Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-10-08
NATIONAL THANKS GIVING.
Proclamation of the President.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 3. 1863
By the President of the United States OF
America:
4 PROCLAMATION.


By the President of the United States of
America:
A PROCLAMATION.
The year that is drawing towards its
clo-e has heen filled with the h es>ings If
fruitful fields and healihfu skies. To
these bounties which are so constantly en-
joyed that we are prone % forget The
sources from which they come. Others
have been aided which are of so extraordi-
nary nature that they cannon fail to pen
Ell ate and soften even the heart which il
hsbitually inssnsihle to the ever watrhful
Providence of the Almighty God.
In the midst of a cruel war of uneqnall-
ed magnitude and severity. which has
sometimes seemed to invite and provoke
the aggressions of foreign States. peace
has been preserved I'll all nations; or.
der has been maintained; the laws have
been respected AMI obeye'l. AMI 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.
strength from the fields of peaceful indus
Try To the national defense. have not ar
rested the pillow. the shuttle or the ship
The axe has enlarged the borders If onr
settlements. and the mines of iron and
coal as well as Of the prerious metal. have
yielded even more abnnlantlv than hereto
fore. Population has steadily increased.
r,f,fx hath q 10 hat hac
made in the camp. the siege anil the battle
field. and. the country rejoicing in the
consc Ieusness OF augmented strength and
vigor. is permitted To expect continuance
Of years with large increase Of freedom -
No human counsel hath devised. nor ha, h
any 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 never
theless remembered mercy too. 1t has
seemed to me fit and proper that they
should he solemniy, earnestly and great
fully acknowledged. a. with one hart and
voice. by the whole American people.
do therefore invite nv fellow citizens
in every part of the United States. AMI
also those who are at sea. and those who
are sojourning IN foreign lands. to observe
and set apart the last Thursday of Novem-
Der next as day Of Thanksgiving and
Prayer to onr Bene6cent Father who
dwelleth in the heavens. and recommend
to them that. while offering mp the ascr,p-
tons Justly due to Him for such singular
delivsrances and blessings. they do also.
with humble penitence for our nations ]
perverseness AID disobedience. commend
to His tender care all those who have be-
come widows. orphans. or sufferers in the
lamentable civil strife in which we are
unsyoidably engaged. and fervently i'm
plore the interpretation Of the Almighty
hand to heal the wounds of the Nation.
and to restore it ~ soon - may I've con-
sisteEt with the Divine purposes to tho
full enjoyment Of peace. harmony tran
qniliiy and Union.
In testimony whereof. / have hereunto
set nv hand, and caussi the seal of the
United States to he affixed. Done at the
city IF Washington. the third dav of Oc-
tober. in the year of our Lord 1868, and
If the Independence of the United States
The eighty eighth.
A. LINCOLN