Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-10-08
National Thanksgiving Day.
A PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT Oh
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

The year that is drawing toward its
close has been filled with the blessings of
fruitful fields and healthful skies. To
these bountles, 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 the heart which is habitually in
sensible to the ever-watchful providence of
Almighty God.
In the midst of civil war of unequaled
magnitude and severity, which has some
times seemed to invite and provoke the
aggressions of foreign states, peace has
been preserved with all nations, order has
been maintained, the laws have been re-
spected and obeyed, and harmony has
prevailed everywhere, except in the the
atre of military conflict; while that the
atre has been greatly contracted by
the advancing armies and navies of the
| Union.
The needful diversions of wealth and
strength from the fields of peaceful indus
try to the national defence have not ar
rested the pillow, the shuttle or the ship.
| The ak has enlarged the borders of our
settlements, and the mines, as well of iron
and coal as of the precious metals, have
yielded even more abundantly than here
tofore, Population has steadily increased,
! notwithstanding the waste that has been
made in the camp, the siege and the bat
tie field, and the country rejoicing in the
consciousness of augmented strength
and vigor is permitted to expect contlnu-
ance of years with large increase Of free
dom.
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 seemed to me fit and prop r that
they should be solemnly, reverently, 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 are So
journing in foreign lands, to set apart and
observe the last Thursday of November
next as a Day of Thanksgiving and
Prayer 10 our beneficent Father who
dwelleth in the heavens. And | recon
mend to them that, while offering up the
descriptions justly due to him for such sin
gular delverances and blessings, they dc
also, with humble penitence for our ma
tional perverseness and disobedience, com
mend to His tender care all those who
have become widows, orphans, mourners
or sufferers, in the lamentable civil STRIFE
in which we are unavoidably engaged land
ferventy implore the interpostion of the
Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the
nation and to restore 1t, as soon as may
be consistent with the Divine purposes, t.
the full enjoyment of peace, harmony
tranquility and union. $685..
In testimony whereof | have hereunt
set my hand and caused the seal of thu
United States to be affixed. rs
Done at the City of Washington thi
third day of October in the year of GU
Lord one thousand eight hundred and six
|. ty-three, and of the independence of tn
United States the eighty eighth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President,
, WILLIAM III. SEWARD,
f Secretary of State.