Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-10-31
STATE OF VERMONT.
BY CHARLES KILBORN WILLIAMS,
a Proclamation
FOR A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING.

AS the year is approachingto its
close, it becomes us to reflect on
the numerous manifestations of the
goodness of Almighty God to us as
a people during the last year, and
to offer to Him tribute of praise
and thanksgiving for His protect
ing care, and the various instances
of His mercy and kindness which
have been SO literally bestowed,
and which we have SO largely ex-
perienced.
In view of their dependence on
the Almighty for every blessing,
and in a spirit of humble gratitude,
the rulers in New-England, at the
earliest settlement of the country,
were accustomed to set apart day
of THANKSGIVING, on which all were
permitted to partalze of such fes-
tivities as a christian people, un-
der due sense Of the presence of
the Most High, might lawfully
enjoy, and were called upon to
unite in such religious exercises as
were appropriate to the House of
God.
Impressed with a deep sense of
the propriety of such an institu-
ton, and of the duty of acknowl-
edging our dependence on God for
every blessing, and of rendering
thanks to Him for His goodness to
us individually and collectivel Il
do hereby appoint THURSDAY, the
FIFTH DAY OF DECEMBER NEXT, to
be observed by the people of this
State, as day of PUBLIC THANKS
GIVING AND PRAISE.
1 earnestly REPRESENTATIVES. and
people of every denomination to.
assemble in their several places of
public worship, on that day. and
offer up their united praises to AL
mighty God for all the favors con-
ferred on us; that He has album
dainty prospered the labors of the
husbandman; has given a liberal
increase of the fruits of the earth,
and has prospered the enterprise of
all classes of our citizens; that he
has favored us with good meas
ure of health, and neither pesti-
lence nor famine have been found
in our borders, while other parts of
our extensive republic have been
sorely visited with desolating dis
ease, and many have been called
to part with friends near and dear;
that in all our civil, domestic and
moral relations, we havebeen high
ly favored; and above all, let us
thank Him for the gift of the Cos
pei of His Son Christ Jesus, and
implore His grace, that we all may
conform to its precepts and live as
becomes His disciples.
And while we remember with
gratitude these numberless mercies,
let us humbly beseech Him to con-
tinue them to us; that He would
prosper our colleges, academies and
schools, and all the means that are
employed to instruct and improve
the rising generation /; that He
would remove the fears and jeal-
ousies which have distracted our
counsels that He would cause all
oppression and injustice to cease;
that He would restore to every in
dividual the enjoyment of those
f" natural, inherent and inalienable
rights with which they are en-
bowed by their Creator; that He
would dispose all hearts to agree
in such measures as will promote a
spirit of brotherly love and benev-
olence; that He would give wis
dom to our councils and energy
and firmness in their determine
tons, and that they may be guild
ed to such measures as will con-
tribute to the welfare of the peo-
pie; that the spirit of disunion,
faction and disorder may be sup
pressed; that all may amend their
lives, and sincerely and truly repent
of their sins, and be thus prepared
to receive and improve every token
of divine favor which it may please
our Heavenly Father to bestow
upon us.
Giren under my hand and tie
Seal Of the State, at Montpe-
Tier, this 25M day of October,
81. in the year Of oar Lord one
thousand !. eight hundred and
65y, and Of tie Independence