March of the Just Cause

On March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln became president of the United States. Seven southern states had already seceded from the Union. In his inaugural address, Lincoln tried to conciliate: "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." Slavery could continue, said Lincoln, but so must the Union.

Lincoln struck a much different chord in his second inaugural, four years and hundreds of thousands of lost lives later: "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 bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn by 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.'"

Members, read this article now

Get it as an easy-print PDF

Friends, if you're not a member of KnowledgeNews:

Become a lifetime member now
or
Start a free 21-day trial of our learning service