Year: 1865




The following is the message delivered by
Mr.. Lincoln on the 4ih inst, after taking
the oath as President for his second term:


Fellow CoUNTRYMEN: AZ this second ap,
pearinc to take the oath Of the Presidential
Office. there is less occasion for extended ad-
dresg than there was at first. Then state
men. somewhat in detail of the course to be
pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at
the expiration Of four years, during which


time public declarations have been constant
" called forth on every point and phase of
| the great contest which still absorbs and en-,
crosses the energies of the nation, little that
is new can be presented The progress Of
our arms, on which al! elso chiefly depends.
is as well known to the public as to myself.
and is. trust, reasonably satisfactory, en-
couracne all with high hopes for the future.
No prediction in regard to it had been ven-
tured on tho occasion corresponding to this
four years ago. All thoughts were then
anxiously directed TO the impending civil
war; all dreaded 1t, all sought to avert it;
and while my inaugural address, then being
delivered from this place, was devoted a,oi
gother to saving the Union. the insurgent
agents were in this city seeking to destroy
without war-seeking to dissolve the Union
and divide is effects Ivy 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 t,aa l2t it perish; and war came.
One eighth Of the population were colored
slaves not distributed generally over the
Union, bu. localized in the Southern part of
It, These slaves constituted a peculiarly
powerful influence. All know that this in
terest is somehow the cause Of tho war. To
strengthen this institution and extend its in
fluenco was the object for which the insur.
gents would rend the Union by war, while
the Government claimed no right to do moro
than restrict territorial extension of it.
Neither party expected for the war the mag
nitude or duration which it has attained:
neither anticipated that the course Of con-
flict might cease, or the event happen before
the conflict itself should cease. Each looked
for easier triumph aud result, less fundamen-
tai and astounding. Both read the same
bible; pray to the same God. Each invokes
His aid against the other. 1t may seem
strange that any men should ask God s as
sistance in wringing their bread from the
sweat Of other men. But let US Judge no.
that we may not be judged. The prayers Of
both could not be answered. that Of neither
has been answered fully. The Almighty has
His own purposes Woo to the world be.
cause Of oilehses, for it must needs be
that otlenses come; but woe TO that man BY
whom the otlense cometh. If we should
suppose that American slavery is one of the
otfenses, the providence OF God must need
come; but this having continued through his
appointed time, He now wills moro than He
gives to both North and South-ths terrible
war as woe due those by whom the offense
came. Shall we discern that there is any
departure from these Divine attributes which
believers in living God always ascribe to
him? Fondly as we hope for the event, we
pray tina, this mighty scourge of war may
speedily pass away. Yet if God wills that it
continue until all the wealth piled by the
bonlsmen's two hundred and fifty years uu.
requted toll shall be sunk--until every drop
Of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid
with another drawn with the sword, as was
said three thousand years ago, so still it
must be said that the judgments of the Lord
arc true and righteous altogether. With
with firmness and right. as God gives US to
see right, let US strive oD to finish the work
we are in, and bind up the national wounds,
and care for him who shall have borns the
battle, and for his widow and his orphans,
and do all which may achieve and cherish a
just and lasting peace among ourselves aud
with all nations