Year: 1864




BALTIMORE, April ls-The Inauguration exer
cIses of the great Fair At Maryland Institute to-
ght were very imposing.


President Lncoln's appearance in the Hall was
greeted with tremendous applause.


After the inaugural address of Gov. Bradford,
the President was loudly called for, and in re-
sponse he proceeded to make brief address. He
referred TO the great change that had taken place
in Baltimore during the last three years. The
world, he said, had long been in want of a cor
rect definition for the word freedom" Whilst
all professed TO advocate liberty there were in
the minds of many very opposite views of what
liberty was With one man, liberty implied the
right to work for himself and do as he pleased
with the proceeds of his labor; with others, lib
erty meant the power TO do you please with
other men and their labor. One of these two
conflicting ideas would have to give way to the
other. He thought. from some occurrences in
Maryland lately, that her people were about to
determine which of these views of freedom shall
control her destiny


He then alluded to the occurrence reported to
have taken place at Fort Pillow-the massacre
of several hundred colored soldiers bv the Con
federates Many persons supposed the Govern
ment did not intend to do It's duty in regard TO
the protection of colored soldiers. He desired
to say that all such were mistaken. When the
question of employing colored men as soldiers
was left to the Government. it rested with him
self whether he should make soldiers or not He
considered the matter carefully, and when he
became convinced that IL duty so TO en-
plOy them, he did not hesitate to do So He stood
before the American people responsible for the
act-respousible before the Christian world-re-
spOnsible he should stand in the eve of the his
torian-reSponsible for it he stood before God
And he did not shrink from the decision he had
made. for he believed he was right


Blu, when the Government determined to
make soldiers of the cOlOred people he thought
il only Just that they should have the same pro-
lection as white applause and he
hesitated not to declare that the Government
would protect the INTO the utmost of its power;
whenever a clear, authenticated case was made
out retributon would follow Hitherto it has
been difficult to ascertain. certainly. which should
govern decision in a matter so serious, but in
an afiiir like Fort Pillow he though, it were
likely it would fined clear case The Govern
ment had direct evidence 10 confirm the
reports IN existence relative 10 the massacre but
he himself feared the facts a related were true.
When the Government does know the facts from
0fhca sources, and they substantial reports
retributiOn will be surely given. (Great ap-
plsuse But how retribuuon should be nd
minislered was question still to be settled.
Would it be right take the life of prisoners in
Washington, Fort Delaware, or elsewhere in re-
taliation-acs in which they had not shared and
which will probably be found the acts of only a
few individuals or possibly of only one man
The President reiterated. the Government would
not fail To visit retributiOn when the facts were
clearly proven. Throughout his remarks he
was warmly applauded especially his determine
tion to visit retrbutiOn Tor the barbarous deeds
Of tho rahalc