Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-10-15
Thanksgiving Day.
A PROCLAMATION
A PROCLAMATION
BIZ the President qf the United States If
Imericn.

/
By the President qf the United States of
Imericd
The year that is drawing towards its close,
has been filed with the blessing ot fruitful
fields and heathiul skies. To these boun-
ties which are so constantly enjOyed that we
are prone to forget the source from which |
thew come, others have been added which
are Of so ordinary nature that they cannot
fail 10 penetrate and soften even the heart
which is habitually insensible to the ever
watcbful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of civil war of unelualled
magnitude and severity, which has some
times seemed to invite and provoke the az
gressions of foreign States, pence has been
preserved with all nations, order has been
maintained, the laws have been respected
and oheycd, and harmony has prevailed
| everywhere, except in the theatre Of mill
tary conflict, while that theatre has been
| greatly contracted by the advancing armies
and navies of the Union. The needful di
versions of wealth and strength from the
fields Of peaceful industry to the national
defense, have not arrested the plow, the
shuttle or the ship. The axe has enlarged
the borders ofour settlements, and the mines
as well of iron and coal as the precious
metals, have yielded even more abundant "
than heretofore. Population has steadily
increased notwithstanding the waste that
has boen made in the camp, the siege and
the battle field, and the country rejoicing in
the consciousness of augmented strength d
\ yigor, is permitted to expect continuance
of years with n large increase OF freedom. =
r 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 re-
4 membered mercy 1t has seemed to me- fit
D and proper that they should be soemnly,
= reverenty and gratefully acknowledged
u with one heart and voice by the whole Amer
: lean people. do therefore invite my tcl
{ low citizens in every part Of the Unitoc
o States, and also those who are at sea, anc
o those who are sojourniDg in foreignl lands, t.
y set apart and observe the last Thursday o
November next as day ofthaksgiving am
O D, aver to our beueIicent Father who dwell
It eth in the heavens; aud | recommend Il
n them, that while offering up the ascrpton
Justly due to Him for such singular deliver
ances and blessings, they do also, with hum
10 bic penitence for our national perverseDes
aud disobedionco, commend TO his tcnde
ID care all those who have become widows, ol
ID phans or sufferers in the lamentabe civi
,e strife in which We are unavoldaby suRaged
70 aud ieryently implore the interposition q
the Almighty hand to heal the wounds Q
the nation, and to restore it as soon as ma
be consistent with the divine purposes, t
the lull enjoyment OF peace, harmony, traT
ID guilty and union. In testimony whereof
" have hereunto set my hand and caused tii
L seal of the United States to be affixed.
r. Done at the city of Washington this III
IL third day of October, in the year of our l.or
r. 1868, aud of the independence ofthe Unite
in States the Solh.
to [Slgned ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
as By the President,
WM. II. SEWARD, Sec'y Of State.