Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-12-19
Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer.

We nublish below highly important recommend
.t,on from the President of the United States. If
ever there was time in the history Of this Republic
for humiliation, fasting, and prayer, that time is
now The recommendation of the President, if
carried ont as should be- will solemnzs the minds
of the people of the whole country, and may be
eninentv useful, under Providence, in depressing
the fanaticism of the North and in arresting the
undue excitement which prevails IN the South:
From the Washington constitutional
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
A RECOMMENDATIONS
Numerous appeals have been made to me by pious
and patriotic associations and citizens, in view OF
the present distracted and dangerous condition of
our country, to recommend that day be set apart
for HUMILIATION, Fasting, and PRAYER throug hout
the Union. In compliance with their request and
my own sense of duty, designate
Friday, the 4th day Of January, 1861,
for this purpose, and recommend that the people
assemble on that day, according to their several
forms of worship, to keep it as solemn Fast
The Union of the States is at the present moment
threatened with alarming and immediate danger
panic and distress of fearful character prevail
throughout the land our labo-ing population are
without employment and consequently deprived Of
the means of earning their bread-indeed, hope
seems to have deserted the minds OF men. All
classes are in q state of confusion and dismay and
the wisest counses of our best and purest men arc
wholly disregarded.
In this. the hour of our calamity and peril to
whom shall resort for relief but to the God Of
Fathers? His Omnipotent Arm only can save us
from the awful effects of our own crimes and fol.
les-our own ingratitude and guilt towards our
Heavenly Father.
Let US, then, with deep contrition and penitent
sorrow unite in humbling ourselves before the Most
HIGH in confessing individual and national sins,
and in acknowledging the justice of our punish
ment Let us implore Him to remove from our
hearts that false pride of opinion which would impe
us to persevere in wrong for the sake OF consistency
rather than yield just submission to the unfore-
seen exigencics by which We are now surrounded
Let US with deep reverence, besecch Him to restore
the friendship and good will which prevailed, in
former days. among the people of the several States
and above all, to us from the horrors Of civil
war and blood guiltiness" Let our fervent prayers
ascend to His Throne, that He would not desert us
in this hour OF extreme peril, but remember us as
He did our fathers in the darkest days of the Revo
luton and preserve our Constitution and our Union
the work of their hands, for ages yet to come. An
Omnpotent Providence may override existing evils
for permanent good. He can make the wrath o.
man to praise Him. and the remainder of wrath He
can restrain. Let me invoke every individual ir
whatever sphere of life he may be placed, to feel
personal responsibility to God and his country fol
keeping this day holy, and for contributing, all ir
his power to remove our actual and impending ca
lamites.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Washington, Dec. IA, 1860. ~