The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-10
BY TELEGRAPH
National Thanksgiving.


NEW YORK, Oct. By the President of
the United States of America,
A PROCLAMATION.
The wear that is drawing towards its
close has been filled with the blessings of
fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these
bounties which are so constantly enjoyed
that we are prone to forget the source 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 insensi
BILE to the ever watchful Providence of AL
mighty God. In the midst of civil war
of unequaled 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 aud obeyed, and har-
mony has prevailed everywhere except in
the theatre of military conflicts, while that
theatre has been greatly contracted by the
advancing armies and navies of the United
States. The needful diversions of wealth
and strength from the fields of peaceful IN
dustry to the national defence, have not
arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the snip.
The axe has enlarged the borders OF our
settlements, and the mines, as well OF iron
and coal as of the precious metals, nave
Welded even more abundantly than mere
tofore. Population has steadily increased,
Notwithstanding the waste that mas peen
made in the camps, the siege ana the pattle
field-and the country rejoicing in the
consciousness of unwonted strength and
vigor, is permitted to expect the contlnu-
ance of wears with a large increase OF free
dom. No human counsel hath desired,
nor hath any mortal hand worked out
these great things, they are the gracious
gift of the Most High GOD who, while deal
ing with us in anger for our sins, hath
nevertheless remembered mercy. 1t has
seemed to me tit and proper that they
should be solemnly, reverently and CRATE
fully 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 sojourn-
ing in foreign lands, to observe and set
anart the last Thursday Of November next
as day of thanksgiving and prayer to our
Beneficient Father who dwelleth in the
heavens, and recommend to them that
while Offering up the Inscriptions justly due
to Him for such singular deilverance and
blessings, they do also with humble penl-
tence for our national perverseness and
disobedience commend to His tender care
all those who have become widows
orphans or sufferers in this lamentable
civil strife in which we are unavoidably
engaged, and fervently implore the inter
position 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.
In testimony whereof have hereuntt
set my hand and caused the seal Of thu
United States to be affixed. Done at thu
City of Washington this the Sd day 0
October, in the year of our Lord 1868, ant
of the Independence of the United States
the eighty eighth.
(Signed,) A. LINCOLN.
BY the President
WIN. II. SEWARD, Secy of State.