The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-04-10
National Fast Day.--The Presidents 8
Proclamation.
By The President of the United States of
America.


By The President of the United States of
America.
A PRoCLAMATIoS.
WHEREAS, The Senate OF the United
States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme
Authority and just Government of AL
mighty God, in all the affairs of men and
nations, has, BY resolution requested
the President 10 designate anu set apart a
day for National prayer and humiliation
And whereas, it is the duty Of nations,
as W. II as Of men, 10 own their depend
ence upon the oyerrulng power OF God, to
| confess their sins and transgressions. in
humble sorrow, yet with assured hope
that genuine repentance will lead to mercy
and pardon, and 10 recognize the sublime
truth, announced in the Holy Sculptures
and proven by all history, that those ma
tions only are blessed whose God is the
Lord !: And, inasmuch as we know that,
by His Divine law, nations. like indyidu-
. ais, are subjected TO punishments and
chastisements in this world, may we not
justly fear that the awful calamity Of civil
war, which now desolates the land, may
be but punishment inflicted upon US for
our presumpiuous sins, TO the needfu end
Of our national reformation as a whole
people We have been the recipients Of
The choicest bonnlies 0l Heaven. We
have been preserved. these many years,in
peace and prosperity. We have grown
in numbers, wealth and power as no other
nation has ever grown. But we have for
gotten God. We have forgotten the gra-
cious hand which preserved US in peace,
\ and multiplied and enriched and strength
ened us; and we have yainly imagined, in
the deceilfulness Of our hearts, that all
these blessings were produced by some
superior wisdom and virtue Of our owN.--.
Intoxicated with unbroken success, VIC
have become too self-sufficient to feel tho
necessity of redeeming and preserving
grace, too proud to pray 70 the God that
made Ms
1t beheoves us, then, TO humble our
, selves before the offended Power. 10 con-
! fess our national sins, and to pray for elem
: ency and forgiveness.
. Now, therefore, in compliance with the
8 request, and fully concurring in the views
of The Senate. do, by this my proclama-
ton, designate and set apart Thursday,
the 3oIh day OF April, 1863. as a day of
National humiliation, fasting and prayer.
And I do hereby request all the people to
J abstain on that day from their ordinary
: secular pursuits, and TO unite, at their sew
: eral places of public worship and their re-
h spective homes, in keeping the day holy
!. to the Lord, and devoted to the humble
: discharge Of the religious duties proper
: to the sOlemA occasion.
, All this being done in sincerity and
d truth, let us then rest humbly In the hope
! authorized by the Divine teachings. that
= the united cry of the Nation will be heard
;. ON high, and answered with blessings. no
Is less than the pardon Of our national sins,
: and the restoration Of our now divided and
q suffering country otis former happy con-
!. dition OF unity and peace.
|, In witness whereof, have hereunto
: set my hand, and cause the seal OF the
y United States to be affixed. -
: Done al the City Of Washington on this
. thirtieth day Of March, in the year
II OF our Lord one thousand eight
10 LIS. hundred and sixty three, and the
ID independence of the United States
d the eighty.seventh.
u ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
!. By. the President
4 WIN. Il. SEWARD, Secretary Of State.