Daily national Republican., 1863-04-29
THE NATIONAL FAST
PROCLAIM NATIONS.

By the President Of the United States Of America.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS the Senate of the United States, de-
voutly recognising the supreme Authority and
just Government Of Almighty God in all the affairs
OF men and Of nations, has BY a resolution, re-
quested the President to designate and set apart
day for National prayer and Humiliation:
And whereas II 10 the duty OF nations, as well As
Of men, 10 own their dependence upon the over.
ruling power of God, TO confess their Bins and
transgresslons, in humble sorrow, yet with assured
hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy
and pardon, and to recognise the sublime truth,
announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by
all history, that those nations only arc blessed
whose God is the Lord
And, insomuch as we know that by His divine
law, nations, like individuals, are subjected TO pun.
ishments and Establishments in this world, may We
not justly fear that the awful calamity Of civil war
which now desolates the land, may be but pun
ishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous
sins, to the needfu end of our national reformation
as whole People We have been the recipients
OF the choicest bounties of Heaven We have been
preserved, these many years, in peace and pros
perity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and
power as n0pther nation has ever grown. But we
have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gra-
clous hand which preserved US in peace, and null
tipied and enriched and strengthened us; and we
have vainly imagined in the deCeitfulness of our
hearts, that all these blessings were produced by
some superior wisdom Rud virtue of our own In
texicated with unbroken success, we have become
too selfsufcient to feel the necessity of redeeming
ana preserving grace too proud to pray to the God
1t behoove es us, then, to humble ourselves before
the offended Power to confess our national sins,
and TO pray for clemency and forgiveness.
Now, therefore, in compliance with the request,
and fully concurrng in the views of the Senate, /
apart Thursday the 5otR day Of April 1853 as dsy
OF national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. And
lido hereby request all the People to abstain that
day from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to
unite, at their several places of public worship
and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy
TO the Lord and devoted to the humble discharge
OF the religious duties proper to that solemn ocea
sion.
All this being done in sincerity and truth let us
then rest lumbV in the hone authprfypI by thp
Divine teachings, that the united cry the Nation
Will be heard on high and answered with blessings
no less than the pardon of our national sins, and
restoration Of our now divided and suffering
country to its former happy condition Of unity and
peace.
In witness whereof | have hCreunto set my
hand; and caused the seal Of the United States 10
he affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this thirtieth day
oi March in the year Of our Lord one thou
Fl sand eight hundred and siNty-three, aud ol
ne independencc OF the United states tho
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
WILLIAM II. SEWARD, Secretary Of State
We give below the proclamation of the Gov
ernor of Rhode Island, which is one Of the bcsr
State Proclamations issued in pursuance Of tho
recommendation of the President:
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE
PLANTATIONS.
A Proclamation by The GorrrnOr
The President ofthe United States having Issued
proclamation designating Thursday, April ~
ie6j, as day Of national humiliation, fasting, aGu
prayer, In accordance Herewith, and agrecAbIy tu
usage, William c. COZZens, Governor OF the STATE
Ot Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, de,
hSrohy recommend to my lelow-citizens that the
aiorenamed Thursday, April 30, 1863, be observed
a. day Of public fasting and pray err aud that they
assemble in their respective places Of public gOF.
ship 70 ask the blessing of Almighty God for our
distracted and suffering country, which for two
long years has been the theatre Of the most wicked
rebellion that ever ragged In the history Of ;he
world. Humbly may We suppliCate His power and
aid to suhduc the angry Clemcnts Of STRIFE giving
US the wisdom to act and the strength to resist
these desperate and wicked encrOachments upon
the best Government ever devised by man.
The untold miscriCs Of this wTet Ched war have
peFvAded every household, laid waste our country,
EAcrihced the lives OF our people, carrying distress
ana anguish IN its train besides handing down A
II Will, through long years OF suffering multtuICs
OF mutilNted forms OF noble manhood 10 meet ut M
every a'ep IN the journey Of le-sa al mcInuTAls of
this terrible conflict.
May we not hope that God's good favor may again
smile upon us, COnQueFiug every element Of Cyil
changing the heart Ol the rebel in arms and thus
stop this cruel war. And while upuendi ny ON COhl,
blessings, let us be sure we do Flght-lrt US Save
ourselves from the fatal hrTcBy uI mistakiug Ort
politics for our loyalty, our preudlces or our No II
among the enemies OF our peace are many uf IO,I't
good children now suffering In anguish At thPiruu.
happy, hopeless condition, loyal and devoted n
may be- TO God and our country, so Tar as they are
MAJ we not also ask Gods favor to aid them and
save them from SO much suffering, and rive thgu
hope Id n day Of deliveTAncei
These and all things else that we need in this
DAY OF our sorrow and trouble, may God in mercy
grant us, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and So,
Your.
By the Governor: