Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-03-11
The inaugural Address.

Fellow-C -Couutrymen--At this second np'
pearing to take the oath of the Presidential
Office there is less occasion for an extended
address than there was ut the first. Then
statement somewhat in detail, of \ course
to be pursued, seemed fitting and proper
now at the expiration Of four years, during
which public declarations have been con-
stantly called forth on every point and phase
of the great contest which still nbscrbs the
attention and engrosses the energies OF the
nation, little that is new could be prcsentA
ed.
The progfess of our aFliis upoh Which all
else chiefly depends, is MS well known to the
public rs to myself and 1t is, trust, reasons
ably satisfactory and encouraging to all,
| With high hope for the future, nb predic'
tion in regard to It is ventured,
On the occasion corresponding to II four
| years ago, all thoughts were anXiously di-
rected to an impending civil war. All dread.
ed it--nll sought to avert it. While the in
augural address was being delivered from
TINS Pace, devoted altogether to saving the
/ nion without war, insurgent agents were In
the city seeking to destroy it without war
seeking to dissolve tho Union and divided
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 wal
came.
One eighth Of the whole population were
colored slaves not distributed generally oyel
the Union, but localized in the Southern part
of it. These slaves constituted peculiar
and powerful interest.
All knew that this interest was, somehow
the cause of the war. To strengthen, pre-
; petuate and extend this interest was the OBJ
J ject for whicw the insurgents would read
the Union even by war while the Govern
mcnt claimed no right to do more than Il
: restrict the territorial enlargement of it,
! Neither party expected for the war the mag
ntudc or the duration which it has alrcad,
) attained.
Neither anticipated that the cause of tn
conflict might cease with, or even before, th
5 conflict itself should cease. Ecch lookeC
for an custer triumph, and result less fund
amental and astounding. Both read th
same bible, and pray to the same God: an,
each invokes His aid against the other. |
: may seem strange that any man should dar
to ask jus. Gods assistance IN wringins
their bread from the sweat of other men
faces but let us judge not, that we be no
judged.
The prayers of both could not be answer
. eu tnat OF neither has Dcen answered luliN
/ The Almighty has His own purpose. "Wo
t unto the world because Of utlenses for
, must needs be that offences come; but wo
+ to that man by whom the ohense cometh.
c five shall Suppose that American SLAYER
n is one of those oilenses which, in the prov
Q dencc of God, must needs come, but whicl
: having continued through Ills appointmer
g time, He now wills to remove, and that ii
:, gives to both North and South this terriUl
war; as the woe due to those by whom tn
:. oiiense came, shall we discern therein an
a departure from those divine attributes whic
: the believers in living God always ascnl
:. to Him!
y Fondly do we hope-fcrveHtly do W
!: pray-that this mighty scourge of war ma
soon pass away. Yet, if God wills that
e continue until all the wealth piled by I'll
# bondman's two hundred and fifty years
= unrequted toll snail be sunk, and unit
$ every drop of blood drawn with the las
;. shall be paid with another drawn by I'll
= Lord are true and righteous altogether
Is With malice towards none; with CHART
@ for all; with iirmness in the right, as Go
If gives us to sec the right, let us strive on I
q finish the work we are in to bind up Il
nations wounds to care tor him who sha
have borne the battle and for his wido
and his orphan; to do all which may acllieN
and cherish just and II lasting peace anon
/, ourselves and with all nations.