Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-10-22
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING.
A PROCLAMATION,
7 the President Of The United Sta4tes Of America.

A PROCLAMATION.
The year that is drawing to a close
has been filled with fruitful blessings
of fields and healthful skies. To these
bounties which arc SO constantly en-
,ioyed that we are prone to forget the
source from which they come, others
have been added which are of SO ex-
traordiHary a nature that they cannot
fail to penetrate and soften even the
heart which is habitually insensiblc
to the ever watchful Providence of
Almighty God. In the midst of civ
il war of unequalled magnitude and
severity, which has sometimes seemed
to invite and provoke the aggressions
OF foreign States, peace has been pre-
served 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 con-
tracted by the advancing armies and
Favies of the Union.
The needfnl diversion of the wealth
and strength from the fields Of peace
ful industry to the National defence,
have not arrested the plow, the shut
tie. 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 abundantiy than heretofore
Population has steadily increased, not
wlthstanding the waste that has been
made in the camp. the siege. and the
battlefield, and the country, rejoicing
10 the consciousness of augmented
strength and vigor, is permitted to ex-
pect continuance of years with large
increase of freedom. No human cause
hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand
worked out these great things-they
are the gracious gifts of that Most
High God, who, while dealing with us
in anger for our sins, hath neycrthe
less remembered us in mercy. 1t has
seemed fit and proper that they shonld
be solemnly, reverently and gratefully
acknowledged as with one heart and
voice by the whole american people.
l do. therefore, invite my fellow cit
izens, in every part of the United
States, and also those who are at sea
aud those who are sojourning in for
eign lands, to observe and set apart
the last Thursday of November next
as a day of Thanksgiving and Prayer
to our Beneficent Father. who dwell
eth in the Heavens and Irecomment
to them, that while offering up the as
piration justly due to Him for sucl
singular deliverances and blessings
they do, a>so, with humble penitenc.
for our national perversencss and dis
obedience, commend to his tender car,
all those who have become widows
orphans or sufferers in the lamentabl,
strife in which we are unavoidably en-
gagged, and fervently implore the in
terposition of the Almighty Hand +
heal the wounds of the nation, and t
restore it as soon as it may be consis,
cnt with the Divine purposes to TIL
full enjoyment of peace, harmony
tranquility and union.
In testimony whereof, I hav
EN hereunto set my hand an
l1N caused the seal of the Unite
, States to be affixed.
9 Done at the city Of Washington
this, the third day of October, i
the year of our Lord 1868, and {
the Independence Of the Unite
States the cighty-eighth.
: .s. A. LINCOLN.
Q By the President; 5s
WV. Ii. SEWARD, Sec. Of State.