The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-25

Thanksgiving.

our patrons until the day shall have passed
we cannot well allow this time-honored Fes- |
tival to pass without brief notice.
Whose heart does not respond with cheer
fulness, to the coincident invitation Of our
National and State Chief MAJ istrates, to OBJ
serve day of devout Thanksgiving aud
Praise to the benefcent Giver OF all our mer-
cies, in view of His goodness which has
crowned the year now drawing toward Its
close? Whether we contemplate our in
dividual aud family blessings, or expand our
thoughts and take in the interests Of our be-
owed State, and Country,-or taking a still
broader view, and embrace the interests OF
our common humanity, we can but feel how
appropriate it is that the voice of gIadness
and praise should be heard in all our dwell
lngs that we should, in recognition of the
Astounding grace of our heavenly Father, call
upon our souls and all within us, to bless
His holy name, and forget not all His bene-
! fits"
1t is true we have had our sorrows and
have been touchingly reminded that all Of
earth is but transltory,-tha the highest joys
vouchsafed US here, are mingled with an ele-
ment of sadness, yet how largely has mercy
predominated over judgement in the cup that
has been put to our lips by the hand of a kind
Providence.
1t is true, also, that the year has been
characterized by unprecedented calamities,
Detailing our Country. 1t has been year Of
most unnatural and destructive war, and
yet no material interest of the land has essen
TALLY suffered. Never we're its granaries bet
ter filled. Never have we enjoyed more &C.
NAL and healthful skies The progress of the
Arts and Sciences have suffered no material
check. All the departments Of industry, on
the land and On the sea, have exhibited their
wonted activity and enterprise, and have been
crowned with high degree Of prosperity and
success. Our population, Notwithstanding the
vast drain resulting from the casualties of
the war, has steadily increased. And last
but not least it has been year, during
which Zion has heightened her cords, and
strengthened her stakes" and multiplied the
peaceful triumphs of the kingdom of Christ
both in her homework and her missionary
| fields abroad. ~ .4.l..
1t has been year, too, of great events -
events the results of some of which, reach far
down through the, years yet to come, and the
influence of which shall be felt for good wide
as the world. 1t opened with the grand, sub
lime, christian act of " breaking the yoke
from off the necks Of 100000 of wroDgod
and suffering bondmen, sealing the death.
warrant Of American Slavery, and thus wip-
ing from the otherwise fair National Escutch-
con, this foul blot Of dishonor, injustice and
ruin. Signal victories have been achieved by
our army and navy. The unobstructed nav
igaton of the Mississippi, the father of wa
ters," the greatest internal channel of com.
merce in the known world, has been secured
in its entire length. The area of Rebellion
/, has been contracted, and its resources proper
| tionally weakened and wasted. The Country
has acquired by experience that knowledge of
its strength and vigor that has kindled anew
- 5s ) Of patriotism, and re-pledged the
people in an oath Of eternal fealty to its free
institutions, and the vigorous and united ex-
ertiou for their maintenance Though men
aced with foreign aggression aua interference,
peaceful relations with oil nations is still our
blissful heritage. All these, to mention no
more, are among the footprints Of 1863, And,
in all these, the student of Providence clear
ly perceives the prescience Of Him whose
i" counsels shall stand, y whose hand none can
stay, and whose acts none may question. "The
Lord reigneth let the earth rejoice"
True, our thanksgiving should be Mingled
with peDiteDt tears. We have greatly sinned
and justly deserve the chastisements of our
heavenly Father We should kiss the rod
L.