Lincoln on Democracy

"WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE"

340 LINCOLN ON DEMOCRACY to the winding up of the great difficulty. He wished the reunion of all the States perfected and so effected as to remove all causes of disturbance in the future; and to attain this end it was necessary that the original disturbing cause should, if possible, be rooted out. He thought all would bear him witness that he had never shrunk from doing all that he could to eradicate Slavery by issuing an emancipation proclamation. [Applause.] But that proclamation falls far short of what the amendment will be when fully consummated. A question might be raised whether the proclamation was legally valid. It might be added that it only aided those who came into our lines and that it was inoperative as to those who did not give themselves up, or that it would have no effect upon the children of the slaves born hereafter. In fact it would be urged that it did not meet the evil. But this amendment is a King's cure for all the evils. [Applause.] It winds the whole thing up. He would repeat that it was the fitting ifnot indispensable adjunct to the consummation of the great game we are playing. He could not but congratulate all present, himself, the country and the whole world upon this great moral victory. "WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE" Second Inaugural Address [MARCH 4, 186 5] One ofLincoln's most polished, sophisticated efforts, perhaps the greatest of all his speeches, the second inaugural address was delivered beneath overcast skies outside the U.S. Capitol. But as Lincoln spoke, the sun burst through the clouds in what the chiefjustice called "an auspicious omen of the dispersion of the clouds of war." Lincoln admitted, "It made my heart jump. " Several days later, he said of the speech: "I expect" it will "wear as well as-perhaps better than-any thing I have ever produced; but I believe it is not immediately popular. " Lincoln explained: "Men are not flattered by being shown that there has been a difference ofpurpose between the Almighty and them. " His magnanimous epilogue to the Civil Lincoln and Democracy, 1863-1865 341 War was typically received along party lines. The Chicago Times called it "slip-shod" and "puerile," but the National Intelligencer believed the concluding words deserved "to be printed in gold." This is Lincoln's manuscript copy. Fellow Countrymen: At this second appearing to take the oath of the presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement, somewhat in detail, ofa course to be pursued, seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth 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 ofour arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself; and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it 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 avert it. While the inaugeral address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war-seeking to dissolve the Union, and divide 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 it perish. And the war came. One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the Southern part ofit. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was, somehow, the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union, even by war; while the government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration , which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause ofthe conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itselfshould cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental...