Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-30

ACOOnhihcnucu 10 DC SET apart TOT Solemn
thanksgiving and, praise
By further order Of Congress, duplicates
OF this recommendation, signed by their
President, were forwarded to the several
States, and to Gems. Washington and Gates,
the latter Of whom at that time held the
chief command in the Southern army.
Henry Laurens, then President of Congress,
in transmitting this recommendation to the
Governors, officially requested them to So
cure the adoption OF such measures as would
cause each State to Join heartily in the cele-
bration.
The observance of the day in the main
army under Washington was particularly
impressive. The Commander-in-chiefh halt
ed his whole column, and requested every
officer and soldier sto attend, with reyer-
ence, the solemnities of the day." The
chaplain Of each brigade conducted relig
ious services, which were fully attended;
and thus the world was presented with a
scene which, for moral grandeur, has but
few counterpaIts in history.
/ THE SECOND NATIONAL THANKSGIVING.
About year subsequent to this event
Congress adopted similar measure, re-
commanding that Wednesday, Dec, 80,
| 177S, be set apart ITO be observed as a
| day of public thanksgiving aud praise, that
| all the people may, with united hearts,
on that day, express a just sense of
Gods unmerited favors, particularly
| that it has pleased Him, in His everything
Providence, to support us in just aRsR ne
eessary war for the defense of our rights and
| liberties, by affording us seasonable sup
plies for our armies, by disposing the heart
Of powerful monarch to enter into an al
lance with us and our cause, by defeating
the counsels and evil designs Of our enc
mics, and giving us victory over their
| troops, and by the continuance Of that
| Union among these States which, by His
blessing, viii be their future strength and
glory"
Congress likewise set apart, as day OF
national thanksgiving, Thursday, Dec. 8,
| 1779. ...--.'---..-
| THANKSGIVING FOR THE FAILURE OF
| ARNoLD's TREASON.
On the 18th of October, 1870, Congress
again recommended that Thursday, the 7th
of December following, be observed as a
! day of Thanksgiving TO Almighty God for
the blessings with which He had crowned
| the nation, "mOre especially" as the reso-
! luton ran, 'in the late interpositiOn of His
| Watchful Providence in rescuing the person
! Of our Commander-in-Chief and the army
| from imminent danger, at a moment when
| treason was ripened for execution"
! THANKSGIVING FOR THE CAPTURE OF
] LORD CORVALLIS AND HIS ARMY.
/ Still recognizing the hand of Providence,
as manifestly interfering in the behalf of the
| cause of independence, Congress again re-
commended as day of Thanksgiving for
| the capture of Lord CORVALLIS and his ar
my, Thursday, the 18th Of December, 1881.
! OTHER REVOLUTIONARY THANKsGIvINGs
At the conclusion of the war Congress
set apart the second Thursday of December,
! 1873, for thanksgiving, on account of the
cessation Of all hostilities by sea and land. y
Thursday, Oct. 10, 1857, was subsequent
| " chosen by committee of the delegates
Of the States then assembled in the Consti-
tutiOnal Convention, for returning thanks
for the general pacifcation which then pre-
vailed throughout the world, and particu-
larry on account of the ''defnitive treaty OF
| peace between the United States of America
| and his Britannia Majesty, whereby finish
! ing touch was put to the great work OF
peace, and the freedom, sovereignty and in
| dependence of these States fully and COM
! pletely established"
I
tiOnal thanksgiving was observed, on the
recommendation of Congress.
! THE FIRST THANKSGIVING BY PREsiDEN-
TIAL PROCLAMATION.
Congress being, hitherto, the supreme ex-
| ecutive, as well 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
was considered by him as an occasion
| which warranted similar observance. He
! therefore set apart Thursday, Feb. 10, l795
as day of Thanksgiving '.for the seasonal
| bic control which had been given to a spirit
of discord, in the suppression of the late in
! suTection."
| THANKSGIVING FOR THE CLOSE OF THE
WAR OF 1872.
| 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
| President Madison, therefore, by request Of
| Congress, set apart the second Thursday in
April, 1915, as a day ofthanksgiving, ''more
| especially for the restoration Of the blessings
! of peace"
SINCE THEN.
| From that date up to the outbreak of the
| late Southern rebellion, We believe there
were no regular thanksgiving days recon-
mended by national authority. The nation,
at times, was called upon to engage in fast
ing and prayer for the ayerting of threat
| ened disasters.
During this interval some of the States,
especially in New England, observed yearly
| Thanksgiving by proclamations in each
particular commonwealth, but the day was
not universally kept until the breaking
out of the late civil war. From that time
| to this the President has continued uninter-
ruptedly to appoint an annual Thanksgiving
which has been cordially seconded by the
| Governors Of the several States.
This, then, is our Thanksgiving Day. II
possesses this year a double significance.
| 1t is both the national and State Thanks
| giving, President Grant having set it apart
| for all the States, and Gov. Brown pro-
| claimed it for Tennessee. FIom the golden
gates of California to the waters Of the
Chesapeake Bay, our people are invited by
| their Chief Executive TO return thanks to
| God for all His mercies and bounties, and
! our Governor invites us to do the same,
Let US do so sincerely and cordially, and in
/ the hope that the next annual Thanksgiving
may find us happy and prosperous as ma,
| ton, as States and as people.
|