Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-10-15
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER
By the President Of the United States Of Amer:cq:
PR0CLAMATION -E@+s

| .s PROCLAMATION SF
Inc year drawing towards its close has been
hlied with blessings of fruitful fields and heathful
skies. To these bounties, which are so copstsnt1v
| enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source
| from which they come, Others have been aadad
| which are of so extraordinary nature that thew
cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the hear.
whichis habitualy iusensible to the ever-watchful
Providence of Almighty God
| In the midst of a civil war of unequalled macni
tude 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 con-
tilef, while that theater has been greatly con-
tracted by the advancing armies and navies of the
Union The needfui diversions of wealth and
strength from the fields ofpeaoeful industry to the
national defence, nave 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 metals, have
yielded even more abundantly than heretofore-
reputation has steadily increased, notwithstand-
lug the waste that has been made in the camp the
siege and the battlefield; and the country. re-
Jocing in the consciousness of saented strength
ana 'iSor, Is permitted TO expect continuance of
years, with large increase of freedom
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 in anger for our sins. hath
nevertheless remembered mercy. 1t has seemed
ht and proper that they should be solemnly, reve-
rehtly and gratefully 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 sojourning in foreign
lands, to observe and set apart the
Last Thursday In November next,
As day of Thanksgiving and prayer to our benef-
cent Father who dweleth in the Heavens ana
recommend to them that while Offering up the ex.
pressions of praise justly due Him for such sim
gular deliverances and blessings they do also, with
humble penitence for our national perverseness
and disobedience commend to His tender care all
those who have become widows, orphans or suffer-
ers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are
unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the
interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the
wounds of the nation, and restore it as soon as
may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the
tul enjoyment of peace, harmony tran utility and
Union.
In testimony whereof, L have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the United States to
be affx ed.
Done at the city of Washington, this the third
day of October, in the year of our Lord 1868, and
Of the Independence of the United States, the
eighty -eighth.
Signed, A. LINCOLN President.
VIM II. SEWARD, Sec'y of State.