The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-04-10
By the President Of the United States Of
America. .v
~ A PROCLAMATION.

The Senate of the United States,
devoutly recognized the Supreme Authority and
just Government of Almighty God, in all the
affairs of men and nations, has by aresolution,
requested tho President to designate and set a.
part day of National prayer and humitia-
tion. gssa "a 81 l10Iaaata5 .es bas--v.-
9 And whereas, 1t is the duty Of nations as well
as of men, to own their dependence upon the
overruling power of God, to confess their sins
and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with
assured hope that genuine repentance will lead
~ mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sub.
lime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures
and proven by all history, that those nations
only are blessed whose God is the Lord. rl
And, insomuch as.we know that, by His di-
vine law, nations, like individuals, are subject to
punishments and chastisements in this world,
not iustl. s--- .i,st the a.sf,t .nin n,itu
of civil war, which now desolates the land, may
be but punishment inflicted upon US for our
presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our
national reformation as whole peoplef We
have grown in numbers, wealth and power as
no other nation has ever grown. But we have
forgotten God. Wehave forgotten the gracious
hand which preserved US in peace, and multi
piled and strengthened us; and we have vainly
imagined, in the deceitfuness Of our hearts,
that all these blessings were produced by some
superior wisdom Or virtue Of our own. IntOxi-
Gated with unbroken success we have become
too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeem
ing and preserving grace, too proud to pray to
the God that made US! ,.t5 .... a., ,.,.., ~.
1t behooves us, then, to humble ourselves be-
fore the offended power, to confess our nation-
al sins, and to pray for clemency and forgive
Now, therefore, in compliance with the request
and fully concurring in the views of the Sen
ate, 1 do, by this my proclamation, designate
and set apart Thursday, the Both 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 ordi-
nary secular pursuits, and to unite at their
several places of public worship and their re-
pectiye homes, in keeping the day holy to the
Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge ol
the religious duties proper to that solemn occa.
sion. .te yI-,f..a tf..t. 9e ..7.+.s.5, .4.
All this being done, in sincerity ndtruth, lei
us then rest humbly in the hope, authorized by
the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the
nation will be heard on high, and answered
with blessings, no less than the pardon of oul
mai ional sins, and restoration of our now divi
d.,d and suffering country to its former happy
condition of unity and peace. a,t,, is,s
In witness whereof, have hcreunto set MY
hano,, and caused the seal of the United States
to DO satf1xed. 1auf , t.vena afTasf, 7, ses..-
Done .rt the city Of Washington this Thrift
lsai eth day Of March, in the year Of our
- !, Lord one thousand eight hundred and
! :. o. sixty-three,o and of the Independence
ii ~ Of the United States the sighty-sev.
us s,sntk,u asl ~ ..slL -.
rai ssa b Naa i ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
by the Presi6 cnt: asa.I q ao htargssss
WIILIAM n, SEWARD, Secretary Of State.