own purposes. 'Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it
must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the
offense cometh.' If we shall suppose that American slavery is one
of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come,
but which, having continued through his appointed time, he now
wills to remove, and that he gives to both North and South this
terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offense came,
shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes
which the believers in a living God always ascribe to him? Fondly
do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war
may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until
all the wealth piled by the bondman's two hundred and fifty years
of unrequited toil 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, so still it must be said,
'The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.'

"With malice toward 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 his
orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting
peace among ourselves, and with all nations."

The address being concluded, Chief Justice Chase administered the oath
of office; and listeners who heard Abraham Lincoln for the second time
repeat, "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office
of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability,
preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States,"
went from the impressive scene to their several homes with thankfulness
and with confidence that the destiny of the country and the liberty of
the citizen were in safe keeping. "The fiery trial" through which he had
hitherto walked showed him possessed of the capacity, the courage, and
the will to keep the promise of his oath.

Among the many criticisms passed by writers and thinkers upon the second
inaugural, none will so interest the reader as that of Mr. Lincoln
himself, written about ten days after its delivery, in the following
letter to a friend:

"DEAR MR. WEE