth
piled by the bondman''s 8 two hundred .anG
City yeirs "of u6requited toll shall be
sunk, aud until every Drop Of blood
drawn with the lash shall be paid by an
other drawn With tho sword, as was said
three thousand years ago; so still it mus
bo said that the judgments Of the Lore
are true and righteous, although wit
malice toward none, with cbatlty'fof, all
with 6rmaess n'the right, as God 'givel
US to see the right, let us"strlyc to finlsl
the work. .'Wo ure' torbind up the ma
| |tion s wounds and care for'him who shal
have borne the. battle, and for hiswidoS
and Corrhis orphans, to 'do'dh which ma,
achieve aud, cherish aetast :and'1astlul
peace among ourselves, and with ALMA
tons.
- - - - I--.I! ',.'i "
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