Year: 1862

Though the Almighty in His infinite Prov;.
dental dealings, both with nations and indi-
vidnals, mlngles adversely with prosperity, dis
clplne and sorrow with love and mercy, and
Ills ultimate designs are otsn kept in sa-
cred reserve which we cannot penetrate. still
enough is revealed to inspire a huuble trust
IN His Providence, and we are led to feel that
even in times of trouble and ca amity " it is a
good thing to give thanks unto the Lord"


In obedience to custom, and the universal
sentiment of our people, do therefore appoint
THURSDAY, THE 4TH DAY OF DE-
CEMBER next, to be observed by the peo-
pie Of this State as day of Public Prayer,
Praise and Thanksgiving, and | invite them
to lay aside the ordinary employments of life
on that day, and to assemble in their usual
places OF worship to render thanks to Al
mighty God for the fruitfulness of the year
and the plenty that everywhere abounds; for
the prosperity of our material pursuits and
interests; for the general prevalence of health ;
for our pleasant and comfortable homes, and
the endearments and treasures of domestic
life; for the pleasures and comforts of geo
neighborhood, and the advantages of intelli-
gent, well ordered society; for our institutions
of education, benevolence and religion: for
freedom from the desoation of war within our
territory for the fervent patriotism, nationali-
ty of sentiment and unity of purpose and eff
fort which have characterized the people O
our State, leading thousands of its citizens to
go forth voluntarily and cheerfully to fight the
battles of he Republic, and mothers and
daughters to give up to country the dearest
objects of their affection for the devotion to
country so generally manifested by the loyal
people of the United States, and for the good
order, the steadiness and faithfulness of pur-
P"oo "nd obedience to authority and To law
which have universally prevailed and been a
distinctive and striking feature in the charac-
ter and conduct Of free society in the lova
States, under Government so mild in its re-
stralnts as scarcely to be felt by the governed.


Let it be our special prayer to Almighty
God that He will in His good time restore our
Republic in peace and prosperity, in unity
and power, and that the blessings of civil and
religious liberty may be dispensed to mankind
to the'end of time; that He will dispose all
mel everywhere to accept she mild reign of
the Re6eemer and will hasten the promised
time when, universally, there shall be ''peace
on earth and good will toward men, And,
though many of us while gathered around the
festive board, or the domestic hearth, must in
evltabIy observe the vacant chair directing our
thoughts &c him who is in the tented field. or
lies IN the soldiers grave, or sick, or wounded
and nursed 9y stranger hands, yet let our sad
ness be tempered by the thought Of his manly
and heroic purpose to discharge the highest
and last duty q the patriot to his coantry.
Given under Y hand aud the seal of the


State, in the Executive Chamber at Mont


peller, this, seventeenth day of November,
in the Jar of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two, and of the Indepen-
dence of the United States the eighty
seventh


FREDERICK HOLBROOK.
y His Fxellency, the Governor.


SAMUEL WILLIAMS,


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