The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-03-10

years ago, all thoughts were anxiously d.
rected to an impending civil war. All
dreaded it, all sought to avoid it.
While the inaugural address was being
delivered from this place, devoted alto
gether to saving the Union without war,
insurgent agents were in the city seeking
to destroy it without war, seeking to dis
solve 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 were
colored slaves, not distributed generally
over the Union, but located in the south
ern part of it. These slaves contributed
peculiar and powerful interest All knew
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 In
ion by war, while government claimed no
right to do more than to restrict the terri
torial enlargement of it. Neither party
expected the magnitude or the duration
which it has already attained. Neither
anticipated that the cause of the conflict
might cease, or even before the conflict it.
self should cease. Each looked for an
easier triumph and result less fundamen-
tai and astounding Both read the same
bible and pray to the same God, and each
invoke His aid against the other 1t may
seem strange that any man should dare to
ask a just Gods assistance 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 be answered fully. The Almighty
has His own purposes. "Woe unto the
world because of offences, for, it must
needs be that offenses come, but woe to
that man by whom the offense cometh."
If we shall suppose that American sla-
very is one of these otfenses which, in the
providence of God must needs come, but
which having continued through His ap-
pointed time, He now wills to remove, and
that He gives to both North and South
this terrible war as the woe due to
those by whom the offense came, shall
we discern there is any departure from
those divine attributes which the Delivers
in living God always ascribe to him
Fondly do we hope, 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
250 years of unrequitted toll shall be
sunk, and until every drop of blood
drawn with the lash shall be paid by an
other drawn by the sword-as was said
three thousand years ago, so still it must
be said that the judgments of the Lord are
true and RIGHTEOUS altogether.
With malice toward none, with charity
for all, with tirmness in the right, as God
eives us to see the right, let us strive on
to finish the work we are in, to bind up
the nations wounds, to care for him who
shall have borne the battle, and for his
widow and his orphans, to do all which
may achieve and cherish Just and a
lasting peace among ourselves and with
all nations"
L. NJ. Just as the President con-
cluded his appropriate remarks the sun
broke from among the clouds and lit up
one of the most imposing scenes ever
witnessed.
In the background rose the Capitol.
every window and vantage ground filled
with ladies. On the platform encircling
the President and the Chief Justice were
the diplomatic corps in their rich attire,
the Supreme Court in their silken robes.
and the Senators and Representatives.
Before the platform were the people.
thousands and thousands of them, from
every section of the republic, and still fur
ther removed were the military-white
soldiers and black soldiers to
their arms beneath the Stars and Stripes.
When Chief Justice Chase administered
the oath the surrounding assemblage rev.
erently barred their heads, and as MIR. Lin
coin kissed the sacred volume there arose
deatening shout, the echoes of which
rang far and wide.
When, at the conclusion of the cere-
mony, the pealing cannon announced that
Abraham Lincoln had been inaugurated
as President for the coming four years, the
procession wended its way back to the
White House, and then the multitude
slowly dispersed. This evening President
Lincoln will receive all who call on him.
and will give each visitor a cordial shake
of the hand. "God save the President"