The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-03-10
THE UNION 6 J0URNAL,
Inaugural Adars.. of p.s.idsn. Lincoln

p.,,ov CouxrsYxrs:-Atthi this second ap-
,.srinv 10 take the oath Of the Presidential Of.
Zee there "A less occsslon for an extended nd
dress than there was Ct the 6rst. Then, q state
meut somewhat In detail Of o courss to be pur-
sued, seemed very fitting and proper Now, ut
| the expiration Of tour years, during which pub
lilo declarations have been constantly called
forth on every point and phase of the grea.!
contest which still absorbs the attention and
engrosses the energies Of the nation, little that
Is new could be presented. The pi ogress of our
arms upon which all else chiefly depends, In rs
well known to the public as to myself, and it Is,
trust, reasonably satisfactory. and sncourng-
ing to all. With high hopes for the future. no
prediction In regard to il Ia veutured. On the
occasion corresponding to this. four years ago,
all thoughts were anxiously directed to an iIu-
pending civil war. AL dreaded 1t, all sought
to avoid il. A.t ~ ON 100. p. 1n.
While the Inaugural Address was being de-.
livered from this place, devoted altogether to
saving the Union without war, insurgent agents
were In the city seeking to destroy Il without
war, seeking to dissolve the Union, and divide
the effects by negotiation. Both parties depre-
ciated the war, but one of them would make
war rather than let the nation survive. and the
other would accept war rather than let Il per-
ish. and the war came. ts' 4n. l4.4fa
One eighth Of the whole population were COL.
ored slaves, not distributed generally over the
Union, but located In the southern part OF It.
These slaves constituted . peculiar and power
full interest. All know that this interest was
somehow the cause Of the war. To strength
en-, pcrpetuate and extend this interest was the
object for which the insurgents would rend
the Union by war, while government claimed
to do more than to restrict the territorial en- .
largement of IL.
Neither party expected the magnitude or the
duration which IL has already attained. Mel
Their anticipated that the cause Of the conflict
might cease. or even before the conflict itself
should cease. Each looked for an easier tri-
umph, and result less fundamental and as.
founding. Both read the same bible and pray
to the same God, and each invOkes his MD
against the other. II may seem strange that
lance In wringing their bread from the sweat
of other mems faces. But let us judge not,
that We be not judged. The prayer OF both
should not DO answereed. That Of neither has
been answered fully
The Almighty has his own purposes. "Woe
unto the world because Of offences, for 1t must
needs be that offences come But woe to that
man by whom the offence oometh." II we shall
suppose that American slavery Is one OF these
offences, which in the providence OF God must
needs come, but which, having continued
uppoiuteu pmSs ho VII hO" ~
move, and thai he gives to both North and
South this terrible war, rs the woe due those by
whom the offense came. shall We discern there
is any departure from those divine attributes,
which the believers In living God, always as
cribe TO him. #. ..r.-T
Fondly do we hope, fervently do We pray
that this mighty scourge Of war may speedily
pass away. Yet IL God wills that 1t continue
until all the wealth piled by the bondmens $50
years Of unrequited toll shall he sunk, and IN
ill every drop of blood drawn with the ash
shall be paid by another drawn with the sword,
rs was said 5000 years ago, 50 still II must be
said that the judgments Of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
With malace towards none with charity for
nil, with firmness in the right. as God gives
US to see the right. let US strive ON to finish the
work we are in, to bird mp the nations wounds,
to care for him who shall have borne the bat
tie and tor his widow and his orphans: to do
all which may achieve and cherish y just and q
a lasting peace among ourselves and with all
nations. ..r .... ..-. ..4.. .Tt i