Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-03-08
President LinoOln's Inaugural Address.

FELLOW CITIZENS At this second
to take the oath of the Presi-
dential Office, there is less occasion for an
extended address, than there was at the
first. Then, statement somewhat in
detail, of a course to be pursued, seemed
very fitting and proper. Now, at the ex-
piration of four years, during which pub
lie declarations have been constantly call
ed forth on every, point and phase of the
great contest which still absorbs the at
tention and engrosses the energies of the
nation, little that is new could be present
ed. The progress of our arms, upon
which all chiefly depends, is as we'll known
to the public as to myself; and it is, [
trust, reasonably satisfactory and eucour-
aging to all.
With high hope for the future, no pre-
diction in regard to it is ventured. 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 deliv-
cred from this place, devoted altogether
to preserving the Union without war, in
surgent agents were in the city, seeking
to destroy it without war; seeking to de-
stroy the Union and divide the effects by
negotiation. 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.
One-eighth of the whole population
we're called slaves not distributed gener-
ally over the Union, but localized in the
Southern part of it. These slaves con-
stituted peculiar and powerful interest.
All know that this interest was, somehow,
the cause of the war. To strengthen,
perpetuate and extend this interest; was
the object for which the insurgents would
rend the Union by war; while the Gov
ernment claimed no right to do more than
to restrain the territorial enlargement OF
it. Neither party expected for the war
the magnitude or the duration which it
has already attained. Neither anticipa-
ted that the cause'of the conflict might
cease, even before the conflict itself should
cease. Each looked for an. easier tri-
umph, and a result less fundamental and
astounding. Both read the same Bible,
and pray to the same God; and each in
woke His aid against the other. It may
seem strange, that any man should dare
to ask just Gods assistance in wiring
ing their bread from the sweat of other
mems faces. 'But Judge not, that we
be not judged" The prayers of both
should not be answered; that of neither
has peen answered fully. The Almighty
has His own purpose. Woe unto the
world, because of ofenses; for it must
needs be that offenses come. But woe to
that man by whom the ofense cometh.
If we shall suppose that tAmerican slavery
is one of the so called offenses which, in
the providence of God must needs come,
but which, having continued through
His appointed time, He nov wills to re
move, and that He gives to both North
and South this terrible war, as the woe
due to them by whom 'he offenses came,
shall we discern that there is any depart
ure from those divine attributes which
the believers in a living God always as
cribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, and
fervently do we pray, that this mighty
scourge of war may speedily pass away
Yet if God wills that it continue until all
the wealth, piled by the bondmen in two
hundred and fifty years Ofunrequited toll
shall be sunk, and until every drop o.
blood, drawn with the lash, shall be paid
by another, drawn by the sword, as was
said three thousand years ago, still, i
must be said, that the judgments of thc
Lord are true and righteous altogether.
With malace towards none, with chari
ty for all, with frmness in the right, a.
God gives US to see the right, let sstrivc
on to finish the work we are in, bind VI
the national wounds, and care for hin
who shall have born the battle, and for
his widow, and his orphans. To do al
which may we achieve and cherish a jus
and lasting peace among ourselves, ant
| with all nations.