Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-11-25
STATE OF VERMONT.
BY Inland HALL, GOVERNOR
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A PROCLAMATION.


Our New England ancestors were deeply i'm
baed with religious feeling Of dependence upon
an overruling Providence While they dill
gently pursued the means which labor and skill
could furnish for the accomplishment OF their
lawful undertakings they felt their best efforts
to be VAN unless aided and sanctioned by the
Divine favor They Were accordingly ever ready
to give thanks and praise to their Heavenly Fa-
ther for all their enjoyments. The productions
OF the earth were among the richest Of their
temporary blessings, and when these had been
harvested, and sufficient supply for the ensu-
ing year was found to have been gathered and
secured, Il peculiar occasion seemed to be furn-
ished Tor the manifestation of gratitude to Him
whose mercies had rendered the season propi-
tious and crowned the labors of the husbandman
with success. Hence the early custom of setting
apart Il day towards the close OF each year for
public religious festival of thanksgiving and
praise. This custom was adopted in this State
on the lrst formation of its government and has
been invariably followed to the present time,
and is one well worthy to be perpetuated.
In accordance with this approved and revered
custom, Go hereby appoint THURSDAY, THE
SECOND DAY OF DECEMBER NEXT, a day of public
Thanksgiving and Praise throughout this State
Ministers and people of every denomination
are requested to suspend all unnecessary labor
on that day. and in their respective places OF
worship, with spirit of humility and gratitude
becoming the occasion, to render thanks 10 God
and proclaim His praises for all the mercies,
both temporal and spiritual, which He has
hitherto been pleased to bestow upon u.s. espe-
cially for His great kindness to the people of
this State In continuing to them a constitution
of government which secures liberty and equal
ity of rights, and freedom Of faith and opinion
to all for the abundance of tho fruits of the
earth with which the labors of the husbandman
have been rewarded, and the general measure
of health and prosperity that have attended us
the past season: for the means with which we
are favored of obtaining and profting by intel
lectual, moral, and religious instruction: for
the many wonderful discoveries and inventions
which the ingenuity Of man is constantly per-
mitted to make for betterlug the physical and
social condition of our race, by increasing the
comforts and conveniences of life and rendering
them more easily attainable, by constructing
pathways through the atmosphere and along
the depths of the ocean for the transmission of
knowledge with lightning speed from one coun-
try to another, bringing the nations of the earth
into nearer and more kindly contact, and prom
Using eventually, by encircIing them all in one
continuous chain, to bind them together in per-
petual peace and harmony and, finally, for
the christian hops, which is vouchsafed to us,
OF blessed Immortality.
And while IN the celebration of this time
honored festival we are assembled around the
family board exchanging our mirthiul congrat-
ulations with kindred and friends, over bounti-
full repasts, let our hearts be expanded with
enlarged benevolence towards those to whom the
favors of Providence may have been dispensed
with more sparing hand. Let our enjoymentE
be enhanced by the reflection that the sons and
daughters of want and suffering have not been
forgotten by us, bat have been sought out anc
cared for. So shall the day be made one of Joy
and gladness to ALA heartfelt thanksgiving
throughout the length and breadth of the land
Given under my hand and the seal of THU
State, in the Executive Chamber, at Mont
pelier, the eighth day of November, in thu
year of our Lord one thousand eight hun
bred and ffty-eight, and of the lndepeL
dence of the United States the eighty third
HILAND HALL.
By the Governor,
WILBUR P. DAVIS, Secy.