1865年3月4日，星期六
Fellow－Countrymen：
同胞们：
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．
在这第二次宣誓就任总统时，我不必像第一次那样发表长篇演说。当时，对于将要执行的方针作出比较详尽的说明似乎是恰当而适宜的。现在，四年任期已满，对于这场仍然吸引着全国关注并占用了全国力量的重大斗争的每一重要关头和方面，这四年间已不断地发布公告，因此我没有什么新情况可以奉告。我们军队的进展是其他一切的主要依靠，公众和我一样都清楚地了解军队进展的憎况，我深信，大家对之都是感到满意和鼓舞的，我们虽对未来抱有极大的希望，却不敢作出任何预测。
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．
4年前我就任总统时，同胞们的思想都焦急地集中在日益迫近的内战上，大家都害怕内战，都想避免内战，当我在这个地方发表就职演说，竭尽全力想不经过战争来拯救联邦时，叛乱分子却在这个城市里图谋不经过战争来毁灭联邦——企图以谈判方式解散联邦并分割财产。双方都表示反对战争，但一方宁愿发动战争而不惜牺牲国家，另一方则宁可接受战争也不肯让国家灭亡，于是战争就爆发了。
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．
我国全部人口的八分之一是黑人奴隶，他们并不是遍布于联邦各地，而是集中在联邦南部。这些奴隶构成了一种特殊的、重大的利益。大家都知道，这种利益由于某种原因竟成了这次战争的根源。叛乱者的目的是加强、永保和扩大这种利益，为此他们不惜用战争来分裂联邦，而政府却只是宣布有权限制享有这种利益的地区的扩大。双方都没有料到战争竟会达到如此规模，历时如此长久。双方也没有预期冲突的根源会随着冲突本身而消除，甚至会提前消除。各方都期望赢得轻松些，期望结局不至于那么涉及根本，那么惊人。
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 Gods assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other mens 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．”
双方同读一本《圣经》，向同一个上帝祈祷，而且都乞求上帝的帮助来与对方为敌。看来十分奇怪，居然有人敢要求公正的上帝帮助他们从别人脸上的汗水中榨取面包，但是我们切勿评论别人，以免被人评论。双方的祷告不可能都应验。也没有一方的祷告全部得到应验。全能的上帝有他自己的意旨。“这世界有祸了，因为将人绊倒，绊倒人的事是免不了的，但那绊倒人的有祸了。”
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 bondsmans 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．”
如果我们设想美国的奴隶制是按照天意必然来到的罪恶之一，并且在上帝规定的时间内继续存在，而现在上帝要予以铲除，于是他就把这场可怕的战争作为犯罪者应受的灾难加诸南北双方，那么，我们能看出其中有任何违背天意之处吗？相信上帝永存的人总是把无意归于上帝的。我们深情地期望，虔诚地祷告，这场巨大的战争灾祸能够很快地过去，但是如果上帝要它继续下去，直至奴隶们250年来无偿劳动所积聚的财富全部毁灭，或如人们在三千年前说过的，直至鞭子下流出的每一滴血都要用剑下流出的每一滴血来偿还，那么今天我们还得说：“主的审判是完全正确和公正的。”
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 nations 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．
对任何人不怀恶意，对一切人心存宽厚，坚持正义，因为上帝使我们看到了正义，让我们继续努力完成正在从事的事业，包扎好国家的创伤，关心那些肩负战争重任的人，照顾他们的遗孀孤儿，去做能在我们自己中间和与一切国家缔造并保持公正持久和平的一切事情。……
First Inaugural Address ofUlysses S．Grant（1869）
Thursday，March 4，1869