Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1863-10-08
National Thanksgiving and Prayer.
By tie President Of the United States Of
Amerlca.
i PROCLAMATION.

The year drawing towards its close has
been filed with 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 a nature that they cannot
fail to penetrate and soften even the heart
which is habitually insensible to the ever
watchfui Providence Of Almighty God
In the midst of a civil war of unequalled
magnitude and severity, which has some
times seemed to invite and provoke the ag-
gressions Of foreign States, peace has been
preserved with all nations; 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
contracted by the advancing armies and ma
vies of the Union. The needful diversions
OF wealth and strength from the fields of
peaceful industry to the national defence,
have not arrested the pillow, the shuttle, or
the ship. The axe has enlarged the borders
Of our settlements, and the mines, as well OF
iron and coal, as the precious metals, have
yielded even more abundantly that hereto
fore. Population has steadily increased,
| Notwithstanding the waste that has been
made in the camp, the siege and the battle
field; and the country, rejoicing in the CON
sciousness Of augmented strength and vigor,
ispermitted to expecta continuance Of years,
with large increase Of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised, nor hath
any mortal hand worked 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 never
theless remembered mercy. 1t has set med
fit and proper that they should be solemnly
| reverentfy and gratefully acknowledged, as
with one heart and voice by the whole Ameri-
can people.
| do therefore invite my fellow citizens in
every part Of the United States, and also
those who are at sea, and those who are So
journing in foreign lands, to observe and
set apart the
LAST THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER NEXT,
as day of Thanksgiving and prayer to our
bcneficent father who dwelleth in the Heav-
ems, and recommend to them that, while
offering up the expressions of praise Justly
due to Him for such singular dellyerances
and blessings, they do also, with humble
penitence for our national perverseness
and aisobedience, commend to His tender
care all those who have become widows, Or
phans or sufferers in the lamentable civil
strife in which we are uYavoidably engaged,
and fervently implo2e the interpostion Of
the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds Of
the nation, and restores it as soon as may
be consistent with the Divine purposes, to
the full enjoyment Of peace, harmony, tran
guilty and Union.
| In testimony whereof have hereunto
set my hand, and caused the seal Of the
United States to be affixed.
Done at the city Of Washington, this the
third day Of October, in the year Of our
Lord, 1863, and Of the Independence Of the
United States, the oighty-eighth
Signed, A. LINCOLN, President.
VIM II SEWARD, Secretary of State.