Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

“With high hope for the future no prediction in regard to it is ventured.”

The Civil War was drawing to a close, but Union victory was not assured. Lincoln expresses cautious optimism and recognition of the uncertain road ahead, reflecting not just hope for peace but an understanding of the challenges that peace would entail. The phrase “no prediction is ventured” downplays the role of prophecy in leadership. Lincoln avoids grand pronouncements or promises about the future, showing his commitment to a democratic process where the future is shaped by cooperation, not pronouncements from on high.

“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.”

Lincoln acknowledges a mutual disdain for conflict, suggesting a shared humanity despite the deep divisions in the nation. Yet, their contrasting reasons for engaging in armed conflict reveal the fundamental ideological chasm that led to the Civil War. This acknowledgment serves not only to highlight the tragedy and complexity of the conflict but also to humanize both sides.

“While the inaugural 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.”

The “insurgent agents” here refers to representatives from seceded states who aimed to achieve their goals through diplomatic means, seeking recognition and a peaceful separation from the Union, rather than through military confrontation. Lincoln paints them in a negative light, suggesting that though the seceded states might not have sought violence, their aim to break from the Union would inevitably lead to war.

“These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war.”

Lincoln suggests a collective awareness, even if unspoken, about slavery’s central role in sparking the conflict. By labeling it as a “powerful interest,” Lincoln acknowledges the deep entrenchment of slavery within the economic and social frameworks of the nation. Notable is his use of the word “peculiar,” which could be a reference to Southerners’ euphemism for slavery: the “peculiar institution.” This quote supports the theme Slavery as the Main Cause of the Civil War.

“It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces but let us judge not that we be not judged.”

In this passage, Lincoln addresses the moral contradiction of slavery, where the prosperity of some relies on the exploitation of others. He points to the audacity of seeking divine favor for an inherently unjust cause, showing the moral dissonance within the institution of slavery. However, he tempers this critique with a call for empathy and humility. Lincoln doesn’t explicitly condemn the South, but rather exposes the inherent hypocrisy of the institution itself. Lincoln’s tempered criticism furthers his message of National Unity and Reconciliation. By acknowledging the complexities of the situation, he tries to avoid alienating Southerners who might be receptive to rejoining the Union.

“Fondly do we hope—fervently do we pray—that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away.”

This statement conveys a deep and intense longing for peace. Lincoln doesn’t simply state a desire for peace, he expresses a yearning for the war to end. By calling war a “mighty scourge,” Lincoln paints a vivid picture of its destructive nature. The use of verbs like “hope” and “pray” implies that achieving peace requires not just wishing, but also active efforts.

“Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph and a result less fundamental and astounding.”

Lincoln suggests that both the North and the South underestimated the power of slavery as a divisive force. Other political issues were placed at the forefront of discussion as everyone hoped for the end of the war and a mutual agreement. The divided nation understood that prioritizing such a monumental issue would prolong the fighting. However, the deep societal divisions created by slavery would not disappear with a ceasefire.

“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 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.’”

Lincoln proposes that the war’s continuation and its terrible cost might be seen as Divine Retribution for the centuries of slavery’s injustice, where the wealth built on the suffering inflicted upon slaves could only be atoned for through equal measures of loss and bloodshed on the battlefield. By using a specific number, he emphasizes the magnitude of the suffering inflicted upon enslaved people. Despite the bleak outlook, he does not condone the violence. It suggests a form of universal accountability for wrongdoing, implying that the nation must face the consequences of its actions. The reference to the “true and righteous” judgments of God also reinforces the morality and inherent goodness associated with divinity, creating a connection between the support of slavery and the support of evil.