The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-04-10
NATIONAL FAST DAY
Presid mt's PrOcla m q n
By the Prssident IF the United States of

America:
PROCLAMATION.
E WHEREAS. fThe Senate of the tUnitet
States. devoutly recognizing the Supreme
Authority and just Government of AL
mighty God, in all the affairs of men and o
nations. has. by resolution, requested the
President to designate and set apart day
for National prayer and humiliation:
And whereas it is the duty Of nations, as
we'll as Of men. to own their dependence
upon the overruling power of God. to con-
fess their sins and transgressions, in hum
BILE sorrow, yet with assured hope that gen.
uine repentance will, lead to mercy and par
don. and to recognize the sublime truth, n
nounced 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
divine law. nations, like individuals, are
subjected to punishments and chastisements Is
in this world, may we not justly fear that
the awful calamity of civil war, which now
desolates the land, may be but q punish
,nent inflicted upon US for our presumptuous
sins, to the needful end Of our national re
ormation as whole People We have
been preserved, these many years, in peace
md prosperity. We have grown in num-
'ers, wealth and power as no other nation
,ss ever grown. But we have forgotten
.iod. We have forgotten the gracious hand
which preserved us in peace. and multiplied
md enriched aud strengthened us and we
ave vainly imagined. in the deceitfulness of
ur hearts, that all these blessings were pro-
uced by some superior wisdom aud virtue
our own. Intoxicated with unbroken
uccess, we have become too self sufficient
% feel the necessity of redeeming and pre-
erving grace. too proud to pray to the God
that made Us
= 1t behooves US, then. to humble ourselves
.,efor the offended Power, to confess our
ationsl sins, and to pray for clemency and
Jrgiveness.
Now, therefore. in compliance with the
equest. and fully concurring in the views Of
le Senate. I do. by this my proclamation.
esignate and set apart Thursday, the 3Oth
ay Of April. 1868. as day of national
umiliation. fasting and prayer. And do
ereby request all the people to abstain on
lat day from their ordinary secular pursuits,
nd to unite. at their several places of pub
C worship and their respective homes. In
eeping the day holy to the Lord. and de-
,ted to the humble discharge of the relig-
'us duties proper to that solemn occasion.
All this being done in sincerity and truth.
t us then rest humbly in the hope, author
zed by the Divine teschings, that the united
~ of the nation will be heard on high,
nd answered with blessings. no less than
le pardon Of our national sins. and the
.storation Of our now divided and suffer
+ lg country to its former happy condition of
nifty and peace.
In witness whereof, have hereunto set
my hand. and caused the seal Of the United
States to be affixed.
Done At the City of Washington on this
thirtieth day Of March, in the year OF
our Lord one thousand eight
ILs. and sixty three, and Of the indepen-
denee Of the United States the eighty
seventh.
ABRAHAA LIScoLN.
WILLIAM II. SxwARD. Sec'y of State.