The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1865-06-24
THE2 d,PELOUsAs COURIER.

ID. ,bsre he any repining after lost preper'y' Let
tha,.. he no elimination OF recrimlnation-ho muir
,,,,rs II win do no good but may 90 mhci,
hsrm You who, like myself, have lost all lano
oh. how many there are! must begin il,e anew
at ,s not talk Of despair. nor WHINE aDou' WI.
uisfortunes. but with strong aflps ahu nsoI'
hearts adapt ourselves to the clrcanssaaceS "A'sA
surround US. =sis 60. ,,.,or;.;as
To make yoa once mere q acontentsd, prosperous
and happy people They can. within i've years
restore Louisiana to its original wealth and pros
ner;tv. and heal the terrible WOUNDS shss nave
h.en inflicted upon hef: so great are our ieco
nayat;ve enerpies-so rich is our aoll-so great
ore ',he resources of the State! Oarru!eIs nave
it in their power to dry the ,nourners teafs-po
make glad thehearts Of the Poef widow ana 'ns
oruhan--to cause the past in great measure ~
be forgotten, aud to make your devastated ,a"as
s.to blossom as the rose" III my VOICE eoulo W.
heard and needed at Washington woulu say
..soare this distracted aldoh spare this afflicted
repnle. In the name OF bleeding humanity fhey
have suffered enough! But my counfrymen' tni'
cannot be, am one of the proscribed-I mast ge
into exiIe-I have stood by you, fought tor yoa'
and stald with you up TO the very ssss m momeo,.
and now leave you with heavy heart. Ihe hign
trnst with which YOU have honored me is thus Gay
returned. leave the Office Of Governor Wild
clean hands, and with the conscious PRIDE OF
having done my duty. All the officers OF state
and all employees in the various departments y,
have rendered their final accounts ana mace iuii
and complete settlements. thank them lot theis
uniform kindness to me, and their Pair1otlc oeSo-
ton to the several duties assigned to them. hese
accounts are in the hands OF Col. John M. San
didge. invite the closest scrutiny not only 10
these papers, but to all my acts as Governor OF
Louisiana My State Stores and Dispensares ana
Manufactures have all been conducted In the
most successful manner. None can tell the vast
amour, of good they have done, not only to you,
but to the people OF Texas, Arkansas & Missouri
Fellow citizens in this the darkest hour OF my
life, do not come before ron a. an Old man Dro'
ken down by the storms OF states, nor 10 come
to plead for ,nercy, at the hands VI those whom
have fought tor four loug years. No, no. come
ia The pride aud yigor OF manhood, nncuNqneTed.
unsubdued. have nothing to regret. look
back with nourntul pleasure at my public career,
now about to close As citizen. M a soldier, as
Il statesman / have doue my duty. lhe soidset y
family, the widow and the orphan. the slcK and
the wounded, the poor and needy have NIL had
my especial care, while tle wants OF The soldier
and the citizen have net been forgotten. have
protected the people from the encEoachments o'
military power aHd have never permitted bale
Of cotton iu the State Of Louisiana TO be seized or
impressed. 1t is partly in lemetabFauce OF THESE
acts that you have always given 'ae your entire
confidence. But few in authority have ever had
so many evidences Of affection aud regard rs you
have so often shown to tne.
Refugees, relu-n to your hemrs Repair. im-
prove aud pant Go to work with harty good
will, and let your actions show that you are able
and willing to adapt yourselves to The new order
Of things We want no Venice here, where the
denizeus Of al unhappy STATE shail ever n'ediae
viii lnoody brow, aud plot the overthrow Ut The
government, and where al! ssaH be dark and
dleary-c cold and suspicious But ra'hrr i,s con.
tidease be restored. If required. let each and
every one 40 forward eheertuiiy and take the oath
ut allegiance to tina. country whiel, they expect
in future to live and there pursue their respective
| avocations with redoubed energy as goed, uue,
and substantial citizsi,s.
go il, q exile i,ut as did the ancient Roman TO
lead back foreign armies against nay native land
but rather to avoid persecution, and ths crown
Of ,uartyrdom. | 60 to seek repose for my shat,
| tered limbs. It is my prayer to God that ihs
country may be blessed with permanent peace,
and that reai prosperity, general happiness aud
lasting consentmeht may Unite all who have eject
ed to- live under the flag vi common county
If possible, forget the past. Look forward to
the future. Act with candor and discretion. aud
you will live to bless him who. in parting, gave
you this last advice. 80 .
And now. what shall say in parting. to my
fair countrywomen! Ladies OF Louisiana. bow
TO you with tears Of grateful affection. You have
always responded most promptly and cheertuily
to the calls Of patriotism and Of duty. You have
clothed the soldiers nnrsed the sick and wound
ed, cheered up the faiHt-hearted, and smoothed
the pillow Of the dying warrior patriot. God
bless you! God bless you!! I can never for
&h.1 Soxk 81 Kali