The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-24
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING


of the large bookcases, are Kept all the
proeiamations ever issued by the Presl-
dents of the United States. Each proc
lamation Is IN a large brown envelope,
and carefully filed away in series for
each year. Among these proclama-
tons are the ones issued by the Presl-
dents for a day of Thanksgiving for the
people of the United States, The first
II Of this class is dated January !,
1875, and was signed by George Wash
ington and lndorsed by Edward Ran
doIph, his attorney general. The second
n is one by James Madison, and then
the Presidents seem to have forgotten
the day, or the p|roclamations have been
lost, for there Is none until the Lincoln
administration.
The first proclamation started of 'In
the calamitles which atIllct so many of
the nations" but It was changed by AT
torhey-Generai Randolph, and finally
made to read as follows: "When we
review the calamitles which aflict so
many other nations the present condi-
ton OF the United States offers much
matter OF consolation and satisfaction"
This sentence, however, was corrected
several times, but II vas finally allowed
TO stand. Then Mr.. Hamilton, who
originally drew up the document goes
on to say Our exemption hitherto from
foreign war, the increasing prospect OF
the continuance OF that exemption"
Just before the word exemption" was
a word which is entirely erased, but
Attorney General Randolph wrote In q
note on the side rs not this TOO fine a
word here2" Evidently Mr.. Hamilton
thought SO, too, because the word is en-
tirely erased.
Mr. Randolph seems TO have agreed
to the rest OF the proclamation until
he reaches the sentence beginning par
ticularly for the professions OF the con-
stitutions OF the government which
unite and by their union establish lib
erty with order" This sentence he un-
derscores and changes to read: par
ticularly for the enabling them 10 form
constitutions OF government dictated
by their own free will" Then he adds
in a foot note: The constitution OF Viz
ginia and Maryland and the three
southern states never did and never
viii unite liberty with order"
Mr. Hamilton ansWers this note in
one in which he says: 'The truth Is
general enough. II there are any ex-
cepti0Hs to warrant the p~hraseelogy
then by changing It the important SEN
timent Is lost" He then drew his pen
through Mr., Randofph's correction and
the proclamation stood as originally
written, excepting the next sentence
where the word "controul' was insert
ed for the word "check" making the
sentence read FOR the seasonable CON
trout instead OF a "seasonable check"
Going on down the proclamation Mr..
Randolph evidently disiiked the word
"~wantonness" in the sentence ito pre-
serve us from the ~wantonness OF pros
perity and from haZarding the advant-
ages we enjoy by delusive pursuits"
and made II read "the arrogance OF
prosperity" He also changed the
word ~''Jeopardlze" 10 "hazarding'' and
where Mr.. Hamilton had written de
lusive and culpable projections" Ran
dolph made It read "deluslve pursuits"
He adds as a note 'wantonness Is n
word susceptible OF considerable play
on 1t. The adverb is used already at
the beginning of the paper" Further
on Mr.. Hamilton wrote: ITO dispose us
as far as may be 10 merit the continu-
ance OF His favors," but Mr.. Randolph
corrected II to read, ito dispose us to
merit the continuance OF His %favors."
Then the encouragement goes on and
underscores the sentence beginning ito
render THIS country more n more q
safe and propitious asylumfortheunfor
tunate OF other countries" and adds
the following note, which at this time.
Is very apropos, IN account Of the i'm
migration question: THE prosperity OF
the country produces q safer asylum. II
this only be meant the passage seems
unnecessary II It be meant as an in
vltation to foreigners the policy Is too
doubtful. In short, this proclamation
ought to pertain to religion and not too
much to having n political object" Mr..
Hamilton answers this By writing at
the bottom OF the whole draft: THE
proclamation by a government, which
Is a national act, naturally embraces
objects which are political, This Is a
more benevolent sentiment and uniform
with public feeling, which, ~nRdoubted-
" Inviting. wishes n state of things
propitious to those who come"
The draft is indorsed by Mr.. Hamii-
ton in the following words, He began;
"Tha secretary Of the treasury, but
scratched II out and wrote: "Mr. Ham
lIton, pressed this morning with some
urgent business, begs the permission of
the President to walt upon him to-
morrow rather than to-day. as he meme
tons" He then draws q iiRe, and be-
meath IL writes, "I have struck the
pen through as well put part OF the
proposed alterations on the original
draft as | think best complies with the
Views Of both without admitting
changes for the worst.-A. H" Then he
adds Being so near the list OF Janu-
ary, 1895, had Il better then issue?'
The President evidently followed his
advice, because the proclamation Is da-
ted JANUARY |, Philadelphia" and
signed by George Washington in his
bold hand and countersigned by the
President, Ed. Randolph" Mr.. Ran
dolph started TO write "By the Presl-
dent OF the United States" but only
not the word "of" when he took his
finger and rubbed It out, thereby set
ting an example for all proclamatlons,
which are now only signed bV the
President.
The proclamation as revised ana
finally issued, reads as follows:
by the President Of the United
states OF America;
"When we review the cnlamltcs
which nmlct other nations, the present
| condition OF the United States affords
| much matter OF consolation and sutis-
faction. our exemption hitherto from
1or,tr, uyor thp Inrrpnuinp nrngDnpl of
tho continuance OF that exemption, the
great degree OF international tranquil
Nv we have onjoyed, the recent con-
a---L- NJ LunDnDIIAt LIZ Ahn