Note: The Valley Spirit was a Democrat newspaper published in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The newspaper’s reporting and opinions regularly supported and sympathized with Confederate and pro-slavery views before and during the Civil War.
The inaugural address of President Lincoln, which we print this morning, has been looked for by the public with less interest than is usually exhibited, even in ordinary times, in regard to a public expression from the pen or lips of a President of the United States. The indifference is attributable, probably, to the fact that the people know too well how utterly his practice has been at variance with the professions he made in his first inaugural, to have any confidence in his utterances now. It was expected, however, that he would make some attempt to excuse his violations of the Constitution which he had swown [sic] to support, and his abandonment of principles which he had solemnly put forth as his rule of conduct. In lieu of any such attempt, however, he has given us the mere trash to which we refer our readers as unworthy of comment. In regard to the wide gulf between the professions in his first inaugural and his practices ever since, he has attempted no explanation. He had nothing to say, and he has said it.
Glossary
indifference: not caring much about something or not having strong feelings about it
in lieu: instead of; taking the place of something else
professions: clear statements or declarations of what someone believes or claims
swown: an old-fashioned way of spelling the word sworn
utterances: things that are spoken aloud; spoken words or statements
utterly: completely or totally
variance: a difference or change from what is normal or expected