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State of Maine.

By Jonathan G. Hunton,

Governor of the State of Maine.

A Proclamation,

For a day of Public Thanksgiving and Praise.

When we contemplate our exemption from those wars and commotions that have agitated so many other nations of the earth, during the present year, we have abundant reason as a people for Thanksgiving and Praise.

Within less than a year, we have seen the banner of the Cross floating triumphantly over the regions of infidelity. We have seen the proud Ottoman, whose mountain barriers have for ages defied the power of invading armies, a humbled Prince; and Greece, in whose fate the Christian and Philanthropist have taken so lively an interest, disinthralled [disenthralled] from his power. In another quarter of the globe, we have seen the Infidel yielding up his sceptre; a nation of pirates driven from their strong hold, and their City, which was but a short time since, a den of slavery to the captive Christian, now converted into a refuge for the unfortunate and distressed.

Casting our eyes over Europe, within a few short months, we have seen the Monarch of one of the most powerful nations on earth dethroned with a rapidity that left him but little time to prepare [?] flight, and now an exile in a foreign land. We see also the flame of civil and religious liberty, spreading from one country in Europe to another, while the tottering and crumbling thrones of other monarchs threaten to bury in their ruin the baneful relics of bigotry, and of civil and religious intolerance.

In fine; Wherever we turn our eyes, we behold the rod of the oppressor, and the spear of the conqueror broken before the breath of Him, who governeth the destinies of nations; and Who, as we have reason to hope, is preparing the way for civil and religious liberty throughout the world.

When we reflect then on the present operations of the Divine Government, in thus controling [controlling] and regulating the passions of man, we are led to adopt the language of inspiration, “surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee, the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain.”

Withdrawing our contemplations from such scenes,