PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 805, 30 May 1865, Page 3

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

The following is the fall text of President Jpß* coin's inaugural address :— ' „-*"**'' * JFellow Countrymen,—At this "appearing to' to take the oatk of office, there >i* lees occasion for an, e^Sanded-: at Bat.: Then a etatenientjiomeyrbafc : in deteiil of the coone -to «S"pursSe3feeeined Very i&tng and prooer ; noir, : pohfic dedantim h*T« con»t»ntiyJwfflß cailed forth con-]

cerning every point and place of the great contest which still absorbs attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of arms, upon -which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself. It is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With a high hope for the future, no prediction in that regard is ventured. On the occasion corresponding to 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, devoted altogether to saving the Union -without war, the insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war— to dissolve the Union, and divide the elects by negotiating. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make -war rather than let it perish, and war came. Oneeighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but located in the Southern part. These slaves contributed a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew the interest would somehow cause 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 to do more than restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected the magnitude or duration which it has already attained ; neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease even before the conflict itself should cease. Bach looked for an easier triumph and a result less fundamental and astonishing. Both read the same Bible and pray tp the same God. Each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any man should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing bread from the sweat of other men's faces ; but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayer of both may not be answered ; that of neither has been answered fully, for the Almighty has hie own purposes. " Woe unto the world because of offences, for it must needs be that offence ] come ; but woo unto that man by whom the offence cometh. . If we shall suppose American slavery one of those offences which in the providence of God must needs comr, but which, having continued through Hie appointed time, He now wills to remove, and |he gives to both North and South this terriblo war, as was due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern that there is any departure from those Divine attributes which believers in the living God always ascribe to him ? Fondly do we hope, fervently to we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away; yet if it be God s will that it continue until the wealth piled by bondsmen by 250 years' unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, ac was said 3000 years ago, so 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 right. As God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and orphans; to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. ■ -