Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-11-30
- THE Governor of West Virginia,
Dy DETERMINATIONS

.,,,, - ,t,t il drawing 10 a close has been one
~ - :;s,asl and bountiful mcrcies. The tempest
4-.I.IIion which darkencd and devastated the
- and left d,salate. thousands Of once happy
bomcs has passed away and peace again bless
the Land with sunshine from her white wings
The qrc1t ornaments, the legiOnS Of armed men,
ne thunders of wars terrific cngineTy, ana the
terror. blood and death Of four years stupep''eus
conflict. exist only in the past, and nave ic"
s.,orcelv n shadow 10 darken the smihnS peace
,yL;cl, ,ls ,,rrsent wear has brought Us. Nor
:, go tho only boon secured by the dread ar
liframept forced upon the country. Lasting
t-,Douilitv has been secured, because the source
n sliopr disorders has been destroyed, and the
.,reat principles which underlie our Government
have been vindicatcd. StrengthenedaDd pwlhed.
Treason and uSurpation, which assaulted good
government and natural right, have been over
,,,xerc,lSua disarmed; and the people Of the
limited States have not only stricken OFF the
,bscklcs of four milliopS Of bOudmeu. but have
enancipatcd themselves forever from the tetters
which Aggressive and organized iniquity has
been able 50 long to impose
From the chaos into which We were thrown
hywickcd men. a beni6ceut Providence brought
f,rtb this Young Commonwealth, and freed us
fr5m our ancient degredations. A people re-
lsamed rc,enerated and diScnthralled, with cur
priceless heritage of liberty and law secured to
r,,teritv. we. indeed, above all others, owe
thanks 10 the Great Ruler and Preserver who
walked with us through the valley Of gloom
and depression.
Nor should we be unmindful Of material
blessings. In the year that is past, unusual
prosperity has attended the enterprises and m
dustries Of the people The earth has yielded
hountiful haryestS, and the oil Of her iatneSS
sbundantly. So far from the pestilcnce and
famine Usually consequent upon war, unusual
health aud plenty prevail and oh hook Tor
ward with pleasant anticipation To future Of
rich promise which shall veil in Oblivion the
unhappy past Confident. too, that people
Who have shown such fortitude in the day OF
tral. possess the virtue to maintain forever the
noble results their sacrifice AMI SuifcTluSS have
secured. and acting IN harmony with the re-
concentration OF cur honorcd Chief Magistrate
I. Arthur /. Brcman. Governor Of the State
of West Virginia, grateful to God, in common
with mn fellow citizens, for His signal mercicS,
and IN humble recognition and acknowledge
mcut thereof, DO appoint and set apart Thurs
jav. thc seventh day of December, next, aS a
day of Thanksgiving and Praise to Almighty
God o. b. kept everywhere within the bounds
Of this State. by such appropriate obscvyances
Is the grateful hearts Of her people may sus-
gc>t. And trust In our rejoicing we Will not
he unmindful Of such aS have hearts Yet sore
from the great affection Of their noble sacrifices
for tine country, and whose glatneSS must
needs be tempered with surrowS, which it isour
duty as FAR aS pu>>ihlc % aSSuage. l. timely
remembrance of the widows and orphans and
the disabled Of those 10 whom. as the imueli-
ate instruments Of Heaven, our gratitude Is Ill
rectly due.
- In testimony whereof have here
L. 5. unto set my hand and caused the seal
- Of the State o. be affixed. At the Cap
itol IN the City Of Wheeling, this eth day Of
November, in the year Of our Lord, eighteen
hundred and sixty-fye, and Of the State the
third
ARTHUR ]. FOREMAN.
~ the Governor:
GEANymLE ID. HAIL,
Secretary ~ the State.
Nov. %. '65.-2t.