The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-04-29
The National Fast


IT, publish with pleasure the Proclamation
@. the President. calling upon the people Of the
loyal States to observe Thursday Of this week
A. day Of fasting. humiliation AID prayer.
a.. 4 also the Proclamation OF the Mayar d our
city il relation thereto. We sincerely hope
this call will not be passed by with indifference
or neglect but that the people will on that
day lay aside their cular employment. and
humble themselves before the Great Ruler Of
the nations: that His anger may he turaed
away and HIS favor restored 10 our afflicted
country. This Proclamation Of the President
has been issued al tie request Of the Senate Of
the United States which, az the close OF IL
late session. passed unanimously the following
resolution:
Resolved, That devOltly recognizing the 81
preme authority and just government Of Al
mighty God il all the affairs Of men and Of
nations, and sincerely believing that 10 PEG
pie. however great in numbers and resources.
or however strong IN the justice Of tier cause.
can prosper without His favor. and al the same
tine deploring the national offences which have
provoked Ills righteOus Judgmen. yet encour-
aged 10 this day OF trouble. By the assurances
OF His Word 10 seek Him for succor according
70 His appointed way. through Jesus Christ.
the Senate OF the United States 90 hereby re-
quest tie President Of the United States. by
his Pro; lamation. 10 designate and set apart
q day fer national prayer and humiliation. r.
guessing all the people % the land 10 suspend
their secular pursuits and unite in keeping To
day in solemn communion with the Lord o'
Hosts. duplicating Him 10 enlig htea the couu-
ellis and direct the policy Of the rulers Of The
nation and TO support ali our soldiers. sailors
and marines and the whole people ID the ETu
y -chal-e ol duty. until the existing rebellion
shall be- overttr0vn and the blessings - peace
restored 90 our bleeding country.
Proclamation by the President OF IN.
jnltsu states Sf America
/ Whereas, The Senate OF the United States
deyoutly recognizing the supreme authority
and just government Of Aim ghty God q all
/ Tie ala r. OF men and of nations. has. ny
resolution. requested the President 10 desig
nate and set apart a dag for National pray e-
and humiliation; aud
Where's. Il Is the duty Of nations, a. ~ei
as or men u own their dependence upon tb'
oveIruilng power Of God. 10 confess the sins
and transgressions in humble sorrow. vet wtl
/ assured hope that genuine repentance will leaC
% mercy aud pardon. and 10 recognize the SUD
lime truths announced IN tue Holy Scripture
and proven 10y all history. that those nations
Only are blessed whose God l. the Lord
And inasmgch as we know that. 10y His d
vine Law, nations. ike individuals are sutec
It'd TO punishments and chastisements in ihl
world may We not Justly fear that the awiu
calamity Of civil var which now desOlatc> th'
lsud may be but punishment inflicted upoi
u- for our pre-umptuous sins TO the needfs
end OF our national reformation as a Who'll,
people, We have been the recipients Of tn
I choicest bOunties o. heaven. We have beer
preserved these many years, in peace and pros
I perity. We have grown I'm numbers, wealti
and power, a. no other nation has ever grown
But we have forgotten God We have forgot
ten the gracious hand which preserved ms II
peace and multiplied and enriched and strength
ened Us; and We have vainly imagined. in th
deceitfulness ef our hearts that all these bles
sings were produced by come superior wisdom
ana virtue of our own. Intoxicated with un
broken success. we have become too selfsufli
cieHt to feel the necessity Of redcemiDg an
preserving grace-toO proud to pray ID th
q Cd that made Us
Il behooves Us. then, to humble ourselves be
fore the offended Power, to confess cur nation
al sins. and to pray for clemency and forgv,
ness.
Now therefore, in compliance with the re
quest. and fully concurrng in the views Of I'd
Senate. I DO by this my proclamation desgnat
and set apart Thursday. the 30th day of Apr
1853. as a day Of national hum lation, fastn
and prayer And DO hereby request all III
people to abstain on that day from their oidir
AIRY secular pursuits and to unite at their SIEVE
raj places OF public worship and their respe,
tive homee. in keeping the day holy to the LORD
and devoted to the humble discharge Of tn
religious duties proper to that solemn occs
sion.
All this being done. in sincerity and trutl
let US then rest humbly ia the hope, authorze
by the Divine teachings, that the united CT
of the Nation viii be heard on high and ar
swered with blessings no less than the pardo
Of our national sins. and the restoration Of on
now divided and suffering country to its forme
happy condition Of unity and p ace.
witness whereof, | have hereuntO set N
hand and caused the seal of the United STATE
10 be affixed
Done at the City Of Washington. this thirtiet
day Of March in the year of our Lor
one thousand eight hundred AID sixty
lis. three. and Of the independence Of th
United States the eighty-seventh
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
BY the President:
WILLIAM II. SEWARD. Secretary OF State