It was
formed out of part of the Mexican territory. Like West Virginia,
the other battle-born state, it was true to the Union. And scanty
though the population was, it raised more than a thousand men for
the Union cause.
Now too, in the midst of war in November of 1864 came the time of
electing a new President. Many people were tired of the war. They
had expected it to last for a few months, and it had lasted for
years, and some of them were inclined to blame Lincoln for it. So
they wanted a new President. But for the most part the people loved
Lincoln. He was Father Abe to them. And even those who wanted a
change agreed with Lincoln himself when he said that "it was not
well to swap horses when crossing a stream."
So Lincoln was triumphantly elected and on March 4th, 1865, he was
inaugurated for the second time. He made the shortest speech ever
made on such an occasion, and he closed this short speech with the
most beautiful and unforgettable words.
"With malice towards 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
for his orphan -to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and
lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.
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