President formally addresses turning point in the war

At about 4:00, president Abraham Lincoln stood to address the sacrifice of those made at Gettysburg. In the midst of this war, which has divided the nation, President Lincoln was at Gettysburg today to dedicate it as a cemetery, “we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.” It is these words that perpetuated a theme that the living must go on and further the work of those who have died in this war.

Afterwards President Lincoln took time to address where this leaves the Union in the war. He stated that this was a Union victory as it stopped the Confederacy’s advance north. Lincoln would not comment on where the Union is going militarily. However he did say that the battle to reunify the nation would not be soon and that this is a “long term effort,” saying that even after the war is won there will still be the issue of advancing liberties and reconstruction.

Lincoln also spoke significantly about liberties. Stating that he would like to extend liberties to blacks. When asked to specify what liberties he said that freedom and suffrage were two important aspects. It was evident that Lincoln believes that he has Senate support to extend suffrage to blacks and to abolish slavery.

Being in Gettysburg, where 5,000 soldiers to dedicate the final resting place of those who gave their lives gave what Lincoln said was a feeling of “hope that we can succeed, that we can draw strength from those who died.”