Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-04-06
NATIONAL FAST DAY.
Proclamation by the President.

WHEREAS, The Senate Of the United
States, ieyoutly recognizing the supreme
authority and just government OF Al.
mighty God in all the aifairs OF men and
nations, has, by resolution, requested
the President to designate and set apart /
day for national prayer and hum'li.''oh'
Ind Whereas, 1t Is the duty OF ma
tons, as well as Of men, to owe Their de-
incidence upon the overriding power OF I
God, to confess their sins and trsnsgres'.
ions. IN humble sorrow, yet with assured
hopc that gem ne repentance Will lead
10 mercy aud pardon, and 10 recognize
the sublime Truth, announced IN the
HOLY Sculptures and proven by all his
tory. that those nations only are blessed
whose God is the Lord
Aud, insomuch as W. know that, by
His DIVINE law, nations, like indvldaas,
are subjected TO punishments and chas-
t,semen,s in this word, may we not
Justly fear that tie awful calamity oil eiVli
war. which now desolates the land, may
be but punishment inflicted upon us
Tor our piesump,nons sins TO the neediai
end Of our ma lonal reformation rs
whole people We have been the re-
cioients o. the choicest bountles OF heav-
en-. We have teen preserved, these
many yeats, In peace and prosperity -
+, We have grown III numbers, wealth ana
power as no other nation las ever grown
! Bat We have foig )tten God. We nave
,ote.tten the gracious hand which pre-
served II. in peace, and multiplied aud
enriched AMI strengthened IS ; aud we
have vain!y inagiusd. In the decei'fu-
ness OF our beats, that al these blessings
were produced hy some superior wisdom
and virtues of our own. Intoxicated
with unbr ken success, We have become
too 9. /. sufficient 10 .eel tho necessity 81
redee ug and preserving grace, too
proud to prey 10 the God that male US
Ii brhooves US, then, 10 humble our
selves BET re ,ha funded po~er, 10 con
tss our nalior Al sins, and 10 pray ioi
clemency aud forgiveness.
} Nov, II erefore, II en- ancc with the
, request, and fully corcufring in the views
f, OF Tie Senate, DO, hy this, my procla
4 nation, designate ana ttl Apatt ihuih
day, tic 3O,h day OF April, sG3, "a
d.y OF nat oual humiliation and prate
: Aud do hereby request ali the cope
TO abstain on that day rom their tecula
!. pursuits, and /, unite. At Their setera
places Of public worship and their re
sleelse homes, III keeping the day hol,
ID the Lord, aud devoted 10 the humtl
y i -charge Il the religious duties pfope
e TO that solcmn occasion.
d. AL this being doae, in sincerity an
truth, ict us then rest humlly III III
hore, aQthor z.d by the Divine teaef
J .Gl-, ,Aat ;he united cry Of the nsto
II va IT, heard on high, and sns~ere
:, wilh blessings, no less than tho pardo
~ oi our matt luai SINS, and restoration
onr now divided aud suffering countr
" To lis former happy coudiIion OF ua'i
'c aud peace.
81 Ia wi ness whereo', have hereun
i Sc, my hand, and caus d the seal u Il
e. United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington tt
, tlrtleth day of Mach, IN tae year OF o
81 Lord, one thousand eight hundred Al
l. A1t, three, aud OF the Independence
L the UuiIed states the ighty.seventh.
ABRAHAM Lincoln.
By the President
y MN ii. SEwAWp, Secretary OF Stat