about to add the solemnity of an oath to the obligations imposed by a second call to the station in which my country heretofore placed me， i find in the presence of this respectable assembly an opportunity of publicly repeating my profound sense of so distinguished a confidence and of the responsibility united with it. the impressions on me are strengthened by such an evidence that my faithful endeavors to discharge my arduous duties have been favorably estimated， and by a consideration of the momentous period at which the trust has been renewed. from the weight and magnitude now belonging to it i should be compelled to shrink if i had less reliance on the support of an enlightened and generous people， and felt less deeply a conviction that the war with a powerful nation， which forms so prominent a feature in our situation， is stamped with that justice which invites the smiles of heaven on the means of conducting it to a successful termination.
may we not cherish this sentiment without presumption when we reflect on the characters by which this war is distinguished？
it was not declared on the part of the united states until it had been long made on them， in reality though not in name； until arguments and postulations had been exhausted； until a positive declaration had been received that the wrongs provoking it would not be discontinued； nor until this last appeal could no longer be delayed without breaking down the spirit of the nation， destroying a