Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-03-10
President Lincoln's Inaugural
Address.

At this second appearing to take the
oath Of the Presidential Office, there is less
occasion for an extended address than
there was at the first. Then statement
somewhat in detail Of course to he pur-
sued seemed very fitting and proper. Now'
at the expiration Of four years, during
which public declarations have constantly
been called forth on ery 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 depends. is as
well known to the public as to myself,
and it is, trust. reasonably satisfactory
and encouraging to all.
With high hopes for the future. no pre-
diction in regard to it is ventnred. 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 avoid it. While
the Inaugural Address was being deliver
ed from this place, devoted altogether to
saving the Union without war, insurgent
agents were in the city seeking to destroy
it without war-seeking to dissolve the
Union, and divide the effects by negotia-
ton. 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.
Onc-eighth of the whole population
were oOlOred elaves-not distributed
generally over the Union, but located in
the Southern part. Of it. These slaves
contributed peculiar and powerful in
terest all knew that this interest was
somehow the cause of the war. To
strengthen, perpetuate and extend this in
terest, was the object for which the insur-
gents would rend the Union, by war, while
Government claimed no right to do more
than to restrict the territorial enlargement
of it.
Neither party expected the magnitude or
the duration which it has already attained.
Neither anticipated that the cause of the
conflict might cease even before the con-
fict itself should cease. Each looked for
an easier triumph. and result less funda-
mental and astounding. Both read the
same Bible, and pray to the same God,
and each invokcs His aid against the other.
1t may seem strange that any man 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. The
Almighty has His own purposes. "Woe
unto the world because Of offence, for it
must needs be that offence come; but woe
to that man by whom the offence cometh."
If we shall suppose that American
slavery is one of these offenccs. which in
the Providence Of God must needs come,
but which having continued through HE
appointed time, He now wills to remove,
and that He gives to both North and South
this terrible war, 40 the woe due to- those
by whom the offence came, shall We dis
Germ there is any departure from those
divine attributes which the believers in the
living God always ascribe to him!
Fondly do We hope. fervently do We
pray. that this mighty scourge Of God may
speedily pass away. Yetif God Wills that
it continue until all the wealth piled BY
the bondmen's two hundred and fifty years
of unrequited soil shall be sunk. and until
every prop Of blood deawn with the sword,
as was said three thousand years ago, 81
still it must be said that the judgments Of
the Lord are true aud righteous oil to.
gether.
With malice toward none, with charity
for all, with frmness in the right as God
gives US to sec 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 orphans.s to do all which may
achieve and cherish just and lasting
peace among ourselves, and with all ma
tons,