Year: 1865

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


FELLOW CoUNrRYMEN: AZ this second ap,
pearinr TO take the oath of the Presidential
office. there is less occasion for extended ad-
dress than there was at first. Then state
ment 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 grea, contes. which still absorbs and en-
crosses the energies of the nation, little tha.
is new can be presented The progress Of
our arms, on which all elso chiefly depends.
is as well known to the public as to myself,
and is, trust, reasonably satisfactory, en-
couraging all with high hopes for the future.
! No prediction in regard to it had been ven-
,ured on tho occasion corresponding to this
four wears ago. All thoughts were then
anxiousy directed to the impending civil
war; all dreaded It, all sought to avert it;
and while my inaugural address, then being
delivered from this place, was devoted altoi
cather to saving the Union. the insurgent
agents were in this city seeking to destroy
without war-seeliinG to dissolve tho Union
and divide is effects Ivy negotiation. Both
parties deprecated war, but one Of them
would make war rather than lei the nation
survive, and the other would accept war
rather than let 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 peculiarly
powerful influence. All know that this in
eres. is somehow the cause of the war. To
strengthen this institution and extend its in,
huence was the object for which the insur.
geuts would rend the Union by war, while
the Government claimed 10 right to do moro
than restrict territorial extension of it,
| Neither party expected for the war the mag
niudo or duration which it has attained;
neither anticipated that the course of con-
tlict might cease, or the event happen before
the conflict itself should cease. Each looked
for easier triumph and 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 Gods as
sistance in wringing their bread from the
sweat Of other men. But let us Judge not
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. Woe to the world be,
cause Of oilehses for it must needs be
that oAenses come; but woe to that man BY
whom the oh'ense comelh. II we should
suppose that American slavery is one of tho
oienses, the providence OF God must need
come; but this having continued through his
appointed time, He now wills more than He
gives to both North and South-this 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? Fonlly as we hope for the event, we
pray that this mighty scourge of war may
speedily pass away Yet if God wills that ii
continue until all the wealth piled by the
bondslnen's two hundred and fifty years un.
requited toll shall be sunk--unil 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
malice towards none, with charity to all,
with frmness and right, as God gives US to
see right let US strive on to finish the work
we are in, and bind up the national wounds.
and care for him who shall have borne the
battle, and for his widow and his orphans,
and do all which may achieve and cherish
. just and lasting peace among ourselves aud
with all nations