The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-03-08
Tie Presidents inaugural Address.
WASHINGTON. March 4.-The following is
The Presidents inaugural address:

WASHINGTON. March THE following is
the Presidents inaugural address
Fsli0sr C0ugtrymen.-At this second
appearing 10 take The oath Of the Presiden-
la Office there = less occasion for al ex-
tended address than there was a. the lirst
Then q statement somewhat in detail Of q
course 10 be pursued seemed very fitting
and proper Now. az the expiration OF
four years. during which public deciara-
lions nave been constantly called forth on
every point and phase Of the great contest
which still aOsOrOS the attention. and ell
crosses the energies OF the nation. little
that Is new could be presented. The prog
ress Of our arms, upon which al else de-
ponds. is IS well known 10 the public 3 70
myself and il IS trust reasonably salts
factory and encouraging 70 al With
high hope for the future no prediction with
regard 10 IL Is ventured On the occasion
similar - this, four years ago al thoughts
were anXi0usly directed - an impending
evil war. All dreaded IT, al sought 10
avoid l.. While the Ilau-r4i Address was
being delivered from this place. devoted
altogether 10 saving the Union without war.
insurSent agents were in the city seeking
~ destroy t. without war. seeking 20 diss-
olive the Union and divide the effects by
negotiation. Both parties deprecated war.
bar one " them would make war rather
than IL. tie Nation survive. and the other
would accept war rather than let il perish
and the war came. One-eighth Of the
whole population were cOlOrei slaves not
distributed generally over the Union. but
localized in the southern part OF IT, These
slaves constituted 4 peculiar and powerful
interest All know that this interest was
somehow the cause CT the war. To
strengthen. perpetuate and extend this in
terest, was the object for which the insur-
gents would rend the Union by war. while
the GOvernmect claimed no right 10 do
more than 10 restrict the territorial enlarge
ment Of il.
Neither party expected for the war the
magnitude and the duration which il has
already attained. Neither anticipated that
the cause OF the conflict might cease or
even before the conflict itself should cease.
Zach looked for ali easier triumph and
result less fundamental and astounding.
Both read the same Bible, and pray 10 the
same God. aud each invOkes His aid AZ
ainst the other. Il may seem strange that
any man should dare 10 ask a just Gods
assistance in wringing their bread from me
sweat of other men faces; hut let Us judge
not. that we be not judged. The prayers
Of both should not De answered; that Of
neither has been answered fully. The Al
mighty has his own purposes " Woe unto
the world because Of offences, for il must
needs be that offences come, but woe To
that man by whom the offence cOmeth. II
We shall suppose that American slavery is
one of the offences. which in the PrOyi-
lence Of God must needs come but which
having continued through his appointed
time. he now wills TO remove and that be
gives 10 both the North and the South this
terrible war as the Woe due 10 those by
whom the offence came shall we discern
there IS any departure from those Divine
attributes which the believers IN a living
God always ascribe 20 him. Fondly do We
hope feryently do We pray, that this nigh
" scOurge of war may speedily pass away;
yet II God wills that il continue until all
the wealth piled by the bondmal's $50
years Of unrequited toll shall be sunk ami
until every drop OF blood drawn with the
lash shall be paid by another drawn with
the sword. As was said 3. 600 years ago.
50 still il must De said that the judgments
Of the Lord are true and righteous. Alto
gether with malice toward none. with char
ity Tor all, with iirmness IN the right a.
God gives us 10 see the right let Us strive
on 10 finish the work we are In. 10 bind up
the nations wounds and 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 aud lasting
peace among ourselves and with all ma
t.Ons.