MESSAGE

OF THE

GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN,

TOGETHER WITH THE

ANNUAL REPORTS,

OF THE OFFICERS OF THE STATE,

FOR THE YEAR, A. D. 1865.

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE LECISLATURE.

MADISON, WIS.:

WILLIAM 5, PARK, STATE PRINTER-WISCONSIN CAPITOL ONFIOR.

1866.

GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE,

DELIVERED BEFORE THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, JAN. 11, 1866,

Gentlemen of the Senate and Assembly

Our first duty is to give thanks to Almighty God for all His mercies to us during the past year. The people of no nation on earth have greater 'cause to be thankful than have our people. The enemies of the country have been overthrown in battle. The war has settled finally great questions at issue between ourselves, and there seems to be abundant reason to hope that a peace which shall never more be broken by internal strife is at length vouchsafed to us.

We mourned as no people ever mourned before, when our beloved President was stricken down by the hand of the assassin. That his mantle has fallen upon a patriot of such approved fidelity, and a statesman of such earnest and upright purposes as Andrew Johnson, is a subject of just congratulation, and renews our confidence that the Divine Hand, which has thus far led our country through manifold perils, still upholds it and directs its destinies,

Unlike former wars, the one through which we have just passed has not been followed by commercial stagnation. Everywhere the business of the country has sprung into life with more than pristine vigor. Manu facturers are pressed to the utmost limit of their power, to supply demands, A million of men have returned from the war, been disbanded in our midst and resumed their former occupations, and yet from all sides we hear the surest of all signs of national prosperity, complaints of the scarcity of labor.

Within our own state we have especial cause for thanksgiving. Our harvests have yielded bountifully; the fruits of the earth have found a ready market; the material wealth of the state has increased; mines have poured forth their richest stores; commerce has thriven; the people have lessened their indebtedness; manufactures have flourished; labor has been in demand and commanded liberal compensation; sober industry has everywhere brought its reward, and distress has been almost unknown.

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