Year: 1865

freS3 DlSpalCnI


WASHINGTON, March 4-The following
is the Presidents message:


FELLOW CoUNTRYMEN:-Atth this second
appearance to take the oath of the Pres
idential Office, there is less occasion for
al extended address than there was at
first. Then statement somewhat in de-
tail of course to be pursued seemed very
fitting and proper. Now, at the expira-
tion of four years, during which public
declarations have been constantly called
forth on every point and phase of the
great contest, which still absorb the at
tention aud engrosses the energies of the
nation, little that is new could be pre-
sented. The progress of our arms, upon
which all else chiefly depends is as well
known to the public as to myself, and it
is, / trust, reasonably satisfactory and ell.
couraging to all. With high hope for
the future, no prediction in regard TO it
is ventured


On the occasion corresponding to this
four years ago, sll thoughts were anX-
iously directed to an impending civil
war. All decried it; all sought to avoid
it. While the inaugural address was be-
ing delivered from this place, devoted
altogether to having the Union without
war, insurgent agents were in the city
seeking to destroy it without war; seek
ing to dissolve the Union and divide the
effects by negotiation Both parties
deprecated war, but one of them would
make war rather than let the nation sur
vive, and the other would accept war
rather than let the nation perish; and
the war came One-eighth of the whole
population were colored slaves, not dis
tributed generally over the Union, but
localized in the Southern part OF it
These slaves constituted peculiar and
which in the providence of God must
needs come, but which having continued
through his appointed time he now
wills to remove, that he gives to both
North and South this terrible punish
powerful interest All know that this
interest was somehow the cause of the
war. To strengthen, perpetuate and ex-
tend this interest was the object for
which the insurgents would rend the
Union by war, while the good claimed
no right to do more than to restrict the
territorial enlargement of it.


Neither party expected for the war the
magnitude or the duration which it has
already attained. Neither anticipated
that the cause of the conflict might
cease even before the conflict itself
should cease Each looked for an easier
triumph and a result less fundamental
and astounding Both read the same
bible and pray to the same God, and
each invokcs His aid against the other
1t may seem strange that any men should
dare to ask a just Gods assistance III
wringing their bread from the sweat Of
other mems faces, but Judge not that
we be not judged" The prayers Of
both should not be answered That Of
neither has been answered fully, The
Almighty has his own purpose. Woe
unto the world because of its offence, for
it must needs be that offence come, but
woe to that man 5y whom the offence
cometh. five shallsuppose that Ameri
can slavery is one of the so-called offences
ment as the woe due to those by whom
the offence come, shall We discern the Elm
any departure from these Divine attri-
butes which the believers in Living
God always asoribe to him fondly} Do
we hope fervently, do we pray that this
mighty scourge Of war may speedily pass
away} Yet ifGod wills that it continue
until all the wealth piled by the bond
men in $50 years of unrequited toll
shall be sunk, and until every drop of
blood drawn with the lash shall be paid
by another drawn with the sword, As
was said three thousand years ago, still
it must be said that the judgments Of the
! Lord are true and righteous altogether,
with malice towards none, with charity
| for all With firmness in the IiUlt as
God gives us to see the right. let lie
strive on to finish the work we are in,
to bind up the national wound and care
for him who shall have borne the battle
and for his widow and orphans, to do all
which may achieve and cherish just
and lasting peace among ourselves and
with all nations