Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-03-08
INAUGURATION OF MR.. LINCOLN,

! lNAUGUh hAIlUN Vi NIX. LlNCULN.
The Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, as
President, took place on Saturday, March
4th. The oath to protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States was ad-
ministered by Chief Justice CHASE, in the
presence of thousands Of witnesses. After
having taken the oath of Office, the Presi-
dent delivered the following address:
FeZlo1o Couatrynaen At this second ap-
pearing to take the oath Of the Presidential
officer there Is less occasion for an extended
address than there was at the first. Then
statement, somewhat in detail, Of course
to be pursued, seemed very fitting and pro-
per. Now, at the expiration of four years,
during which public declarations have been
constantly called forth on every point and
phase ofthe 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 myself, and Is, | trust, reasonably
satisfactory and encouraging to all. With
high hopes for the future, no prediction in
regard to it Is yentured ON this occasion.
Recurring to the inaugural four years ago,
all thoughts were thenanXiously directed to
an impending civil war-all decried it; all
sought to avoid it. While the inaugural ad-
dress was being delivered from this place,
devoted altogether to having the Union
without war, lpsurgent agents were IN the
city seeking to dissolve the Union, and di-
vide the effects by negotiation of both the
parties, described. One Of them would
make war and let the nation survive, and
the other would accept war rather than let
it perish; and the war came on. One. eighth
of the whole population were considered
slaves-not distributed generally over the
Union, but in the Southern part oft. The
slaves constituted peculiar and powerful
interest. All know that this interest was
somehow the cause of the war To
strengthen, perpetuate and extend this in
terest was the object for which the insurgents
would rend the Union by war; while the
government claimed no right to do more than
restrict the territorial enlargement Of it.
Neither party expected for the war the mag
nitude or the duration which 1t has already
attained; neither expecting that the cause of
the conflict would cease even before the
conflict itself should cease. Each looked
for an easy triumph, and result fundamen-
tai and astounding. Both read the same
Bible and pray to the same God, and each
inyokes his aid against the other. It may
seem very strange that any man should dare
to ask Just God 5 assistance In wringIng
their bread from the sweat Of other mems
faces-but, '.judge not that we be not Judge
ed The prayers Of both should not be
answered fully. The Almighty has his own
purposes. ''Wo WoeuntO the world because of
offences, for it must needs be that offences
come but woe unto the man by whom the
offence come. And if we shall suppose
that American slavery is one OF the so-called
offences which. in the providence of God,
must needs come, but which, having con-
5inued its appointed time, He. now wills to
remove, and that He gives TO both North
and South this war as the woe due INTO
those by whom the offences came, shall we
discern that there IS any departure from.
these Divine attributes, which the believers
in living God always attribute to him?
Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray,
that this mig hty scourge Of war may speedily
pass away Yet, if GoD wills that it con-
tinue until all the wealth piled up by the
b0ndmen'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 by another drawn with the
sword, as was said three thousand years ago.
still it must be said, ''the judgments Of the
LORD were true and righteous altogether.
With malice towards none; with charity
for all; with frmness in the right as God
gives us to see the right, let US strive on to
finish the work we are into bind up the
national wounds, and care for him who shall
have borne the battle, and for his widow and
orphans. and to do all which may achieve
and cherish just and lasting peace among
ourselves and with all nations.
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