The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-11-13
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING.
BY the President Of tie United
States Of America.
A PROCLAMATION.

The year that's drawing toward its close
has been filed with the blessings of fruitful
fields and healthful skiss added to bounties
which arc SO constantly enjoyed, that We are
prone to forget the source from which the Y
come. Others have been added which arc OF
so extraordinary q nature that they cannot
fail to penetrate and soften even the heart
which is babitualIy insensible TO the ever
watchful Providence Of Almighty God In
the midst of a civil war Of unequaled mag
ni.uds and severity. which has sometimes
seemed to invite and provoke the aggres
sions of foreign States, peace has been pre-
served with all nations. order has been
maintained, the laws have been respected
and obeyed. and harmony has prevailed
everywhere except in the theatre Of mill
tary conflict. While that theatre has been
greatly contracted by the advancing armies
and navies Of the Union, the needful diver
sions of wealth and strength from the fields
OF peaceful industry TO tie National de-
tense have not arrested the pillow, the shuttle
nor the ship. The axe has enlarged the
borders OF our settlements, and the mines.
~ we'll OF iron and coal as the precious
metals, have yielded even more abundan,ly
than heretofore. Population has steadily
increased, Notwithstanding the waste that
has been made in the camp, the siege and
the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing
in the consciousness Of augmented strength
and vigor. is permitted to expect continu
ance of years, with a 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
US in anger fer cur sins nevertheless remem-
hnvod massey II has saanad IN m fiji and
proper that they should be solmnly, devout-
" and greatly acknowledged. as with one
heart and voice, ty 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 fereign lands, to set apart
andlobserve the last Thursday OF November
next Is day Of Thanksgiving and prayer to
our benefcient Father who dwelleth in the
heavens; and recommend to them that
while offering up the Inscriptions justly due
to Him for such singular deliverences and
blessings. they do also. with humble pen-
tence for our national perverseness and dis
obedience, 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 intreposition Of the
Almighty hand to heal the wounds OF the
the nation and to restore it, as soon as msy
be consistent with divine purposes, to the
full enjoyment of peace. harmony, tranquil
ity and Union.
In testimony whereof, l have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed. 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 -eighthi
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
BY the President;
WV. II. SEWARD. Secretary Of State.