National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-28
THANKSGIVING DAY.


1t was 10 the early summer of 1882 that Cover
nor Winthrop, of the Colony of Massachusetts,
Bay, made the first public proclamation for day
Of Thanksgiving. In letter to Governor Brad
ford, Of Plymouth Colony, he related the good
news just received from England, as the occasion
for observing such day, and invited the neigh
boring colony to unite with the people under his
own jurisdiction in the celebration of 1t. As the
good news related as much to the Plymouth peo-
pie as to the people Of Boston, and as Winthrop's
words, 81 doubt not but you Will consider II ID be
not fit for you to loin in Il" express confidence in
the action Of Plymouth, 1t may be presumed, al
though we can find no distinct record of the fact,
that the day was observed in common by the two
colonies. At any rate, the Boston people kept
the day on the 10th of June 1882, we learn from
the journal of Winthrop. Thus the example of q
sSE a5 ha9 bgg wd mrs. SET tie @as
wealths of our Union, and at last by the nation
itself.
It is worth noticing that the occasion Of this
original day of Thanksgiving was political
rather than prOvidentiAl. 1t was the action Of
the Priyy Council Of Charles l., taken on the
10Th of January Of that year, upon petition ex-
hibited by Sir Christopher Gardiner, Sir Ferdi-
dinandO GOrges, Captain Mason and others,
charging distraction and disorder in the plan
tations. The. PriVy Council, taking these
charges into consideration, and sending for per-
sons in London interested In New Eng
land, and learning from them that men, victU ais
and merchandise were about to be dispatched
thitheT, that great dlscouragement would follow
the adverse action of the Council, and that the
clare, that the adventures had cause to 90 on
checrfully with their undertakings, and night
rest assured if things carried on as wa pre-
tended when the patents were granted, and &C
cOrdingly as by the patents 1t sis appointed, his
Majesty would not only maintain the liberties
and privileges heretofore granted, but supply
anything further that might tend to the good
government, prosperity and comfort of his
people then of that place.
The minutes Of the Privy Council, from which
we have quoted, when they were received by due
course OF mail in: New England, caused Winthrop
tOwrito TO Bradford: The passages are admira-
Bile and too long to write. heartily wish for an
opportunity to impart them unto you, being
many sheets Of paper; but the conclusion was,
a-G INST all mems expectation, an order for our
Encouragement, and much blame and disgrace
upon the adVeTSaries, which calls for much thank
fUlneEs from US all, which we propose, God will
ing, to express in a day of Thanksgiving to our
merciful God" The first day of Thanksgiving,
accordingly. was appointed TO acknowledge pO-
Itcal blessing; which may serve, perhaps, in
part, TO account for the tone OF these occasions
ever since, rather for the tone Of the procama-
items by which they are announced and of the
sermons by which they are usually accompanied.
Political blessings as well as the blessings Of
fruitful season, and exemption from Pr0vidential
evils, have always been the staple Of ThanksgiY-
ing prOclamations and discOurses.