The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-12-06
THANKSGIVING.
Proclamation by the Governor.

The year that is drawing to n close has been
one Of signal and bountiful merc!eS. The
tcmpcst of rebellion which darkcncd and de-
vasta,cd ,hc'land and left desolate thousands
of once happy homes, has passed away, and
peace a-nin Glcsses the land with tho sun
shine from her white wings. The great arma,
mcn,s, the lcgious of armed men, the thunders
Of wars terrible cnginery, aud the terror,
blood aud death Of four years stupendous
conflict, exist only in the past, and have left
scarccly a shadow to darkcn the smiling peace
which the present year has brought us. Nor
IS peace the only boon secured by the dread
arb;,rament forced upon the country. Lasting
,-,unu;li,y has been secured, because tho
source Of all our disorders has been destroyed,
and the great principles which underlic our
Government have been vindicnted, strength
ercd aud purified. Treason and usurpation,
which ussailed good government and natural
right. huve been oyerpowcred and disarmeG;
and the people Of the United States have not
only stricken off the shnckles Of four millions
Of boudmen, but have cmancipated themselves
forever from the letters which aggressive and
organized iniquity has been able SO long to
impose. > ......
From the chaos into which we were thrown
by wicked men, ; bencfcent Providence
brought forth this young Commonwealth, and
freed us from our ancient dcgredations.r a
ncoplc redeemed, rcgcnerxted and Olsen.
tbral,ed,. with our priceless heritage ofliberiy
and law sapred 10 postc.ity, We indeed,
above all others, owe thanks 10 the Great
puler and preservcr who walked with us
through the valley Of gloom and depression.
Nor should we be unmindful Of material
blessings. In the year that IL past, unusual
nrosperity has attended the enterprises and
Industries Of the people. The Garth has yielded
hountiful harvcsts, aud the oil Of her fstness
obundau,ly. So far from the pcstilcncc and
famine usually consequent upon war, unusual
health and plenty prevail; and all look for.
ward with pleasant anticipation TO a future
Of rich promise, which shall veil in oblivion
the unhappy past. Confident, too, that peo-
ME who have shown such forti;udc in The day
Of trial possess the virtue TO maintain forever
the noble results their sacrifice md suffering
have secured, and acting in harmony withthc
Recommendation Of our houorcd Chief Magis-
| trate,
I, Arthur l. Foreman, Governor Of the
State Of West Virginia, grateful 10 God, III
common with my fellow-citizens, for His sg-
nal mcrcies, md in humble recognition and
acknowledgment thereof, do appoint and set
apart Thursday, the seventh dayof December
next, ns day of Thanksgiving md Praise to
Almighty God, to no kept everywhere within
tho bounds Of this State, By suoh appropriate
] observanccs rs the grateful hearts OF our pco-
plo may suggest. And trust TINT In our re:
ioicing wc will>uot be r'nmindful OF snch MS
haye hearts vet sore from the great afiiction
of their noble sacriiccs for tho country, and
whose gladness must needs DO tempered with
sorrows, which 1t is our duty MS far as possible
to sssuage by timely remembrance OF inc
widows and orphans and the disabled OF those
to whom, as the immediate instruments Of
heaven, our gratitude is directly due.
- In testimony whereof, | have here :
= unto set my hand and caused the seal
| Is Of the State to be affixed, 81 the Capt.
81 toll in the City0bf Wheeling, this 9TH
day Of November, in the year, Of our Lord,
eighteen HUNDRED and si1ty-h's' and OF II the he
S,ateShe third -, ~ s'>s- So ~. = ,.
' - ARTHUR l. FOREMAN,
2GRsSy1LE: D. HALL, Secy Of the State.