Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-01
RICHARD nENRYsLE'E.
AUTHOR or THE FIRST NATIONAL
rHAxksGrvuxG REsoLuTroN.
An INTERESTING OLD DOCUMENT
pesult of the Action Taken by CON-
wress After the surrender OF but
~.x..-some Of the History of Lee
and Henry Laurens. ..frst
and Henry Laurens'

and Henry L"nre"S' sefrff
The first national Thanksgiving was
observed in I'M during the progress OF
the Revolution, when Henry Laurens, OF
South Carolina, was President OF the
Continental Congress. In September OF
that year. while General Washington
with a small army. was endeavoring TO
impede the progress OF the British ne
was defeated at the battle OF BRANDY
wine. AS the American army approached
philadelphia. Congress reinvcsted Wash
ington with extraordinary powers, ana
resolved TO move 10 Lancaster. the largest
inland town in Pennsylvania. oniy one
days session was held there, when Con
Rrcss moved 10 York. about twenty n"''S
westward across the Susquehannd rVer'
q wide stream. difficult Of navigation
York was then a town Of 800 inhabitants
when Congress assembled there 1t beheid
the chief cities of the Union, except
Charleston and Richmond in the hands
OF the enemy. and the American army
again defeated az Germantown-retreat
ing before a conqucrng foe, toward a
winter encampnent at Valley Forge
twenty miles northwest of Philadelphia.
AT YORK.
Congress. for nine months Of the years
l70-7s held its sessions I'm York, and
while there heard the news Of the sur
render of Burgoyne at Saratoga, adopted
the Articles of Confederation. received
the news from Benjamin Franklin at
Paris of the decision of the French Gov
eminent to aid the Americans I'm their
struggle for freedom. and issued the first
ri. ..1s.,. ton
For one month after Congress first as
sembled in York. John Hancock. Of Mas
sachusetts. who was elected two years
before. served as President of that body.
Upon his resignation and return 10 Bos-
ton Henry Laurens, Of Charleston, was
unanimously chosen his successor.
Soon after hearing Of the decisive VIC
tory at Saratoga where General Gates
captured Burgoyne and his entire army,
the President of Congress appointed
Richard Henry Lee. of Virginia; Samuel
Adams. OF Massachusetts. and General
ROherdea1i. OF Pennsylvania. a committee
10 draft a proclamation Of thanksgiving.
This historic document was written by
that iuustriOus statesman. Richard Henry
Lee. who. a little more than one year
before. had moved in Congress that
these thirteen American colonies are.
and of right ought TO be. free and indie
pendent States" and himself was one Of
the signcrs Of the Declaration of lnde-
pendence He had acquired classical
education. and. before the Revolution had
won distinction as a lawyer In his native
state In 1881 he became President of
Congress His voice was as clear as a
nne-toned bell. and his cultured manners
and impressive eloQuence caused his as
sociates I'm Continental Congress TO listen
TO him with the closest attention. No
other member served on as many com
mittces. or worked more periodically, for
the purpose of passing legislation to as
sist the army and the navy in establish
Ing the independence of the thirteen orig
inal States during the whole period of
the Revolution.
THE PROCLAMATION.
The first proclamation of thanksgiving
from his pen is a model of fine English.
and embodios in IL strong fervOr Of
religious sentiment 1t is herewith given
In full. as prepared by this illustrious
Virgnian. and adopted by Congress:
For inasmuch as II is the indispensable
duty OF all men 10 adore the superintcnd-
ing providence of Almighty God, To ac.
knowledge with gratitude their obliga-
lions for benefits received. and 10 inn
plore such further blessings as they
stand I'm need Of: and IT having pleased
Him in His abundant mercy. not only TO
continue To us the many blessings OF Ills
Common Providence. but also To smile
upon US I'm the prosecution of just ana
necessary war. for the defence and es-
Enlistment of our rights and liberties'
particularly that He has been pleased in
50 great a measure 10 prosper the means
used Tor the support OF our troops and 10
crown our arms with signal success.
fC
legislatures or executives Powers of
these United States To set apart Thurs
day. tho 18th of December next. for sol
emn thanksgiving and praise; that with
one heart and one voice the people 81
this country may express their graceful
reverence and conseCrate themselves to
the service of their divine benefactor,
and that. together with their sincere ac-
Embellishments. they may join In a peni-
tent confession OF their manifold sins,
whereby they had forfeited every favor
and their humble and earnest supplica-
ton may be that II may please God,
through the merits of Jesus Christ. MGR
cfully to forgive and blot them out oil
remembrance; that it may please Him
graciously 10 shower His blessings on the
government of these States, respectively,
and 10 prosper the public council OF the
whole United States; TO inspire our COM
manders both by land and sea, ana an
under them with that wisdom and foru-
tude which may render them III lnstru-
ments under the providence OF Almighty
God TO secure for these United States the
greatest Of all blessings. independence
and peace that ii may please INN 10
prosper the trade and manufactures OF
the people. and the labor OF the husband
man, that our land may yield us IN
crease: 10 take schools and seminarles OF
learning, so necessary for cultiVatihg Tue
principles OF true liberty, virtue ana
piety under His nurturing hand, ana t'
prosper the means of religion Tor me
promotion and enlargement Of that King
dom which consists OF righteousness
peace and Joy In the Holy Ghost.
II IS further recommended that all ser
vile labor and such recreation as at othei
times innocent may be unbecoming the
purpose OF this appointment on so solemn
an occasion.
LETTER TO GOVERNORS.
This historic document was adopted b,
Congress on October Both. On the fol
lowing day Henry Lawrens, as the exc
cutive head of the Confederation, sen
out the following letter 20 each OF tn
governors of the thirteen original States
York in Pennsylvania
November /. III.
sir.-The arms of the United States o
America having been blessed In the pres
ent. campaign with remarkable success
Consness has resolved 10 recommend tina
Thursday, December 18th, next, BE sc
apart 10 be observed by all the inhabi
tants throughout the United States for
general thanksgiving 10 Almighty God
and l here by transmit 10 you the en-
closed extract from the minutes of Con
gress for that purpose. Your Excellenc.