The inaugural address which Lincoln now pronounced had little
similarity to those unfortunate utterances which he had made on
the journey to Washington. The cloud that had been over him,
whatever it was, had lifted. Lincoln was ready for his great
labor. The inaugural contained three main propositions. Lincoln
pledged himself not to interfere directly or indirectly with
slavery in the States where it then existed; he promised to
support the enforcement of the fugitive slave law; and he
declared he would maintain the Union. "No State," said he, "upon
its own mere motion can lawfully get out of the Union.... To the
extent of my ability I shall take care, as the Constitution
itself expressly enjoins upon me, that the laws of the Union be
faithfully executed in all the States.... In doing this, there
need be no bloodshed or violence; and there shall be none, unless
it be forced upon the national authority. The power confided to
me will be used to hold, occupy, and possess the property and
places belonging to the government." Addressing the Southerners,
he said: "In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and
not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The Government
will not assail you.... We are not enemies but friends.
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