Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-10-20
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING.
4 Proclamation, by the President Of the
United States Of America.

4 Proclamation, by the President Of the
United States Of America.
The year 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 can not fail to penetrate and sof-
ten even the heart which is habitually
inscnsible to the ever watchful Providence
of Almighty God. In the midst of a CIV
il war of unequalled magnitude and sever
ity, which has sometimes seemed to invite
and provoke the aggrcssions Of foreign
States, peace has been preserved with all
nations, order has been maintained, tho
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 advancing armies and navies of the
Union, the ncedful diversions of wealth
and strength, from the fields Of peaceful
industry, to the national defence, have
not arrested the plow, 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
heretofore. The population has steadily
increased, Notwithstanding the waste that
has been in the camp, the siege and the
battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in
the consciousness of augmented strength
and vigor, is permitted to expect CONT
nuance Of years with large. increase of
freedom No human counsel hath devils
ed, notwithstanding the mortal hand had
worked out these great things; they are
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 prop
er that they should be solemnly, reveren.-
ly and gratefully acknowledged, as with
one heart and voice, by the whole Amer
lean people. do, therefore, invite my
fellow citizens in all parts Of the United
States, and also those who are at sea, and
those who are sojourners in forei gn lands,
to set apart and observe the last Thursday
of November next, as a day of thanks
giving and prayer to our beneicent Faith
er, who doth reside in the heavens and
| recommend to them that, while offering
up the Inscriptions 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 tender care all those who
have become widows, orphans, or sufferers
in the lamentable civil strife in which we
are unavoidably engaged, and fervently
implore the interposition of the Almighty
hand to preserve the health of the nation,
and restore it, as soon as may be consis-
ten. with the divine purposes, to the full
enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility
and Union.
In testimony whereof, have hereunto set
my hand, ard caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed. Done at
the city of Washington, this third day
of October, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and sixty
three, and of the independence of the
United States the eighty-eighth.
A. LINCOLN.
WIN. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.