The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-01-10
Governors Address.
Gentlemen Of The Senate
and House Of Representatipes;

ana H0uSe " NPfeseWWfpeSI
Among tho manifold reasons for thankful
ness and gratitude which accompany our
iarowells to the old year, and attend our
salutations to tho new, we shall not TAIL to
regard those referring to the physical comforts
and material prosperity which the year that
has passed has bestowed 30 liberally upon us,
as OF small consideration compared with the
signal proofs 1t has furnished that, rs peo-
pie, we have not been forsaken by the great
Ruler of the Universe, in whose hands are
the issues of nations. but that we arc still the
favored subjects of His care and regard.
The sharp and sudden punishment of this
war, while II should assure us that our M.
tional transgrcssions may be forgiven, will
suggest the way of duty by which the country
may be saved, and made wiser, truer and
stronger than ever before.
That the::delinqucncies Of tho nation for
the last forty years, its practical denials OF
vital truths Of which it had aspired TO bc the
chosen and peculiar representative. its wan
ton abnegstions Of the plaInest public duties,
should not 60 unavcnged, was only credible
on tho hypothesis that its destruction had
been predetermined. But that it is reserved
for better fate Jet this chastisement, terrible
US it seems, persuade us. And let us rejoice
that when the hour Of trial came, that public
conscience, which had slept 80 profoundly,
was awakened to quick and vigorous life,
and the public virtue rose as at one step, to
the height Of the great occasion that sum.
moned it from the death-like torpor in which
it had lain 50 long.
For tho single rcason that prominent slave
holding politicians discovered that ready rs
the people of the free States had been, for the
sake of peace and friendship, to acquiescc in
their demands for security and protection Of
their peculiar system of labor, they were
nevertheless unwilling that the Government
should bc wholly changed from its original
character, and bc administered exclusively in
the interest and for the advantage OF slave
holders, its destruction was determined on |;
and to accomplish this fagitious purpose,
this war. 30 unproyoked and so defiant Of the
ideas and principles in which the Republic
was founded, was commenced and is carried
on. The loyal people Of the United States
upon whom it has been forced, will not
shrink from the performance Of the duties II
has imposed upon them They have resolved
in their hearts, and vowed by Him who was
their fathers God. that tho CNIoN, ONE AND
IsDivisInLE, shall DO preserved, cost what It
may. They know its value, and they feel
that the hopes Of humanity, the fortunes Of
civilization, are hanging upon its fate.
They have considered what the discharge
OF duty may cost, and they feel the awful
ness Of the trust which has been committed
to their hands but in humility. yet with
unquenchablc faith, they have accepted the
responsibilities Of their decision.
Giving what they have to their country,
they will ask only that the war shall be prose-
cuted honestly and vigorously, and with tho
one, true, legitimate, constitutional purpose
that the Government Of Washington and
his compatriots shall be sustained and pes