Year: 1865

course 10 be pursued seemed very fitting
and proper. Now, a, The expiration of four
years, during which public declarations
/ have been constantly called forlt on every
point and phase of the great contest which
still absorbs the attention and engrosses the
energies of The nation, little that is new
could be presented.


| The progress of our arms-upon which
all else chiefly depends-is as we'll known
TO The public as TO myself; and it is, trust,
reasonably satisfactory and encouraging 10
all. With high hopes for the future, no
prediction in regard to it is ventured.


On the occasion corresponding te this
four years ago all thoughts were anxiously
directed TO an impending civil war. All
dreaded it all sought TO avoid it. While
the inaugural address was being delivered
from this place, devoled altogether to saw
ing the Union without war insurgeni agents
were in the city seeking to destroy it with
out war-seeking 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 survive, and the other would accept
war rather than let il perish, and the war
came.


One-eighth of the whole population were
colored slaves, not distributed generally
over the Union, bot localized in the South.
ern part of it. These slaves constituted a
peculiar and powerful interest. All knew
a. -: - -
the war. To strengthen, perpetuate and
extend This interest was the object for which
the insurgents would rend the Union by
war, while the government claimed no right
10 do more than to restrict the territorial eu.
largement OF it.


Neither party expected for the war the
magnitude or the duration which il has al
ready attained. Neither anticipated that
the cause of the conflict might cease, even
before the coufict 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 invokes His aid against
the other 1t may seem strange that any
men should dare TO ask just Gods assist
ance in wringing their bread from the
sweat of other mems faces but let Us
Judge not, that we be not judged. The
prayers OF both should nc! be answered.
That of neither has been answered iully.
The Almighty has His own purposes Woe
unto 10 The world because of otfeuses. for il
must needs be that ofenses come bul woe
20 that man by whom the ohense comeih,
II We shall suppose that American slavery
is one OF these ofenses-whi hich, in The
providence oil God, must needs come, but
which, having continued through His ap-
pOinted time, He now wills TO remove, aud
that He gives TO both North and South this
terrible war as the woe due 10 those by
whom The offsnse came-shall we discern
there is any departure from those Divine
attributes which the believers in a living
God always ascribe 10 Him Fondiy do
we hope, ferveutly do we pray, that this
away. Yet, il God wills that it continue
until all the wealth piled by the bondman's
two hundred aud fifty years of unrequiied
toll shall be sunk, and until every drop of
blood drawn with the lash shall be raid by
another drawn with the sword as was said
three thousand years ago, SO still il must be
said that lie judgments of the Lord are Irue
and righteous altogether.


With malice toward none, with charity
for all, with firmness in the right, as God
gives Us 10 see the right, let Us strive on 10
finish the work we are 10, to bind up :he
natiou's wound. to care for him who shall
have borne the battle and for bis widow
and orphans to do all which may achievs
aud cherish lasting peace among our
selves and with all nations.


THE SUBSEQUENT PROCEEDINGS.


AT the conclusion of the proceedings on
the platform the procession was reformed,
and the newly inaugurated President, with
his attendants was escorted TO the White
House.


Il is estimated that from thirty TO forty
thousand persons were present notwith-
standing The depth of mud 10 which the
main portion of the crowd were obliged 10
stand.


The Presidents reception this evening
was tremeLdous jam. All the nobodies
OF the country were there. II took two
hours 10 ride from the gate TO the White
House door, and as much longer 10 gel 10
the East Room. All the arrangements
were abominabls. The President shook
hands with everybody and said, "How do
you do Fred. Douglass, another negro and
two negro women were in the East Room
and marched about with the rest of the
company.