Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-06

.tifrl gurah Address
1.-THE telegraphic department of this pa
per win be found the Second Inaugural Ad-
dress of President LINCOLN, delivered on
Saturday, 4th inst. 1t has the merit oi
breyity; however, it differs essentially in
spirit and In doctrine from the one he de-
liyefed four years ago. By reason OF the
accession of the Republican party to pow
er, whose chosen representative he was, the
Southern States undertook to withdraw
from the Union. They accepted his cleo
tion as verdict of the non-slaveholding
States against the Institution of slavery-a
verdict that would be used, one way and
another, to extirpate- that institution
They appeared to feel that henceforth they
could not remain in the Union without be-
ing subjected to constant irritation in con-
sequence of the existence of that institu-
tion in their States--and hence their at
tempted withdrawal from it. In his Inau-
gural Address four years ago, President
LINCOLN expostulated with those States
that had already engaged in the secession
movement, as well as with those who
contemplated doing likewise. He alleged
that he could not find in the Constitution of
the United States any authority that would
justify an interference with the institution
of slavery in the States where it then ex-
listed, and that even if that instrument con-
tanned any such authority, he neither
brought into the Presidential Chair pur-
pose, nor did the party that conferred upon
him the election, commission him, to exercise
that authority for such interference. He
disclaimed the right of majority, "by the
mere force of numbers" to "deprive mi
nority of any clear written constitutional |
right,n and with this disclaimer he coupled |
the allegation, that if majority were to
deprive the minority OF vital right it
would certainly Justify revolution" And
although he had an aversion to Congress |
originating and passing through their body
amendments to the Constitution, and al
though he held 1t to be "implied as consti-
tutional law" that the Federal Government
had no rightto ''interfere with the domestic
institutions of the States, including that of
persons held to service" he had "no objec-
tion to its being made express and irrevo-
cable" To his apprehension, the only |
question really in issue, was as to the toler-
alton of the extension of slavery--one Sec
ton believing it right, and the other be-
lieving it wrong. He contemplated the pos
sibility of War in regard to it, and insisted
that it could not be settled by War, for, said
he: .......,............-...l
. Suppose you 60 to War, you cannot fight
always, and when, after much loss on both
sides, and no gain on either, you cease fight
ing, the old identical questions Of inter-
course are again upon you"
Thus, while four years ago, he was will
Ing to agree to the most positive declara-
ton that the Federal Government should
never reach out its hand to interfere with
The institution of slavery in the States where
It existed, he was unwilling that it should
be allowed an opportunity TO extend itself
into the Territories, which were looked upon
by the South as much their territory as it
was OF the free States. .......
How differentis the Inaugural of Presi-
dent LINCOLN delivered on. Saturday. 1t
does not foster the hope of immediate peace
President LINCOLN no longer admits that
the Federal Government. has no right to
with the domestic institutions
Of the States; he no longer declares that
are justified in resorting to rev.
Dlution, if the majority shall wrest from
them rights they consider to be vital, he
no longer maintains the opinion that War is
not the agency through which the disagree
nents between the North and the South
,an be satisfactorily adjusted. Everything
d now staked upon the .'progress of our
arms" which are represented as reasonably
and encouraging" and we are
told that "neither party expected for the
War the magnitude or duration 1t has al
ready attained, y and that 'both read the
same bible and pray to the same God, and
invoke His aid against the other" and
that ts'the prayers Of neither haze been answef-
id .fiiy." This fact is pregnant with
1t means that this Internal
butchery should be broughtto an end in
che shortest space oil time conceivable, and
not as MIR. LINCOLN affects to believe, that
TTeod wills" the war shall continue until
al the wealth piled by the bondmen's two
hundred and fifty years of unreqnited toll,
hall be sunk, and until every drop Of blood
drawn with the lash shall be paid with