The gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1798-1799, 1798-04-16
A PROCLAM NATION,
By TIE PRESIDENT Of the United States
Of America.
A9 he fafety and PROPERTY Of nation


AS The fafety and PROPERTY Of nations
ultimately and eaentialy depend on the pro:ec
ton and bleiling Of ALMIGHTY GOD and
the national acknowledgment Of this truth sno
only an indifpenfable duty which the people owe
to Him, but duty Whole natural influence j,
favourable to the promotion of that morality
and piety, without which focal happiness can
not exR, nor the blefIings of 4 free government
be enjoyed and This duty. at all times incum
bent, is &c Especially in feafons # difficulty anc
of danger, when exiting or threatening calami
ties, The juf judgments Of GoD againf preva
| lent iniquitY, are loud call 10 repentance auc
reformation and as the United States Of Anne
RIGA are at piefent placed in hazardous and
affliaive ftuation, by the uufritndly dapoliion
conduit and demands of foreign power, evn
ced by repeated refulals to receive our mefen
gers of reconciliation and peace, by dePreda
tons on cur commerce, and the inhi6tion Of in
iuries on very many of our fellow citizens, while
engaged in their lawful buiineis on the feas -
Under thefe confdc ratious it has appeared to
me that the duty Of imPloring the mercy and
benedi6ion of Heaven on our country, demands
at this time lpecial attention from its inhabit-
ants.
| hay. therefore thought fl to recommend,
ard do hereby recommend, that WEDNESDAY
the 9th day Of My next to be ob!erved through
out the United States, as a day Of Solemn
Humiliation, Eating and Prayer That the
citizens Of thefe States, ab(tainiog on that day
from their cuRomary worldly occupations
offer their devout adGrefes 10 the father Of
mercies, agrceably to thofe forms or methods
Il 1r oAO he
Htable and becoming That all religious
Congregations do, with the deepelt humility.
knowledge before Cor, the manifold fins and
-anfgrefIions with which We are jualy charged
ic as individuals anu as a nation beieeching
him, at the fame tins, Of his inhAite grace,
through the redeemer Of the world, freely to
remit all our offences, and TO incline US, by his
holy fprit, TO that fIlceTe repentance and Tefor-
nation which may afford Us reaion TO hope for
his ineGimable favour and heavenly benedc-
lion THAT it be made the lubiea Of particular
and earnea duplication, that our country may
be protected from all the dangers which threater
it that our civil and religious privileges may
be pr-ferved involae, and perPetuated to the
ate(t generations that our public councils and
magidrates may Be Especially enlightened and
di1efed at this critical period that the Ameri-
can people may Be united in thofe bonds Of
amity and mutual confidence, and inlpired with
that vigour and fortitude by which they have
in times pat ben 70 highly diainguiihed, and
by which they have obtained iuch invaluable
advantages That the health Of the inhabit-
ants of our land may be pref-rved, and their
agriculture, commerce, hiheries, arts and ma
nufaaures be bleded and Prolpered That the
principles Of genuine Piety and found morality
may influence the minds and govern the lives of
every Description Of our citizens and that the
blelings of peace, freedom, and pure religion,
may be fpeedily extended to all the nations Of
the earth.
And finally recommend, that on the faid
day, the duties of humiliation and prayer be
accompanied by fervant Thanksgiving to the
b9aower of every good gift, not only for having
hithertoaProteded and prelerved the people Of
thefe United States in The independent enjoy
ment of their religion. and civil freedom, but
slfo for having proipered them 10 wonderful
Progrefs of population. and for comforting on
them many and great favours conducive to the
happiness and PROPERTY Of nation.
GITEN under ny Hand and SeGL9ftb Uni
tt8 States Of Aruerica, at PHILADELPHIA, htis
fzOsaty third day Of Mareb, IL tie ysar of
L. S. opr Lard one tbagIaHd Evsn band,ed and
niaety eight, and Of fbs Laaepsadencs Of the
(ai1 Slater ID: tqUs7ty fcoAa.
John Adam5.
By THE PRESIDENT,
TIMOTHY PICKERING. Secretary Of STATE.