On March 4th, 1865, Lincoln delivered his Second Inaugural Address. In it, he reasons that this Inaugural Address is less important than the first, because the nation is currently engrossed in a war, and he has had many opportunities to give speeches to the people. He remembers how during his First Address, he had much more to say, because the nation was at a divide, but that war was inevitable because some people were willing to fight for what they wanted, and yet other were willing to fight to keep unity. Lincoln notes than, that the main cause of the war was the issue of slavery. No one expected this war to take as long as it is. Each side prays to the same God, asking for wrath to be taken on the other, but God has not responded yet, and His purposes are still unknown. God has His own reasons. Lincoln ends with "malice toward none" and a hope for "a just and lasting peace among ourselves"
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