Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-11-26
Proclamation by the Presider
BY the President Of the United States Of America:
ppnrI

By the President Of the United States Of an,s,,c,
PROCLAMATION.
The year drawing towards its close has been
filed withblessings of fruitful fields and beatbfn1
skies. To these bounties, which are so CONSTANTLY
enjoyed that we prone to forget the sourca
from which they come, others have been added
which are OF SO extraordinary a nature that they
cannot fail to penetrate and soften even tbe hear.
which is habitually insensible to the everxatcbfuI
Providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of uneopal1a5 ,,ogri
tude and severity, which has sometimes seemed n
invite and provoke the aggressions OF foreion
States peace has been preserved with all nations.
order has been maintained; the laws have bean
respected and qbeyed, and harmony has prevailed
Glct, vale that theater has been greatly con-
,raessa by the advancing armies and navies Of the
Union The needful diversions of wealth and
strength from the fields ofpeacefu industry to the
naEasaal dsieace, have not arrested the pillow, the
shassIe. 81 the ship. The axe has enlarged the
borders ef settlements, and the mines, as we'll
Ct iron and coal, az the precious metals, have
yielded even more abundantly than heretofore
Population has steadily increased, notwithstand-
ing the waste that has been made in the camp, the
siege and the battlefield; and the country, re-
joicing in the consciousness of augmented strength
and Vigor, is permitted to expect a continuance of
years, with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any
mortal hand worked out these great things. They
the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who,
while dealing with in anger for our sins hath
nevertheless remembered mercy. 1t has seemed
fl and proper that they should be soIemnly, reve-
rently and gratefully acknowledged as with one
heart and voice by the whole American people.
do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every
part of the United States, and also those who are
at sea, and those who sojourning in foreign
lands, to observe and set apart the
Last Thursday in November next,
As day of Thanksgiving and prayer to our benef-
cent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens, and
recommend to them that, while offering up the ex-
pressions of praise justly due to Him for such sin
gular deiverances and blessings, they do Also with
humble pentence for national perYerseness
and disobedience, commend to His tender all
those who have become widows, orphans or suffer
erS in the lamentable civil strife in which we are
unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the
interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the
wounds of the nation, and restore it as soon as
may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the
tuI enjoyment of peace, harmony tranquility 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, 1868, and
of the Independence of the United States, the
eighty eighth
Signed, A. LINCOLN, President.
WV. II. SEWARD. Sec'Y of State