National Park Service SEARCH MENU
Lincoln Memorial District of Columbia
Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
On March 4, 1865, only 41 days before his assassination, President Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office
for the second time. Lincoln's second inaugural address previewed his plans for healing a once-divided nation.
The speech is engraved on the north interior wall of the Lincoln Memorial.
Listen to Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
0:00 / 5:01
"...With malice toward none, with charity for all..." Lincoln's second inaugural DATE CREATED: 10/14/2020
address continues to inspire and evoke. Listen to Lincoln actor and historian Jim
Getty recite Lincoln's second inaugural address.
Digital View of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
CyArk.org's digital view of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address on the north wall
of the Lincoln Memorial. There is no audio in this clip.
DURATION: 30 seconds
Read Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
"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 of a 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 of our 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 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. 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 of it. 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 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. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God and each invokes His aid against the
other. 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. The prayers of both could not
be answered ~ that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His 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 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.'
"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."
Last updated: April 18, 2020
Was this page helpful?
Yes
No
An official form of the United States government. Provided by Touchpoints
CONTACT INFO TOOLS STAY CONNECTED
Mailing Address: FAQ
1100 Ohio Drive SW
Washington, DC 20242 Site Index
Phone: Español
202-426-6841
Contact Us ›
Keyword Search This Site All NPS
Download the official NPS app
before your next visit
ACCESSIBILITY PRIVACY POLICY FOIA NOTICES National Park Service
CONTACT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
U.S. Department of the Interior
NPS FAQ NO FEAR ACT DISCLAIMER VULNERABILITY DISCLOSURE POLICY
USA.GOV
FACEBOOK YOUTUBE TWITTER INSTAGRAM FLICKR
