The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-13
Official.
RY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
A Proclamation.


Whereas the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, at their last session, adopted con-
current resolution, which was approved on
the second day of July instant, and which was
in the words following, namely:
That the President of the United States be
requested TO appoints day for humiliation and
prayer by the people OF the United States
that he request his constitutional advisers at
the head lof the Executive Departments to
unite with him as Chief Magistrate of the ma
tioD, at the city OF Washington, and the men,
bers OF Congress, and all magistrates, all civil,
military, and naval officers, all soldiers, Sailors
and marines, with all loyal aud law abiding
people, TO convene at their usual places OF
worship, or wherever they may be, to confess
and to repent of their manifold sins; to i'm
plore the compassion aud forgvness of the
Almighty, that, ii consistent with His will,
the existing rebellion may be speedily sup
dressed, and the supremacy of the Constitu-
tion and laws OF the United Stats may be es-
tablished throughout all the States: to implore
Him, as the Supreme Ruler OF the world, not
to destroy us as q people, nor suffer us TO be
destroyed by the Hostility or connivance of
other nations, or by obstinate adhesion TO our
own counsels. which may be in conflict with
HIS eternal purposes, and TO implore Him to
enlighten the mind of the nation to know and
do His will, humbly believing that it is in ac-
cordance with His will that our place should
be maintained as united people among the
family of nations; to implore Him to grant to
our armed defenders aud the masses of the
people that courage, power of resistance, and
endurance necessary to secure that result; to
implore Him in HIS infnite goodness TO soften
the hearts, enlighten the minds, and quicken
the conscences of those in rebellion, that
they may lay down their arms, and speedily
return TO their allegiance TO the United States.
that they may not be utterly destroyed, that
the diffusion of blood may be stayed, and unity
aud faternity may be restored, and peace es-
tablished throughout all our borders.
Now, therefore,, |, Abraham Lincoln, Presi-
dent ofthe United States cordially concurring
with the Congress of the United States in
the pentential sentiments expressed in the
aforesaid resolution, and heartily approving OF
the devotional design and purpose thereof, do
hereby appoint the first Thursday of August
next TO be observed by the people of the
United States as day of national humilia-
tion aud prayer
do hereby further invite aud request the
heads OF the Executive Departments of this
Government, together with all legislators, all
judges, and magistrates, and other persons ex-
erclsing authority in the land whether civil,
military, or naval, and all soldiers, seamen,
and marines in the national service. aud all
the other loyal and law-abiding people of the
United States, to assemble in their preferred
places of public worship on that day, and
there TO render to the Almighty and Merciful
Ruler OF the Universe such homage and such
confessions, and to offer to Him such suppli-
cations as the Congress OF the United States
have, in their aforesaid resolution, SO solemn
ly, so earnestly, and SO reyerently recon-
mended.
In testimony whereof have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal OF the United
States to be affixed
Done at the city OF Washington this seventh
day Of July, in the year of our Lord
lis. one thousand eight hundred and six
ty-four, and of the Independence of
the United States the eighty-ninth
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
BY the President: WILLIAM Ii. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.