Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-11-24
ITS HISTORY.

The festival, as originally established,
was almost distinctly of a religious char
acter. But this was soon changed. The
occasion, even in early times, was consid-
cred an appropriate one for family re-
unions-a custom which has long pre-
vailed in New England and in other por-
tons of the country. The children of
the household, who have been scattered
here and there by that eminently Ameri-
can spirit of family disintegration, by the
prevalence of which alone has the vast
extent of our territory been SO thoroughly
settled in so short space of time, en-
brace the occasion, in preference 10 all
others of the year, to gather around the
parental table, and there recall in social
converse the joys and SORROWS of by-gone
days. From this custom, more than
from any other, perhaps, the modern
Thanksgiving has derived the somewhat
irreligious character which now distinctly
marks 1t. Fun and frivolty, instead of
devotion and sobriety, are the only as
poets which it assumes to many minds.
To enable each to celebrate the event in q
manner in accordance with their tastes,
places of amusements of all kinds and
characters greet the denizens of the city
with open doors.
From the earliest times of our indepen-
ent national existence Thanksgiving day
has been observed in some way or other
in at least some portion of the country,
1t was, at the very outset, more of ma
tional observance, as the history shows
then came the day for certain sections,
being more thoroughly observed in some
parts than in others, and was appointed
by the Governors of different States in
dependently of each other. 1t has now
again become national holiday, appoint
ed by the President of the United States,
with the concurrence of the Governors.
Thus its true character should always be
preserved. 1t is dlstinctively an Ameri-
can institution, and should be observed
by all Americans in concert.
THE FIRST NATIONAL THANKSGIVING.
The first national Thanksgiving dates
back to the third year of our Revolution
ary war. On Friday, Oct. 81, 1777,
Congress adopted the following resolu-
ton:
ssResolved, That a committee of three
be appointed to prepare recommends
ton to the several States to set apart
day for thanksgiving for the signal sue
cess lately obtained over the enemies OF
the United States" .-
AS Washington was then on his dreary
march to Valley Forge, it might have
been thought that the rebellious colonists
had but little in the way of success for
which they could reasonably be expected
to give thanks. Yet Trenton and Prince
ton had been fought, and the enemy held
at bay, if nothing more; while at Sara
toga, the army of Burgoyne had sur
rendered to a man. And such was the
faith of those heroic men in the right
eous cause which they upheld, that even
such faint glimmers of light were viewed
as heralding the coming dawn. So Sam
uel Adams, r. II. Lee, and Mr.. Rober-
dean were duly appointed on the commit
tee for drafting the document, and by
them Thursday, the 10th day of Decem-
Der following, was recommended to be
set apart "for solemn thanksgiving and
praise"
BY further order of Congress, dupli-
Gates of this Recommendation, signed by