The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-11-24
safe OF VERMONT.
BY L HALL, Governor.
A PROCLAMATION

Our New England ancestors were deep.
ly imbued with a religious feeling of de.
%pendence upon an overruling Providence.
While they diligently pursued the means
which labor and skill could furnish for the
accomplishment Of their lawful under.
takings. they felt their best efforts to be
vain unless aided and sanctioned by the
Divine favor. They were accordingly
ever ready to give thanks and praise to
to their Heavenly Father for all their en-
joyments. The production Of the earth
were among the richest Of their temporary
blessings. and when these had been har-
vested, and a sufficient supply for the
ensuing year was found to have been gath
cred and secured, a peculiar occasion
seemed to be furnished for the menifests.
ton of gratitude to Him whose mercies
had rendered the season propitiou. and
crowned the laoors of the husbandman
with success. Hence the early custom Of
setting apart a day towards the close of
each year for a public religious festival of
thanksgiving and praise. This custom
was adopted in this State on the first for
nation Of its government and has been
invariably followed to the present time.
and is one well worthy to bs perpetustsd.
In accordance with this approved and
revered custom, | do hereby appoint
THURSDAY, TEE SECOND DAY OF DrcrMns
NEXT, a day Of public Thanksgiving and
Praise throughout this State.
Ministers and people of every densmi
nation are requested 20 suspend all unneo.
essary labor on that day, and in their re-
spe"tive places Of worship, with a spirit Of
humility and gratitude becoming the oc-
casion, to render thanks to God end pro
claim His praises for all the mercies, both
temporal and spiritual, which He has hith.
erto been pleased to bestow upon US es-
pecially for His great kindness to the peo.
pie of this State in continuing to them y
constitution Of government which secures
liberty and equality Of rights, and freedom
of faith and opinion to all ; for the abun.
dance of the fruits of the earth with which
the labcrs of the h~usbandman 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
pro6ting by intellectual, moral, and re-
ligiou. instruction /; for the many WONDER.
full discoveries and inventions which the
ingenuity of man is constantly permitted.
to make for lettering the physical and =
social condition of our race, by increasing
the comforts and eonvenienoes oflife and
rendering them more easily a~ttainable, BY,
constructing pathways through the atmos..
phere and along the depths Of the ocean
for the Transmission of knowledge with
tightening speed from one country to an
other, bringing the nations Of the earth
into nearer and more kindly contact, and
promising eventually, by encircling them
all in one continuous chain. to bind thess-
together in perpetual peace and harmony;
and finally, for the christian hope,which
is vouchsafed to Us, of a blessed immor.
tality.
And while in the celebration of this
time honored festival We are assembled
around the family board, exchanging. our
mirthtul congratulations with kindred and
friends, over bountiful repasts let our
hearts be expanded with enlarged bensvO-
lence towards those to whom the favors OF
Providence may have been dispensed With
a more sparing hand. Let our enjoy
ments be enhanced by the reflection that
the sons and daughters of want and suf-
fering have not been forgotten by US, lbu,
have been sought out and cared for. So:
shall the day be made one of joy and glad
ness to ala heartfelt Thanksgiving,
throughout the length and breadth Of the
land.
Given under my hand and the seal of this
State, in the Executive Chamber. at
Montpelier, this eight day of November.
in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and 6fty-eight, and Of the
Independence of the United States, the
eighty-third. :
BY the Governor, HILAND HALL
WILDER P. DAVIS. =.
Secretary Of Civil and Military A&aiu.