The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-04-18
NATIONAL FAST DAY.

By Ms Psesidens Of Ms United States
Of Assr;ea::
WHERRAs, the Senate Of The United
States. devoatly recognising the sa-
preme authority ssd just government
Of Almighty God. 10 oil the affairs Of
men aud Of nations. has. BY resolution.
requested the President 10 desig nate
and set apart . day Tor National prayer
and humiliation;
And whereas. it 10 The duty Of natioss.
% we'll - Of men. 70 own their depen.
denes upon the ovsrruling power Of
God. 70 confess their sins and trans
gressions. in humble sorrow. yet with
assured hope than genuine repentance
will lead 10 mercy and pardon. and to
recognise the sublime truth. announced
in the Holy Scriptures and proven BY
all history. that those nations only are
blessed whose God 10 the Lord:
And. insomuch - We know that. BY
bis divine law. nations. like individuals.
are subjected 10 punishment aud chas-
tiscments 10 this world. may ~ no,
iustiy fear that the awful calamity Of
civil war. which now desolates the land.
may be but . Punishment inflicted upon
10 for our presumptuous sins. TO the
nesdful sod Of our national reformation
q . whole people? We have been the
recipients Of the choicest bouniies Of
heaven. We have bsen preserved these
many years. in psaes and prosperity.
We have grown in numbers. wealth.
aud power - no other nation has ever
grown. But Ne have forgotten God.
We have forgotten the gracious hand
which preserved 40 in peace. and mul-
tiplisd. and enriched. and strengthened
us; and We have vainly imagined. in
the deeei,inlness Of our hssrts. that oil
these bles.;nss we're produced BY some
superior wisdom and virtue Of our own.
Intoxicated With unbroken success, ws
have become too sslf-su6icisnt 70 feel
the necessity Of rsdssming aud prsssrv-
isg grace. too prend 10 pray to the God
that made 10
It bshooves rs, then. 10 humble our.
selves before the offended Power. to
confess our national sins. asd 70 pray
for clemsncy and forgiveness.
Now. therefore. in compliance With
the request. and fully concarring 10 the
views Of the Senate. I do. BY this nv
proclamation. designate and set apar.
Thursday. the SOth day Of April. 1868.
- . day Of national humiliation, fast
isg sad prayer. And l do hereby re-.
quest oil the people 10 abstain on 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 dis.
charge Of the religious duties proper 10
that solemn occasion.
All this being done. in sincerity and
truth. let us then rest humbly iu the
hope. authorised BY the Divine teach.
ings. thet the united cry Of the nation
will b heard on high. aud auswsrsd
with blsssine.. no less than the pardon
o. our national sins. and the restoration
u our now divided and suffering coun.
try to it, former happy condition Of
unity and peace.
In witness whereof. ! have hersunto
sst ny hand. aud caused the zeal Of ths
Unitsd States to be affixed.
Doae q the City Of Washington on this
thirtisth day Of March. in the yssr
Of Our Lord ono thousand eight hun
dred and sixty-shrse. and Of the in
dspsndencs Of The United States the
sighty-ssventh.
Sigued.) ABRAsAx LINcoLn.
By the President
VIZ. H. SEwARD. Ssesetssy Of Ntats.