The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1863-10-17
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING.
A PROCLAMATION B1oaneREsDESr OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA

The year that is drawing towards its close has
been filed with the blessings of fruitful fields and
healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so
constantly enjoyed that are prone to forget the
Source from which they come, others have been
added which are of so extraordinary a nature that
they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the
heart which is habitually insensible to the ever
watchful providence Of Almighty God In the
midst of civil war of unequalled magnitude and
severity, which has sometimes seemed to invite
and provoke the aggressions of foreign States,
peace has been preserved with all nations, order
has been maintained, thelaws have been respected
and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed every
where, except III the theatre of military conflict,
while that theatre has been greatly contracted by
the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
The needful diversion of wealth and strength from
the fields of peaceful industry to the national de-
fence have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or
the ship. The axe has enlarged the borders OF
our settlements and the mines, as well of iron
and coal as of the precious metal, have yielded
even more abundantly than heretofore. Popula-
ton has steadily increased notwithstanding the
waste that has been made in the camp, the siege,
and the battlefield and the country, rejoicing in
the consciousness Of augmented strength and
vigor, is permitted to expect continuance OF
years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any
mortal hand 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 remembered mercy.
1t has seemed to me fit and proper that they
should be solemnly reverently, and gratefully
acknowledged as 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 sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart
and observe the last Thursday of November next
as day of thanksgiving and prayer to our bene-
fcent Father, who dwelleth in the heavens. And
I recommend to them that, while offering up the
Inscriptions justly due to Him for such singular
deliveranee and blessings, they do also with
humble penitence for our national peryerseness
and disobedience commend to their tender care
all those who have become widows, orphans.
mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil
strife in which we are unavoidaby engaged, and
feryently implore the interposition Of the Amigh-
ty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to
restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the
divine purposes, to the full enjoyment OF peace,
harmony, tranquility, and union.
In testimonE whereof have hereunto setmy
hand and caused the seal of the United States to
be affixed
Done at the City Of Washington, this third day
of October, in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-three, and Of the indie
pendence of the United States the eiShty-eighth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President
WILLIAM II. SEWARD, Secretary of State: