Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-04-10
A PROCLAMATION.
ny rurrnfsioryr OF rnr Uyrrrp STATE,


Whereas, the Senate Of the United States, dc
voutly recognizing the supreme authority ant
just government of Almighty God in all the af
fairs of men aud nations has, by resolution
requested the President to designate and SCI
aparta day for National prayer and humilia
tion.
And whereas, it is the duty of nations, as wei
as men, 10 own their dependence upon the over.
ruling power Of God, to confess their sins and
transgrcssiohs, in humble sorrow, vet with as.
sured hope that genuine repentance will lead Ia
mercy and pardon, and TO recognize the sublime
truths announced in the Holy Scriptures, and
proven by all history, that those nations only
are blessed whose God is the Lord
And, inasmuch as we know that, by his di.
vine law, nations like individuals, are subjected
to punshments aud chastisements in this world
may We not justly fear that the awful calamity
Of civil war, which now desolates the land, NAV
be but punishment inflicted upon us for oul
presumptuous SINS TO the needful end Of our ma.
tional reformation as whole people? We have
been the recipients Of the choicest bounties o
Heaven. We have been preserved these many
years, in peace aud prosperity. We have grown
in numbers, wealth and power as no other ma
ton has ever grown. But we have forgotten
God. We have forgotten the gracious hand
which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and
enriched and strengthened us; and we have
hearts, that all these blessings were produced by
some superior wisdom and virtue of our own
Intoxicated with unbrOken success, We have be.
come too selsuficient to feel the necessity of re.
deeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray
to the God that made usl
II behooves US then, to humble ourselves
before the offended Power, to confess Ma
tional sins, and to pray for clcmency and forgive
ness.
Now, Therefore, in compliance with the request
and fully concuring in the views of the Senate
| do, by this my proclamation, designate and sci
apart Thursday, the Both day of pril, 1863, a,
day of national humiliation fasting and pray
er and do hereby request all people to abstain
from their ordinary secular pursuits and TO un.
lite at their several places of public worship and
their respective homes, in keeping the day holy
to the Lord, and devoted to the humble dis.
charge of the religious duties proper to that sol
emn occasion.
All this being done in sincerity and truth, lie
us rest then huinbly in the hope, authorized BY
the Divine teachings, that the united cry of tn,
Nation will be heard on high, and answered will
blessings no less than the pardon of our ration
al sins, and restoration Of our now divided anC
suffering country to its former happy condition
of unity and peace. 800 a,-s
i witness whereof, l have hereunto set my
hand, and caused the seal of the United States
tn be affixed, sI.. sr.II f.aiI,.f- .f.....s 81.
Done at the City Of Washington this thirtieth
day of March, in the year of our Lord ono
thousand eight hundred and sixty three,
Il. s. and of the Independence of the United
States the eighty ty-seventh. tni
30 M ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President .t-H
WM. II. SEWARD, Sec'y of State. .i