The border vidette., 1931-11-28
WASHINGTON ISSUED THE FIRST
THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION

WASHINGTON ISSUED The FIRST
THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION
The custom of.the President of
the United States issuing annual.
ly a Thanksgiving Proclamation
can be traced back to the time
when George Washington was at
the helm of the nations affairs.
On November 26, (the same day
on which Thanksgiving falls this
year, 1889, President Washing
ton proclaimed for the first time
a national day Of thanksgiving,
hereby setting precedent for
all future Presidents.
Celebration of Thanksgiving
Day in America. we are inform
ed by the United States George
Washington B!centennial Com.
mission, can be traced back to
the earliest Gays of the Mas
sachusetts Bay Colony. From
there the custom spread to all
parts of the United States.
Washington's first q a ii o n |
Thanksgiving Proclamation met
with some objections. When
Elias Boudinot, on September IS,
1889, introduced a resolution in
the House of Representative
THAT q joint committee of both
Houses be directed to wait upon
the President of the United
States, to request that he would
rpcomend to the peoplo of the
United States a day of public
Thanksgiving and prayer, to be
observed by acknowledging and
grateful hearts, the many signal
favors of Almighty God especial
ly by affording them an oportun
ity to establish q Constitution of
government for their safety and
happiness" it met with protest
from some of the members.
Representative Thomas Tudor
Tucker. of South Carolina. argued
that it was not the business of
Congress to ask for national
day of thanksgiving.
Representative Aedanus Burke
| of the same state, thought we
should not mimic Europe where
they made mere mockery
Of thanksgiving"
The objections were soon over
ruled and joint committee, made
up of Senators Ralph lizard of
South Caroline and William S..
Johnson of Connecticut, and Rs
representatives. Elias Boudinot of
New Jersey. Roger Sherman of
Connecticut. and Peter Sylvest
er of New York, waited on the
President with it's request.
President Washington compli
ed and issued bis proclamation
on October 8, 1889, calling for q
national day of Thanksgiving Oh
November 26.
The original proclamation of
Thanksgiving read as follows:
by the President of the Unit
ed States of America.
Whereas it is the duty of all
nations to acknowledge the provid.
ence of Almighty God, to obey
his will, to be grateful for his
benefits, and humbly to implore
his protection and favor and
Whereas both Houses of Con
gress have by their joint com
mittee requested me to recomend
to the People of the United
States a day of thanksgiving and
prayer. to be observed by ack
nowIedging with grateful hearts
the many signal favors of AL,
mighty God especially by afford
log them an opportunity to esta
blish form of government for
their safety and happiness.
Now, therefore. I do recon
mend and assign Thursday. the
26she day of November next, to
be devoted by the People of
these States to the service of
that great and glorious Being
who is the beneficent Author of
all the good that was, that is. or
that will be-That we may then
all unite in rendering unto him
our sincere and humble thanks
for his kind care and protection
of the People of this country
previous to their becoming a Ma
tion-for the signal and manifold
mercies and the favorable inter
positions of his providence, which
we experienced in the course
and conclusion of the late war
for the great degree of tranquil
ity, union. and plenty. which we
have since enjoy editor the peace
able and rational manner in