Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-04-18
A PROCLAIM alton by the President OF
the United States Of America

Whereas, The Senate of the U: States
devoutly recognizing the supreme authori
| ty and just government Of Almighty God
in all the affairs of men and of nations,
has by resolution, requested the Presi.
dent to designate and set apart day for
National prayer and humiliation aud,
Whereas 1t is the duty of nations as
we'll as Of men, to own their dependence
upon the overruling power of God, to con
fess their sins and lransgressions, in hum
bic sorrow, yet with assured hope that
genuine repentance will lead to mercy and
pardon, and to recognize the sublime
truths announced in the Holy Scriptures
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 individuals. are
subjected to punishments and chastise.
menss in this world, may we not Justly
fear that the awful calamity of civil war
which now desolates the land, may be but
a punishment inflicted upon US for our
presumptuous sins, to the needful eud of
our national reformation as Peple. We
have been the reel pients of the ch hoicest
bountes Of Heaven. We have been pre-
served these many years, in peace aud
prosperity. We have grown il numbers,
wealth, and powers as no other nation
ever has grown. But we have forgotten
God. We have forgotten the gracious
hand which preserved us in peace, and
multiplied and enriched US and we have
vain'y imagined in the deceitfuIness of our
hearts that all these blessings were pro-
duced by some superior wisdom and vir-
tue OF our own. Intoxicated with unbrok-
en- success we have become too sef-suffi-
cient to feel the necessity of redeeming
and preserving grace too proud to pray to
the God that IN ade US.
1t behooves US, then, to humble our.
selves before the offended Power, to con.
fess our national sins, and. pray for elem.
ency and forgiveness.
Now, therefore, in compliance with the
request, and fully concurring in the views
OF the Senate, | do, by this proclamation,
designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th
day Of April. 1868, as a day of National
humiliation, fasting, and prayer. And do
hereby request all the people to abstain on
that day from their ordinary secular pur-
suits, and to unite, at their several places
Of public worship and their respective
houses, in keeping the day holy to
the Lord, and devoted to the humble dis
charge of the religious duties proper to
that solemn occasion.
All this being done, in sincerity and
truth, then let US rest humbly and in the
hope, authorized by the Divine teachings,
TINT the united cry of the Nation will be
heard on high, and answered with bles-
sings, no less than pardon for our national
sins, and restoration of our now divided
and suffering country to its former happy
condition Of unity and peace.
In witness Whereof have hereunto set
my hand, and causen the seal of the U. S.
to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this
thirtieth day Of March, in the year of
Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-three, and Of the independence
of.he United State the eighty seventh
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President:
WM. II. SEWARD, Secretary Of State.