Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-10-13
THE DAILY FREEMAN
A NATIONAL THANKSGIVING.
BY the President of the United states
A PROCLAMATION


The year that is drawing towards its close has
oeen filed with the blessings Of fruitful fields and
healthful skies. To these bounties, which are SO
constantly enjoyed that we are prone TO forget
the source from which they come, others have
been added, which are Of SO extraordinary ma
ture that they cannot fail 10 penerate and soften
even the heart which is habtually insensible TO
be ever watchfu Providence Of Almighty God,
10 the midst Of a civil war OF unequaed magni-
tude and severity which has sometimes seemed
to invite and provoke the aggression Of foreign
states, peace has been preserved with all natlonS
order has been maintained, the laws have been
respected and obeyed and harmony has prevailed
everywhere, except in the theatre OF military
conflict, while that theatre has been greatly con.
tracted by the advancing armies and nayes OF
he Union. The nesdfu diversion Of wealth and
ttrengh from the fields Of peaceful industry to
she National defense have not arrested the plow,
the shuttle or The ship. The Ak has enlarged
the borders OF our settlements, and the mines,
as well of iron and coal as Of the precious met
als, have yielded even more abundantly than here
tofore.
Population has steadily increased, notwIth-
standing the waste that has been made by the
country rejoicing in the consciousness OF aug
mented strength and vgor, is permitted to expect
continuance Of years with .arge Increase OF tree
dom.
No human council hath devised, not bath any
mortal worken out these great things. They are
the gracious gifts 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 and proper that they should be solemnly,
reyorentiay and gratefully acknowledged, as with
one heart and voice. by the whole American peo-
pie.
| do therefore invite my felIow-citzens in every
part of the United States, and elso those who are
at sea and those who are sqlourning in foreign
lands, to set apart the LAST THURSDAY OF No
yEMBER next, as day OF thanksgiving and pray
er to our beneiicent Father, who dwellelh IN the
Heavens, and recommend too, that while otter
ing up the Inscriptions justly due to Him Tor such
singular deyerances and blessings, they do also'
with humble penence for our national peryerse-
ness and disobedence commend to His tender
care all those who have become widows, orphans,
moutners or sufferers 10 the amentabe civil strife
in which we are unavoidaby engaged, aud fer
yenty implore the interposlon Of the Almighty
hand 10 heal the wounds Of the nation, ard to
restore it, as soon as may be consistent with DIVINE
purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmo-
ny, tranquility aud union.
ln testimony Whereof | have hereunIo set my
hand aud caused tie seal Of the United States to
! be affixed
Done At the City OF Washington, this third day
OF October, in the year Of our Lord One lhou
,, sand Eight Hundred and Sixty Three, and o
the Independence Of tue United States th'
Eighty Eighth. ~
(Signed) ABRAHAM LlNCohN:
By the President: w. II, SEWARD, Sec. OF State