Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-10-05
Mass Meeting in New York.


WASHINGTON, October 9.
The year that IS drawing towards its close has
been hlled with the blessings Of fruitful fields
and healthful skies. To those bounties which we
have so constantly enjoyed, and which we are so
prone to forget the source from which they come,
others have been added which are of such an
extraordinary nature that they cannot fail to
PROSTATE and soften even the heart which is ha-
bitually insens'ble to the ever Watehful provi-
denee of Almighty God. In the midst of q civil
war of unequaed magnitude and severity,
which has sometimes seemed to invite and pro-
woke the aggressiOns CT foreign States, peace
has been preserved with all nations order has
been maintained the laws have been respected
and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed every
where, except in the theater of military conflict,
which theater has been greatly contracted
The advancing armies and navies of the Union,
the needtul diversions of wealth and strength
from the fields of peaceful industry, to the
tiona defense, have not arrested the pl9w, the
shuttle 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 abundantly than here
tOfore. The population has steadily increased,
Notwithstanding the waste that has been made in
the camp, the siege and the battle field and the
country, rejoicing in the consciOusne s of
augmented strength and vigOr, is permitted tc
expect continuance Of years with a large in
crease of freedom. No human counsel hath
devised, nor 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, remem-
4
proper that they should be sOlemnly, reverent-
ly and gratefully acknowledged, as with one
heart and one voice, by the whole American
people.
I do therefore invite my felow-citizens in every
part Of the United States, and also those who are
at sea, and those who are sojourning in foreign
lands, to set apart and observe the last Thurs
day in November next, as a day OF Thanksgiving
and Prayer to our beneficial Father who dwelleth
in the heavens, and recommend to them that
while offering up the aspirations justly due to
Him for such singular deliverances and bless
ings, they do also, with humble penitenee for our
national perverseness and dis obedience, COM
mend to His tender care all those who have be-
come widows, orphans, or sufferers in the la
mentable civil stnfe IN which we are unavOidahly
engaged, and fervently implore the interposition
of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds Of the
nation, and to restore as soon as may be con-
sistent with the Divine purposes, to the full en-
IoYment Of peace, harmony, tranquility, and
union.
In testimony whereof I have hereuntO set my
hand and caused the seal of the United States to
be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this
the Sd day Of October, in the year of our Lord,
eighteen hundred and sixty three, and ofthe in
dependence of the United States the eighty
eighth A. LINCOLN
Blythe President:
WIN. II, SEWARD. Sacretary of State