The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-10-08
SOLD SERIES VOL. 10, NC. Ge.
GER RMs..sI,7 u sin Advance
National Thanksgiving.
New York, Oct. 8.
BY the President ofithe United States of
America,
A4BocLAHArres.

4. Dy 'ho EreSiuent OIttne nltcd States oil
America,
ATBocLAMArreN
The year that is drawing towards its
close has been filled with the blessings Of
fruitful fields and healthful skies 10 these
bounties which have been so constantly en-
j Dyed that We are prone to forget the source
from which they come. others have been adj.
ded which are ofso extraordinary a nature,
that they cam OF fail to penetrate and soft
en- even the heart which is habitually insen-
sible to the ever watchful providence nf Al
mighty God. In the midst of civil war Of
uns1uallsd magnitude and severity, which
has sometimes seemed to invite aud provoke
the aggressions Of foreign States, peace has
been preserved with all nations-order has
been maintained-the laws have been re-
spected and obcyed, and harmony has pre-
vailed everywhere except in the theatre of
military conflicts, while that theatre has
been grea ly contracted by the advancing
armies and navies of the United States.-
uc hSV0tdl 0tVSlSiOtS VI WEALTH. atu
strength from the fields Of peaceful indus
try to the national defense, have not arr est
ed the plow, the shuttle or the ship. Tie
axe has enlarged the borders of our settle
ments, and the mines, as well Of the iron
and coal as of the precious metals, have
yield ed even more abundantly than hereto
hos vta ;iry ,voroaOnl
withstanding the waste that has been made
in the camps, tho siege, and the battle field
and the count ry, rejoicing in the conscious
ness Of unwonted strength and vigsr, is
permitted to expect the continuance ofyears
with large increase offreedom. No ha-
man counsel hath devised, nor hath any
mortal hand work ed out these great things;
they are the gracious glfs 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 aud proper
that they should be solemnly, reverently
and gratefully Acknowledged as with one
heart and voice by the whole American
people. I do therefor invite my fellow
citizens in every part ofthe United States,
and also those who arc at sea, and those
who are sojourning in foreign lands, to OBJ
serve and set apart the last Thursday Of No
vember rext, as day of thanksgiving and
prayer to our Benificent Father who d we'll
eth in the heavens, and recommend to them
that while offering up the Inscriptions justly
due to Him for such singular deliverance
and blessings, they do also with humble
penitence for our national preverseness and
disobed,ence commend to His tender care
oil those who have become widows, orphans
or sufferers in this lamentable civil strife in
which we are unavoidably engaged, and fer
vently implore the interposition OF the Al
mighty hand to heal tie wounds Of the na-
ton, and to restore it as soon as may be
consistent with the divine purposes, to the
full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tran
guilty, and Union.
In testimony whereof 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, III
the year of our Lord 1868, and Of the Tnde-
pendence of the United States the eighty
eighth.
(Signed,) A. LINCOLN. {.
BY the President:
WM.sH. SEWARD, Sec'y Of State.