The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-10-15

Proclamation of the President.
Thursday, Nov. 26th to be Set Apart
5 as Day Of National 1AaaaAsgiv-
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 1868.
By the President of the United States of America:
PROCLAMATION. |
The year that is drawing towards its
close has been filed with the blessings
of fruitful fields and bealthful skies.
To these bounties which are so con.
stantly enjoyed that we are prone to
forget the sources from which they
come, others have been added which
are of SO extraordinary nature that
they cannot fail to penetrate and soften
even the heart which is habitually in
sensible to the ever watchful Provi-
dence of Almighty God.
In the midst of cruel war of un-
equalled 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;
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 contracted by the advanc-
ing armies and navies of the Union.
The needful diversion of wealth and
strength from the fields of peaceful in.
dustry to the national defense, have not
arrested the pillow, the shuttle or the
ship. The axe has enlarged the borders
Of our settlements, and the mines as
we'll of iron and coal as the precious
metal, have yielded even more abun-
dainty than heretofore. Population
has steadily increased, Notwithstanding
the waste that has been made in the
camp, the siege aud the battlefield, 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
b ath an 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, earnestly and
gratefully acknowledged, as with one
heart and voice, by the whole Ameri-
can people.
/ do therefore invite my fellow citi-
zens in every part of the United States,
and also those who are at sea, and those
who are sojourning in foreign lands, to
observe and set apart the last Thursday
of November next as day of Thanks
giving and Prayer to our Beneicient
Father who dwelleth in the heavens,
and l recommend to them that, while
offering up the securities 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 ten
der care all those who have become
widows, orphans, or. sufferers in the la
mentable civil strife in which we are
unavoidably engaged, and fervently i'm
plore the interposition of the Almighty
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.
i In testimony whereof, / have here.
unto set my hand, and caused the seal
of the United States to be affixed
: Done at the city of Washington, the
third day of October, in the year. Of opl
! Lord 1868, and of the Indepena(r se o.
the United States tbe si4syeigkth.
BY the President - Ssr-S 81
Le7%4 SESD, crefary of State. %
ID r,-.- -