The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-11-29
THANKSGIVING.
Proclamation by the Governor

The year that is drawing TO close has been
one o. signal and bountiful mercies. The
tempest Of rebellion which darkened and de.
yastated the land and left desolate thousands
Of once happy homes, has passed away, aud
peace again blesses the land with the sun
shine from her white wings. The great arma-
mcnts, the lceious Of armed men, the thunlers
Of wars terrible 'cngiuery, and the terror,
blood and death Of four years stupendous
conflict, exist only in the past, and have left
scarcely shadow to darkeu the smiling peace
which the present year has brought us. Nor
is peace the only boon secured by the dread
arbitrament forced upon the country. Lasting
tranquility has been secured, because the
source Of oil our disorders has been destroyed,
and the great principles which underlie our
Government have been vindicated, strength
ened and purified. Treason and usurpation,
which ussailed COOL government and natural
right, have been overpowered and disarmed;
aud the people OF the United States have not
only stricken of the shnckles Of four millions
OF bonllncu, hut have cmancipatcd themselves
forever from tho letters which aggressive and
organized iniquity has been able so long to
impose.
From the chaos into which VIC were thrown
BY wicked men, q benetcent Providence
brought forth this young Common wealth, and
freed Is from our ancient deSreGations. y
people redeemed, rcgeucratcd aud olsen
,hrallcd, with our priceless heritage ofliherty
and law secured TO posterity. We, indeed,
above all others, owe thanks 10 the Great
Ruler and Preservcr who walked with us
through the valley Of gloom and depression.
Nor should We DC unmindful Of material
blessings. In the year that is past, unusual
prosperity has attended the enterprises and
Industries o! tho people. The carth ha, yielded
boun,iiul harvGsts, and the oil Of her fairness
abundGnt;y. So fur from the pestilcncc and
famine usually consequent upon war, unusual
health and plenty prevail; and oil look for
ward with pleasant anticipation to y future
Of rich PROMISE, which shall veil in oblivion
tho unhappy past. Confident, too, that pco-
pie who have shown such forti;udc in tho day
Of trial, possess the virtue TO maintain forever
the noble results their sacrifice and suffering
tavc secured, and acting i'll harmony with the
recommc ndation of our honorcd Chief MagiS-
tratc,
I, Arthur I. Foreman, Governor Of the
State Of West Virginia, grateful to God, in
common with my fellow citizens, for His sig.
nal mercies. and in humble recognition aud
acknowledgment thereof, do appoint and set
apart Thursday, the seventh day OF December
next, rs day Of Thanksgiving and Praise 10
Almighty God, to ho kept everywhere within
the bounds OF this State, BY such appropriate
oh,crvauces as the grateful hearts Of our pco-
pie may suggest. Aud trust that in our re-.
joiciug We will not be unmindEul Of such rs
have hearts yet sore from the great ati.iction
OF their noble sacrifices for the country, and
whose gln;lacss must needs be tempered with
sorrows, which it i. our duty as far rs possible
to ussnagc by timely remembrance Of the
widows aud orphans and the disabled Of those
10 whom. MS the immediate Instruments OF
heaven, our gratitude is directly duo.
~ In testimony whereof, have here
{ T.. unto Se: my hand ndcn"sei the SEAL :
~ ,ul in the City OF Wheeling, this 9Th
day Of November, in the year Of our Lord
eighteen hundred aud sixty-fvc, and Of the
State the third.
ARTHUR l. FOREMAN.
Ey the Governor:
GnAyyILLE D. HALL, Scc'y Of the State.