Year: 1865

Convened in General Assembly during times of
great public peril, and the tendency Of issues affect


inc the public safety there are devolved upon You
the most important duties, and you favored with
the most acceptable opportunities of considering and
adopting such measures as will permanently benefit
the State


The condition OF country, during the past four
years, has been such as to awaken the deepest so
citude and the most earnest and manly patriotism
Assailed, without any cause, by those who have so
long lived upon her bounty and under her protection
who unwilling to abide by the result of fair
and Constitutional expression OF the peoples will
our Government found it necessary to use force in
order to preserve its existence. 1t not until
every offer of honorable compromise had been reject
ed, every guarantee of equal rights spurned it was
not until the public property had been seized and the
National Flag had been insulted and fired upon in
deed it not until the Nations capital and exist
ence were threatened by II large armed force, that
the Government adopted any to prevent its
own destruction. Clearly the issue was and is,
Union or Disunon National Integrity or Disin-
tegratiOn.


The civil war thus forced upon us is yet in progress
1t could not have ceased and cannot upon terms
inconsistent with the maintenance of the Union
On the side, obedience to the national laws is
the only condition Of peace. On the other, the only
alternative OF war, is perpetual separation and the
dsmemberment Of our country. AS it is not honor
able right to accept this alternative war is the
only resort to Obtain peace either through victory
in battle or through submission from exhaustion.


The Government of the United States has conduct
ed the war with great ability and success and i'm ac.
cOrdance with the rules of civilized warfare The
power behind the Government mpelling it To II still
more vigorous policy was the patriotism, tortitude
and loyalty OF the people. They have met with
manly hrlnness, the fierce issues of civil war They
have endured with uncompnlning SORROW the LOSSES
Of life that rebellion has occusioned. They have
cheeriully submitted to taxation and the inconvc-
niences of the draft In full view of these and indeed
welcoming them, they have calmly nnd solelnnly
determined that for the preservation of the Union
and for the suppression of the rebellion, shall be
prosecuted with renewed vigOr until it shall end in
peace. They have spurned any terms Of compromise
that required the dissolution of the Union


l feel proud and thankful, that am able to say,
that the efforts of the people to save their liberties
and nationality have met with signal success The
present military situation is most encouraging The
prospects OF permanent and honorable peace are
brighter There is dssension and dissatisfaction
among the foe. The very claims Of paramount State
sovereignty that largely contributed to foster re-
bellion, are likely to return to plague their inventors
The right OF secession, so warmly advocated will de-
stroy the pretended government it founded The alb
solute despotsln OF the rebel leaders, is rendering
their power insecure and their people uneasy 1t
cannot be long before reaction will take place when
resistance, Spurred on by military failure and APP
preaching exhaustion, will array itself against the
present management Of the insurgent cause. Defeat
is undeceving the deluded, and moderating the mis-
directed enthusiasm Of the Jealous, and may before
many months, develope a determined internal oppo
sition that will utterly destroy the so-called Southern
Conederacy


Meanwhile there are more potent influences at
work to accomplish this result Victory after victory
of lion
and navy. In the valley of Virginia. on the PENN
sula, in Tennessee and Georgia, before Mobile and
Savannah and far off in the South-w west the flag of
the Union proudly floats victorious heroes But
large organized force remains to dispute the
nations sovereignty and that is at the mercy of the
Warrior of the Republic


And yet, in the midst Of war; prosperity has been
abundant and universal. Large crops of grain and
fruit have been given by the bounty Of Provi-
dence. All kinds of labor have been remunerative
because in great demand If the prices of provisions
have advanced, the wages OF the laborer have also
been increased. There now fewer persons who |
are pinched by poverty than when the war began
Ii the enlistluents into the army and navy have
taken away the chief support of the family ample
provision has been made by the benevolent hearts of
the loyal. And wthal, there have been developed
christian charity that does honor to the age and
yastness Of resource, spirit Of liberty IL depth OF
patriotism and IL capacity Of Seigoyernment that
foretel the perpetulty Of the American Union and IL
career Of uneNanpled prosperity, power and nfu-
ence. There is not nation in the world that has
not been awed into respect by these magnificent ex
hbitions of all that is manly and true as there is
not monarchy that does not tremble Mt the certain
ty that here, through blood, and trial. and suffering
the longdoubted capacity and right of men to govern
themselves, is to be trumphanty vindicated for all
time and for the example of all nations


Every citizen, much more every public officer, has
devOyed upon him the imperative duty of sustaining