Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-03-04

PErsIDrSTs INAUGURAL.

bstIoS Cos~1synsns - n,1rs - ga
At this second appearing before you 70
take The oath Of the Presidential once, there
y less OCCASION Tor an extended address than
there,was ct the iirst Then, statement
somerhat IN detail of course
TO be pursued seemed very fitting and proper.
Now, 81 the expiration Of four years, during
which time public declarations have been
constantly called forth on every point and
every phase Of the great contest which still
sbsorbs the attention and engroxs the cner.
9ies Of the Nation, little that is new could
be presented. The progress Of our arms,
upon which m else chiefly depends, Is Is
well known to the public as TO myself, and
it is, Itfust, remarkably satisfactory and en-
couraging-so III, wisih high hope fdr the
future. No prediction in regard to II isvcntur-
cd. On the OCCASION corresponding tothis four
years age, all thoughts were anxionsly direct
ed to'aA lmpSndiog civil W.. AL dreaded
IL; a. sought y ID syoid it,
While the Inaugural address was being de-
livered from this place, devoted altogether,
TO saving the Union without war, insur-
gent agents were in The city seeking to
destroy - Without war. Aeeking y dis
solve tho Union and divide fhe effects by
negotiation, both parties deprecated war,
but one Of them would make wsr rather
than let the nation survive, and the other
would accept war rather than let II perish,
and The war came. Ono-eighth Of the
whole population were cOl0red slaves, not
distributed generally over the nation, but
localized in the Southern part Of it,
These slaves constituted a peculiar and
powerful interest. All knew that this in
tercst was somehow the cause Of the war
To strengthen, perpetuate and extend mis-
interest was the object for which tnc in
surgents would rend the n.tion by war
while the Government claimed no RIGHT 70
10 more than to rcstric. the territorial en-
largcinent Of it. Neither partv cxpect,s,
for the war the magnitude or the duration
winch 1t has already attained. Neither
anticipated that the cause Of the conflict
might cease, or even befare.theI conflict
itself should cease. Each looked for an
easier triumph and result Tess lunda-
mental and astounding.
Both ierd 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 take lust
Scd's assistance in wlineing their bread
from the sweat Of other mems faces bn,
let us 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 offences, for it
must needs be that offences come, but woe
to that man by whom the offence comcth.-
Ii we shall suppose that American slavery
Of the South Is wrong tho offences of such in \
the providence of God must needs como.
but which having continued through his
appointed time, he now wills to both North
and South this terrible war as the boon due
to those b. whom the offence camc Shall We
discern there is any departure from those d.
vine attributes, which the believers in liv-
ing God, always ascribc to him; fondly do we
hope, fervsntly do we pray. that this mighty
scourge Of war may speedily pass away
yet il God wills that it continue until all
the wealth is piled up by the bondmen's
$50 years OF unrequleted 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 1900 years ago, so still it must
be said that the judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous altogether, with molce
toward none, with charity for all, with firm
ness 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 nations wounds,
and care for him who shall have borne the
battle, and for his widow and orphans; to
do all, that we may achieve and cherish "a
just and lasting peace among ourselves and
with all nations.