The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-10-08
w l45.
By he President Of he United STATE, Of
Americd:
A Proclamation,

n Proclamation.
The year that is drawing toward Ia
close has been filed with blessings of
fruitful fields and healthful skies. To
these bounties which are so constantly
enjoyed that we are prone 10 forget the
source from which they come, otheFu
have been added which are of 30 extra
ordinary q nature that they cannot fail
70 penetrate and soften even the heart
which Is hAbuiually insenaihls 20 Che
eve, Watehial Providence Of Almighty
God, IN the midst Of elvil war OF une-
quail magnitude aud severity, which has
sometimes seemed to unite and provoke
the aggressions of foreign States.
Peace has been preserved with all ma
tions, order has been maintained, the
laws have been respected and obeyed,
and harmony has prevailed everywhere,
except in the theatre of military conflict.
While that theatre has been greatly con-
tracted by the advancing armies aud ma
vles of the Union, the needful diversions
of wealth and strength from the field
OF peaceful industry to the national de-
tense have not arrested the plough, the
shuttle, or the ship; the axe has enlarged
the borders of our settlements, and The
mines, as well of iron and coal as the
precious metals, have yielded even more
abundantly than heretofore. Population
has steadily increased, Notwithstanding
the waste that has been made in the
camp, the siege, and the battle field and
the country, rejoicing in the conscious
ness of augmented strength and vigor,
is permitted to expect continuance Of
years with large increase of Freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor NOR
tal man worked out these great things
they are the gracious gifts of the most
high God, who, while dealing with us in
anger for our sins, hath nevertheless re-
membered us in mercy. II has seemed
to me fit and proper that they should be
solemnly, reverently, and gratefully ac-
knowledged with one heart and voice by
the whole American people.
| do therefore invite my fellow citizens
in every part of the United States, and
also those who are at sea, and those who
are soiOurning in foreign lands, TO OBJ
serve the last Thursday of November
next as a day of Thanksgiving aud Pray-
er 70 our beneficent Father who dwelleth
Ia bho heSNenh, huu recommend 10
them, that, while offering up the ascrip-
tions justly due TO Him for such singular
deliverances and blessings, they do also,
with humble penitence for our national
perverseness and disobedience, commend
to his tender care all who have become
widows, orphans, or sufferers in the
lamentable civil strife in which we are
unsvoidably engaged and fervently i'm
plore the interposition of the Almighty
Hand to heal the wounds of the nation
aud TO restore it, as soon as may be con-
sIstent with the divine purp lse, 10 the
full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tram
guilty, and union.
In testimony whereof have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal Of the
United States TO be affixed. Done At the
City of Washington, this, the Sd day OF
October, A d, 1868, and of the Inde-
pendence Of the United States the eighty
eigh'h. BY the President
A. LINCOLN.
WM Ii. SEWARD, Secretary of State.