The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-28

a day OF Thanksgiving for the capture of Lord 4
CORVALLIS and his army, Thursday, the lsth
i2 December, 1871; and for the Cessation of all
hostilities BY sea and land" the second Thurs
day of December, 1883.
Thursday October 10, 1887, was subsequent -
set apart by committee of the delegates ~
States then assembled in the Cons .,,sos'si
Convention for returning thanks 49, -
raj paci6cation which then pre- ,.,,os .N.te,,.S.
out the world. and particu' sr,v ~, ocoo,vt os
Of the "deGnitive trea' - of neorp hotweon
the United States of america and his Rr,,onnic
Majesty, whereby 6nishing touch was put to
the great Wors. OF peace, and the freedom, sove-
re'gnty' ana Independence of these States fully
and completely established"
On Thursday, November 26, 1889, another
nationa Thanksgiving was observed, on the re.
COMMUNICATION of Congress.
The First Thanksgi wing by Presid entail
Proclamation, February 40, 1895.
Congress being, hitherto. the supreme execu-
tive, as we'll as the supreme legislative branch
Of the Government, It had fallen within its
sphere to establish the national Thanksgiving.
But, during the Presidency of Washington, the
suppression of the Whisky Rebellion in Western
Pennsylvania WIS considered by him as an
occasion which warranted similar observance.
He etherefore set apart Thursday, February 10,
1895, as a day of Thanksgiving "for the season
able control which had been given to spirit of
discord, in the suppression of the late insurrec.
ton"
Thanksgiving for the Close of the War
of 1612.
The close of the second war with Great
Britain was also. recognized by the national
authorities as an appropriate occasion for the
return of thanks by the entire nation. Presi
| dent Madison, therefore, by request of Con-
| gress, set apart the second Thursday IN April,
1916, as a day of Thanksgiving, ''more especially
foI the restoration of the blessings of peace"
From that date up to the outbreak of the late
| Southern Rebellion, we believe there were no
regular Thanksgiving days recommended by
national authority, although the nation, at
| times, was called upon to engage in fasting and
prayer for the aVerting OF threatened disasters.
National Thanksg wings During the
| Great Rebellion.
But if ever the American people had reason
| to be truly thankful for the nterposition of
Providence in their national affairs it was
surely for the glorious victories which our
armies achieved from time to time over the
| forces of slavery and secession. Mr.. Lincoln
clearly recognized this fact, and as soon as the
loyal troops had obtained substantial success,
| he issued his proclamation for this purpose. 1t
bore the date OF April TO- 1862, and appointed
| the Sunday following its receipt as a day OF
| thank sgiving for the victories of Mill Spring,
| Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, and Pea
| Ridge. The remembrance OF these events is
| still fresh in the mind of every loyal man, and
| it needs no word of ours TO recall the heart
felt gratitude with which the loyal nation
then bowed in PRAYER and thanks.
| Mr.. Lincoln's next proclamation of this char
acter fixed Thursday, the 9th OF August, 1858, as
'day for national thanksgiving, praise, and
| prayer" for the signal victories of Gettysburg
and Vicksburg, achieved on the previous ami
| versary OF our national independence.
| Thursday, November %, 1864, the next national
festival OF tue kind, was an occasion of mingled
fasting and prayer, as well as OF Thanksgiving;
as the President then requested the people to
''ofrer up penitent and fervent prayers and sup
plications to the Great Disposer of Events, for
return of the inestimable blessings of peace,
union, and harmony throughout the land, which
it has pleased Him to assign as dwelling place
| for ourselves, and for our posterity throughout
| all generations"
| President JOhnsOn's First PROCLAIM alton
OF Thanksgiving.
The custom thus inaugurated by his predeces-
sor, has happily been followed by Mr.. johnson
| since his accession to the Presidential chair.
In his proclamation setting apart Thursday, the
7th of December of last year, as day OF national
| Thanksgiving, he enumerated the folio wing as
among the blessings for which the nation should
be truly thankful to an all-merciful God:-
at has pleased Almighty God during the
| year which is now coming to an end, to relieve
| our beloved country from the fearful scourge of
civil war, and to permit us to secure the bless
| ings of peace, unity, and harmony, with a great
enlargement OF civil liberty.
| "Our Heavenly Father has also, during the
| year, graciously averted from us the calamity OF
foreign war, pestilence, and famine, while our
gIanaries are full of the fruits of an abundant
| season.
And as crowning argument for the obser-
vance of this time.honored custom, he recalled
the maxim that righteousness exalteth ma.
ton, while sin is a reproach 10 any people,"
| sThanksgIving-Day I'm the Future.
As general thing, the Governors of the re-
spectiye States have appropriately responded to
the call made by the national Executive, by
fixing the State festival upon the same day
appointed by the President This custom ha:
been varied from only in those New England
States in which the occasion is fixed by express
legislation upon different day.
This custom of a National Thanksgiving haY
ing now become firmly established by several
successive precedents, 1t is to be hoped that il
will never be permitted to fall into disuse
through the neglect of an incumbent of the
Presidential chair. 1t is eminently fitting that
this nation, in whose history the hand OF God
has been shown 80 plainly and so repeatedly,
should once year as united people acknow-
IL nj