The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-03-10
The Presid ents Inaugural Address.

The Presidents Inaugural Address.
Fellow- Countrynaen AT this second
appearing to take tie oath of the Presi-
dental Office, there Is 'ess occasion for an
extended address than there was at the
first. Then statement somewhat in de-
tail of course to be ! ursued seemed 6t-
ting and proper. Nov, at the expiration
of four years, during which public decla-
ratons have been constantly called forth on
every point and phase of the great contest
which still absorbs the attention and en-
crosses the energies f the nation, little
that is new could lie presented The
progress of our arms, upon which all else
chiefly depends, is as we'll known to the
public as to myself, aud it is, | trust, rca--
sonably satisfactory aud encouraging 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 anxious
ly directed to an inn ending civil war;
All dreaded it, all sought to avert it,
While the inaugural address was being de-
livered from. this place, devoted altogeth-
er to saving the Unitn w,thou, war, in
surgent agents were in the city seeking to
dissolve the Union and divide eff, cts by ue-
citation. Both parties deprecated war
But one of them would make war rather
than let the nation Sur, i've, and the other
would accept war rath, + than let it perish.
And the war came.
One-eighth of tic whole population
were colored slaves, u, distributed gener-
ally over the Union, but localized in the
southern part OF it. These slaves consti-
tuted peculiar and powerful interest
All knew that this interest was somehow
the cause of the war. To strens then, per-
petuate and extend this interest was the
objec' for Which the insurgents would rend
the Union even by war; while the govern
ment claimed no riylt to do more than to
restrict the territorial enlargement of it.
Neither party expected for the war the
magnitude or tie duration which it has al
ready attained. Neither anticipated that
the cause of the conflict might cease with
or even before the conflict itself should
cease Each looked for an easier triumph
and result less Fundamental and as
founding. 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 uan should dare to ask
a just Gods assistance in wringing their
bread from the sweat of other mems ia
ces, but let us Judge not, that we lie not
judged. The prayer of both could not
be answered. that of neither has been an
swered fully. The Almighty has his own
purposes. Woe unto the world because
of offences, for it must needs be that often.
ces come, but woe to that man by whom
the off.pce cometh." If We shall suppose
that American slavery is one of those
offenses which in the providence of God,
must needs come, but which having COLI
tinued through his appointed time, He
now wills to remove, and that He gives to
both North md Smith, this terrible war
as the woe cue to these by whom the of
Tense came, shall we discern therein any
departure from those Divine attributes
which the believer in living God always
ascribes to Him. Fondly do we hope
fervently 90 We pray that this mi City
scourge of'war may speedily pass away
Yet, if God wills that it continue until all
the wealth piled by the bondsman'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, so still it
must be said "The judgments of the Lord
are true and righteous al" gether."
With malice toward 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 in, to bind up
the nations wounds, care for him who
shall have borne the battle and for his
widow and his orphan, to do all which may
cherish a just and lasting peace among
ourselves and with all nations.