The Portland daily press., 1866-01-05
Friday Morning, January s, 1866.
GOVERNORS ADDRESS.

~ " A1AoAN S4V ~ I'LL 1Ux1hI0s
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Rep.
resentdtiUes: ..ss,- , \
congratulate you that we meet under hap
pier auspices than have attended the inaueu-
ration of the government of the State for i've
years past. by the goodness of Providence
the clouds OF war have rolled away from our
SKIES and the sun of peace, shining again in
full etfulgence, gilds and blesses, with its be-
nehcent rays, our battlefront and blood-stain-
ed country. The mighty conflict of arms has
ceased, and leaves the government of the I'm
ion master of the field, its flag floating in un-
challenged supremacy over its ancient and
rightfm boundaries. That blot which tarnish-
ed its escutcheon and was so long our re-
proach among the nations, has been effaced.-
The republic, regenerate and enfranchised by
| the fearful baptism of blood has vindicated its
right to be called the land of the free" The
mighty armies, beneath whose tread the con-
tinent has shaken, returning to their homes,
have been quietly absorbed into the ranks of
the citizen whence they sprung, again to en-
brace their old employments, dissipating every
| apprehension which their vaStness excited,
| and alaying every fear that we were to be-
come the subjects of military despotiSm.
ills our happiness this day to behold en-
rolled among your members, numerous gen.
| tlemen, who at the call of their country, dSre-
| garding every impulse but that of patriotic du-
| ty, went forth to do battle in her behalf, nor
ceased their service so long as it was needed.
| The State is honored by such sons, and her
councils cannot fail to be strengthened by
their presence. bid you welcome to these
seats, as the representatives of those glorious
armies OF citizen soldiers, which have achiev-
ed the deliverance of our nation from its i'm
minent peril. 1e,a
The year which has closed upon us, filed, as
it has been, with causes of joy and congratu-
latlon, has, nevertheless, been marked by one
event that will ever constitute sad page in
our history. While the people were rejoicing
in those thick-thronging successes, the har.
bingers of returning peace, as the light was
breaking around the whole horizon, the mark
ed man OF this country, the best beloved Of
the nation, fell by the assassin's hand. The
bullet which struck down Abraham Lincoln,
pierced the bosom of millions, plunged the ma
tion in mourning and shocked the moral sense
OF mankind. With no sing e quality of char
acter or act of his life calculated to inspire re-
VenSe, this man, with heart lacerated by the
calamities which had befallen his country, vet
filled with the kindliest purposes towards the
deluded authors of them, was suddenly and
wickedly slain. Having filled the measure of
his earthly fame, through period ofscivil ad-
ministration the most difficult that ever fell to
the lot of public man, denied the qualification
he might well have promised himself in the Sc
rener and more peaceful days then dawning,
with malice toward none and charity for all,,'
he was summoned to go hence His name
stands in isolated and unapproachable gram
deur, associated with an act of beneficence
and justice which will shed halo of glory
around it that time cannot efface or obscure
| The tears and thanks of enfranchised millions
will forever ascend grateful incense to his
memory. Friend of our country, friend of the
human race, farewell
| MILITARY HISTORY.
At the first summons of the nation to arms
| the citizens of Maine, from the field, the shop,
the ship, the dock yards, the institutions of
learning, men of all professions, trades and
| pursuits, rallied with an enthusiasm and alac
rity surpassed by no Others, to her defence, and
| as the weary years of strife rolled on they did
not abate their loyalty nor withhold the full
measure OF support required at their hands,
Equivalent to three regiments of cavalry, one
| regiment of heavy, and seven batteries of
light artillery, thirty-one full regiments of in
fantry, seven companies of sharpshOoters,
and thirty companies of infantry assigned to
regimental organizations, and seven compa-
nieS OF coast guards were raised and mustered
| into the service of the United States from
Maine. These with the recruits which, dur
ing the war, were constantly forwarded to re-
inforce their continually melting ranks, with
the naval enlistments, according to the report
of the Provost Marshal General Of the United
| States, up to the thirtieth of April, 1865.
reached the number of II, ,55Smen, being more
than one-tenth of the population and largely
more than majority of the heaviest vote ever
| polled in the State. The number of men en-
braced in all the calls upon this State for troops
during the war, was 72,227; leaving balance
of but 669 to be supplied when the orders to
stop the draft were issued in April last. These
would have been furnished in very few days,
as recruiting was then being prosecuted with
| great vigor and success. l do not hesitate to
express the opinion that no State contributed
larger proportion of its own citizens in fill
ing quotas than Maine.
Since the close of active hostilities in April,
the following organizations belonging to this
State have been mustered out of service, viz.
The 1st and I'd regiments of cavalry, the 1st
regiment of heavy artillery, the 1st, I'd, Sd,
4th, 9Th, 9th and 7th batteries of light artil-
lery, the 1st veteran, 9th, 14th, 10th, 17th,
10th, both, 30th and 31st regiments of infant
ry, seven companies of coast guards and a
large number OF recruits who had not left the
State. The 18th and 18th regiments, whose
terms of enlistment expired in 1854 and which
were mustered cut that year, were subsequent
ly reorganized in 1885. The number of COM
missions issued by the Executive of Name
during the war, was 1926, of which 2,084 were
by Governor Washburn in 1861 and 1862, 819
by Governor Coburn in 1853, and the residue
| by the present Executive in 1864 and 1866
| These do not, OF course, embrace that number
of individuals, as very many were promotions.
At this time there still remains in service,
the following of our organizations, viz: The
Sth, 11th, 18th, 18th, 29th regiments, and one
battalion of infantry. Some discomfort has
arisen from the fact that certain organizations
have been discharged which had been in SER
vice but short time, while others, which had
served longer, have been retained. This has
frequently, but mjustly, been attributed to
improper influences. l believe it to be due
entirely to the accident that these regiments
belong 70 the army corps upon which the duty
devoved of remaining south, and that similar
results would have followed if 1t had fallen to
the lot of any other corps to have been as
| sion..I to this position. am assured by the
Secretary If War that the remaining organiza-
tions shall he II, ;,1stered out and discharged al
tbe earliest moment T. can be done with safe.
ty to the interests of the country.
1t is unnecessary, and would be unbecom-
ing, to speak boastfully of the services OF the
soldiers of Maine. She has no reason tc
blush for their conduct upon any OCCASION
All did their duty according to their opportu-
nifty, and very many covered themselves WIFI
| distinguished honor. na The Inscriptions on
their battle-fags which greet the eye of the
visitor TO this Capitol, tell the story Of thei1
deeds,
beg leave to express the hope that full
history of each of the different military organ
izetions from this State, which participated IL
the war, may be written by some one OF thell
intelligent and accomplished members. o
whom there were so many. This is the time
to do It. while events are fresh in the memory
and there are 50 many living witnesses to cor
rect errors or misstatements. 1t would be {
most important contribution TO the historic ri
annals of the State, increasing In value will
the lapse Of years, and securing justice to ou
gallant soldiers in more ample measure thar
they will otherwise obtain.