The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-10-16

In view of the additional cause OF thanks.
giving which our great Union victories at
ford, wo ro.pubsh the following admirable
Proclamation Of the President
Proclamation by the President for q
day Of Thal kSgiving and Prayer.
WAsHINaToN, October 3.
The year that is drawing towards its close
has been filed with tho blessings of fruitful
folds and heaIthful skies. To those bountes
WHICH wo have 80 constantly enjoyed, and
which we are so promo to forget the source
from which they come, others hav vc been added
which are of such an extraordinary nature
that they cannot fail to PROSTATE and soften
evcn the heart which is babitually nsonsi-
bic to the ovor.watchful providence OF Al
mighty God. In the midst Of civil war of
uuequalcd magnitude and severity, which
has sometimes seemed 10 invite and pro.
woke tho aggrcssons of foreign States, peace
| has beun preserved with ali nations; order
mas boon maintained; tho laws have bee n
respected aud obeyed, and harmony has
prevailed oyerywhoro except in the thoa'or
of military coufict,-which lheator has
boon greatly contracted. Tho advancing
armies and naves of the Union. the needful
diversions of wealth aud strength from the
folds Of peaceful industry, to the national
dcfuns0, have not arrested the plOw. the
shuttlo or tho ship. Tho axe has enlarged
the borders OF our settlements, and toe mines
rs vol of iron and coal as tho precious met.
ais, have yielded even more abundanhy
than herotoiore. Tho population has stoad.
lily increasod, notwithstanding tho waste
that has boon made in the camp, tho siege
and the battle field; and tho country,r'joic
ing In tho Consciousness of augmented
| strength and vigor is permitted TO expect n
continuance Of years with u large increase
of freedom. No human counsel hath de-
ysed. nor mortal hand worked out, these
great things. Tboy arc tho gracious gifts
of tho most high God, who, while dealing
tholcss, remembered ms in mercy. IL hath
seemed to me ft and proper that they
should be solemnly, roverently and CRATE
fully acknowledged, as with one hoart and
one voice, by the whole American people
! do therefore invite my follow citizens il
every part of the United States. aud also
those who are at sea. aud those who are so.
journiDg in foreign lands, to sot apart and
observe the last Thursday in November
next, as q day of Thanksgiving and Prayer
to our benelicent Father who dweleth ia
the heavens and recommend to them that,
while offering up tho aspirations justly due
to Him for such singular del;vorances and
blessings, they do also, with humble peni.
tence for our national perverseness aud dis
commend to His tender care all
those who have become widows, orphans, or
sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in
which wo are uuavodubIy engaged, and fer
vently imploro tho interposition of the Al.
mighty band 20 heal tho wounds OF tho ma
ton, and to restore, as soon as may DO con.
sistent with the divine purposes, to the full
enjoyment of beuce, harmony, tranquility
and union. -..... ...
In testimony whereof have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States to bo affixed. Dons at the City OF
Washington, ,his, tho 81 day of October.
in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred
and sixty.throe. aud of the Independence OF
the United States thu elghty-ei ghth.
A. LINCOLN.
By tho President
4 60, e