Nebraska advertiser., 1865-01-19
ANNUAL MESSAGE
OF GOV. SAUNDERS
To the Tenth Session Of the Legislature ct
the Territoru Of Nebraska.

tives of the people Of Nebraska, in you
capacity as Legislators on the occasion @
your annual meeting. Since you close;
your labors a year ago, events, fraugh
with the most momentous consequences,
not only TO our common country but IL
mankind, have occurred, in rapid success
sion. The struggle for the mai nleDanct
of the integrity of our nationality. anC
the perpelulty of our free institutions
continues. Our own Territory, hitherto
exempt from The commotiOps and calam-
tiles incident to state of war. has been
invaded, and our peaceful homes threat
ened with desoIatIon by The ruthless saw
ages Of the Plains. Yet, in reviewing
the events of the year which has just
closed, we have the greatest reasons for
the expression of profound gratitude to
the Supreme ruler for our signal frilWphs
over the public enemy-for our compar-
alive exemption from the horrors and
atrocities attendant upon Indian warfare
and for our general prosperity as peo:
pie. The rebel armies have been re-
pealedly defeated, with terrible losses Of
men aud material, and the lines of the
insurgents have been driven in at every
point east of The Mississippi; while the
Allanuc and Gulf costs have been almost
hrrmetically sealed by our powerful and
efficient Navy, against the piraucal COM
merce which. during the earlier history
of the Rebellion, was SO successfully
carried on between domestic traitors aud
foreign sympalhlzers, stimulated hy av-
arlce and cupidily. West of the Missis-
slppi, if our success. has not been so de-
cIded and gratifying, we have at least
steadily maintained our position, and ev-
eFV atlrmpt Of the rebel armies 10 invade
rIIe IUyaT states, has been SIgnally and
diaas.rOusly defeated. During lLIs PERI
cd, lif we except that of Arkansas on
the Red River he Union armies have
met with no serious repulse. Al minor
points. trivial reverSes have occurred 10
our arms, In few Instances but the
general results has been decidedly, ia.
Yorable to the great cause of Union and
Freedom.
THIS was for the preservation of our
National Life, although protracted
through more than three years of bloody
strife, Is a length happily drawing to a
clsse and recent events would seem 20
Indicate, wlh almost mashematlcal GER
saln.y. that the end cannot be tar n the
fature. Slowly, bat steadily ard surely
The Union armles are exhausling the
strength aud resources of the rebel for.
;eS. Their lines are being rapidly con.
racled-thetr ranks decimated, beyond
he possibility of recuperauon, and The
spirit Of the misguided masses has been
,roken. To-day the sO-called Confed.
'racy cannot rightly claim to control one.
halt the Territory embraced within lis
ImltS al the commencement of the Re-
,ellIOu. Our Armies and Navies almos:
I2compass them, while one of our greaesl
IeneraS, with his victorious colums, has
narched through the very heart of the
llnTire State OF the South, from the IN
trIor 10 the coast, and captured The most
'opplous aud impOrIanI commercial civ
n The rebe lIJus district, almost without
pposion. These slgni6cSnl facts leave
70 room to doubt that at an early period
he supremacy of the Constitution and
he Laws will be restored IN every por.
ION Of the counFy-rhus establishing
um; liberty alike IN the South and IN
le North, aud vindicaIing the capacity
I the people for self-government.
The result of The recent election for
resident and Vice President of the
|nted States, indicates that The people
Ily comprehend the character Of the '
onleSt. and that they are ready TO make '
ny sacrifice of men and treasure neces- 4
ary to secure ultimate triumph. To the
-lends OF The National Administrator {
affords peculiar cause of corgraIulaiion;
ldicaung. as it does. that the American (
eople endorse the principles and policy I
'hich have controlled the President in
the affairs of the General i
government in the midst of The most gi- Z
rntic aud formidable Rebellion known !
history.
] congratulate you on the termination
the IndIan war on eur own frontier,
'hich for time, since the close of your
Isl session, disturbed the quiet which
ad hitherto prevailed in our Territory,
nd created the most serious apprehen-
ions for the safety of the exposed set,
ements on our western and nOrIhsf