The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-11-10
A PROCLAMATION.
Thanksgiving for Victory, Peace, and
.t Our Country Saved.
BY Chns Anderson, Gov. Of Ohio

State and Nation. Aud the people OF
Ohio, in accordance with usage OF our
dead fathers, older than the State itself,
have been once again invoked, by joint
resolution OF theil General Assembly, TO
unite in public acknowledgment, as well
of the existence, power and goodness OF
God, as of His interposing hand in all
the work, ways and relations Of men.
And now, upon full consideration Of
all the religious truths connected with
this venerable custom, and with lively
remembrance of all the events OF that past
year, what ought this whole people to feel
and to utter al their family reunions, in
the greetings of friends and neigbbors,
and around the altars Of the Most High?
Can it be possible, ;hat any people ever
before could have had such causes as our.
selves, for thankfulness and praise to God?
II the annual seasons Of the regular
year. and the varying climates Of our
globe, with all their goodly fruits and
health, and other countless com forts and
delights, have ever been and shall always
be, severally and in their due succession,
tttest causes Tor grateful homage to that
benign Heart and 0ounteous Hand from
which they ever flow; what can we feel
and what shall we say, Of our debt of
gratitude for His works and mercies in
this the most mem orable of all the years?
All thnse natural and general blessings
we have fully shared with others. But
agreat nation, desperately imperiled, has
been gradually saved ,and that nation was
is ours! Surely, surely, if ever ma
tion and State, in all history, had more
than fittest and fullest cause to offer up
thanks unto the Lord, for His wondrous
benefits and fotbearsnces,- surely,
are they these OF ours, here and now!-
For, whereas, at our former festivals, we
were at war. we are now in peace; we
were divided, we are one; we were poor
ard weak. we are rich and strong; we
were pitied or despised by all the nations
oi the earth, and are we not envied and
honored among and above them alp
Then slavery, like vast pail Of night
shade, blackened our whole bright sky,
degraded and Gisgraced all our lair land.
Now liberty, like new risen sun, with
healing in bis beams. shines and glows,
under all our heavens. upon our whole
earth, and into every American mind and
heart. Wondrous,h happy glorious change!
We'll may we sing in the words OF tha,
singer after Gods own heart, among His
former chosen people: "Thou hast turned
for me, my mourning into dancing; thou
hast put off my sackclo.h, and girded me
with gladness."
Let US. then, fellow citizens, each and
ali-all and each one of us.-"Give thanks
unto the Lord, for He is good; for His
mercy endureth forever" at is good
thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and
10 sing praises to His name" Nor, let
casuists and doubters deny, as they may
shall these, our songs, be vain thing
for, If we may not by our prayers and
praises bend the Divine Will and Love to
us,surely we can raise ours towards Him
Now, therefore. |, CHARLES ANDERSON,
Governor Of the State OF Ohio, do hereby
appoint the last THURSDAY, being the 3Oth
day OF the present month of November
as day OF general praise and .hanksgiv.
ing 10 that God Of Love who has so loved
and blessed this land and people. Ant
i do furthermore, most respectfully, bu
earnestly request all the people OF this
State who love their country and theil
God, upon thst day TO lay aside all theil
customary cares and vocalions TO gather
their scattered children around the bright,
ened hearths and the cheerful boards Of
their olden family homes; to give thanks
there and in the public temples, to the
Heavenly Father for all His past benefits
and especially for His amazing and glori
GUS works of the past year; to implore .
continuance and increase of them, and
most especially. of that highest and bes
Of all temporal blessings--Peace ant
GOOD Will amongst men; and, finally, ,tha
in the true spirit OF that cheerful, Christ
ian thankfulness to God, and good will
towards men, which is suitable to an oc
casion SO extraordinary, we shall, for our.
selves, strive hencelorth SO to live with
our fellow citizens in Ohio, and SO to fee
towards our fellow citizens and our fol
Iow.men everywhere throughout our nov
redeemed and reunited land, as to prov,
ourselves worthy to be the common citi
zens OF such country, and the common
children OF such God.
In testimony whereof. have hereunt
set my name, and caused the Great Sea
Of the State OF Ohio to be affixed, al Co
lumbus, on this. the Sd day OF Novem
Der, in the year of our Lord, one-ihou
sand eigh: hundred aud sixty.fve, and il
the ninetieth year OF the Independence O
the United States of America.
~. .-- Ti@ CHARLES ANDERSON.
BY the Governor.
WIN. HENRY SMITH. Sec'y of State