Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-10-15
T9e gntelligenter.
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING.
A PROCLAMATION.
By The President Of the United States Of America

BY TIE PRESIDENT OF tse CHRed STATES q America.
A PROCLAMATION.
The year that is drawing to close
has been filed with fruitful blessings
of fields and healtliful skies. To these
bounties which are SO constantly en-.
loved that we are prone to forget the
source from which they come, others
have been added which are of so ex-
traordinary nature that they cannot
fail to penetrate and soften even the
heart which is habitually insensiblc
to the ever watchful Providence OF
Almighty God. In The midst of civ.
il war of unequalled magnitude and
severity, which has sometimes seemed
to invite and provoke the aggressions
of foreign States, peace has been pre-
served with all nations, 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 and
navies of the Union.
The needful diversion of the wealth
and strength from the fields of peace
full industry to the National defence,
have not arrested the plow, the shut
tie, 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 abundautly than heretofore
Population has steadily increased, not
withstanding the waste that has beer
made in the camp, the siege, and the
battlefield, and the country, rejoicing
in the consciousness of augmented
strength and vigor, is permitted to ex-
pect continuance Of years with large
increase of freedom. No human cause
hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand
worked out these great things-they
are the gracious gifts of that Most
High God, who, while dealing with us
in anger for our sins, hath neverthe
less remembered us in mercy. 1t has
seemed fit and proper that they should
be solemnly, reverently and gratefully
acknowledged as with one heart ane
voice by the whole American people.
do, therefore, invite my fellow cit
liens, in every part of the United
States, and also those who are at sea
and those who are sojourning in for.
cigu lands, to observe and set apar,
the last Thursday of November next
as day of Thanksgiving and Prayer
to our Bene6cent Father, who dwell
eth in the Heavens and recommend
to them, that while offering up the as
piration justly due to Him for sucf
singular delivcrances and blessings
they do, also, with humble penitencC
for our national perverseness and dis
obedience, commend to his tender care
all those who have become widows
orphans or sufferers in the lamentable
strife in which we are unavoidably en-
gagged. and fervently implorc the in
terposition of the Almighty Hand t.
heal the wounds of the nation, and Il
restore it as soon as it may be consist
ent with the Divine purposes to the
full enjoyment of peace, harmony
tranquility and union.
In testimony whereof, | hav,
r." hereunto set my hand ant
caused the seal Of the Unite,
States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington
this, the third day Of October, il
the year Of our Lord 1868, and 0
the Independence Of the Unitet
States the cighty-eighth.
A. LINCOLN.
By the President;
WV. II. SEWARD, Sec. of State.