Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-04-09
National Fast Day--The Presidents
H.. Proclamation
By the President Of Me Uaitsd States Of
Amertca:
A PROCLAMATION.

A PROCLAMATION / ,., ss.,l
WHEREAS, Tie Senate Of the United
States, devoutly recognising the Supreme
Authority and just Government Of Almighty
God, in all the affairs Of men and of ma
tiohs, has, BY resolution, requested the
President to designate and set apart day
for National prayer ana huumliation
/ And whereas it 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 transgressions, in humble
sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine
repentance will lead to mercy and pardon,
aud to recognise the sublime truth, snnouD
ced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by
all history, that those nations only are bless:
cd whose God is the Lord:
| Aud, insomuch as we know that, by His
divine law, nations like individuals, are
subj ,cted to punshments and chastisements
in this world, may we not justly fear that
the awful calamity OF civil war, which now
desolates the land, may be but punish.
ment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous
sins, to the needIul end Of our national re.
! formation as whole People2 We have
been the recipients of the choicest bounties
of Heaven We have been preserved, these
many years, in peace and prosperity. We
have grown in numbers, wealth and power
i as no other nation has grown. But W.
have forgotten God We have forgotten
the gracious hand which preserved US il
peace, and multiplied and enriched anC
strengthened US; and We have vainly imagin
cd, in the deccitfulness of our hearts, tina
ali these blessings were produced by som,
superior wisdom aud virtue of our own. =
Intoxicated with unbrokcn success, We hav,
become too self.suflicent to feel the ne. Q
slty of redeening and preserving grace, to,
proud to pray to the God that made US
1t behOoves US, then, to humble Ourselve
before the offended Power, to confess ou
national sins, and to pray for clem .ncy ant
forgiveness.
i Now, therefore, in compliance with tn
request, and fully concurring in the view
Of the Senate, do, by this my proclama
ton, designate and set apart Thursday, tn,
Both day Of April, 1868, AS a day Of nation
al humiliation, fasting and prayer. Aud
do hereby request all the people to abstai
on that day from their ordinary secula
pursuits, and to unite, at their several place
of public worship and their respective
homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord
and devoted to the humble discharge of th
religious duties proper to that solemn oc
casion.
, All this being done, in sincerity and truth
let US then rest humbly in the hope, au
thorized by the Divine teachings, that tn
united cry Of the nation will be heard o
high, and answered with blessings, no IL.
than the pardon of our national sins, an
; the restoration Of our own divided and su
iering country to its former happy conditio
Of unity and peace.
In witness whereof. ] have hereunto s,
my hand, nnd caused the seal of the Un
ted States TO bc affixed.
Done at the City of Washington on tn
thirtieth day of March, in the yeu
u ofour Lord one thousand eight hui
J, IL. 8. dred and sixty.thrce, and of th
independence Of the United State
the eighty-seventh.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
BY the President:
u WILLIAM Fl. SEWARD, Sec y of State.