Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1938-11-24

november, 1868, as DAY OF NatlOnal
Thanksgiving"
Further back, in a magazine edi-
torial, no doubt written as early as
July, 1868, since it appeared in the
September issue of "Godey's," Mrs.
Hale had said, arguing a national
proclamation as a better and more
effective plan than dependence upon
series of proclamations by indi-
vidual states: would it not be bet
ter that the proclamation that APP
points Thursday, the 26th Of Noven-
Der (1863), as a day of Thanksgiving
for the people of the United States
Of America, should in the first in
stance enaanate from the President
of the Republic-to be applied by the
Governors of each and every State in
acquiescence with the Chief Executive
adviser?"
Fruitful Fields and HealthfuI Skies ;,
On October 3, 1863, just four days
after SECRETARY Stewards answer to
Mrs. Hale's letter, Abraham Lincoln
issued his National THANKSGIVING
Proclamation:
/ "The year that is drawing to close
has been filled with the blessings of
fruitful fields and healthful skies. To
these bounties which are so constant
ly enjoyed that we are prone to for
get the source from which they come
others have been added which are of
so extraordinary nature that they
cannot fail to penetrate and soften
I the heart which is habitually insen-
sible to the ever watchful Providence
! of Almighty God.
I'm the midst of civil war of I'M
equalled magnitude and severity
which has sometimes seemed to, for
eign states to invite and provoke their
aggression, peace has been preserved
with all nations, order has been main
tanned, the laws have been respected
and obeyed, and harmony has prevail
ed everywhere except in the field Of
military conflict; which that theatre
has been greatly contracted by the
advancing armies of the Union.
"Needful diversions of wealth and of
strength from the fields of peaceful
industry to the national defense have
not arrested the pillow, the shuttle, or
the ship; the AK has enlarged the bor-
ders of our settlements, and the
mines, as well of iron and coal as of
the precious metals, have yielded
more abundantly than heretofore
Population has steadily increased,
Notwithstanding the waste that has
been made in the camp, the siege,
and the battlefield, and the country
rejoicing in the consciousness of aug
mented strength and vigor is permit
ted to expect continuance of years
with large increase of freedom.
mo human counsel hath devised,
nor hath any mortal hand worked
out these great things. They are the
gracious gifts of the Most High God,
who, while dealing with us in anger
for our sins, hath nevertheless re-
membered us in mercy.
with Humble Penitance-"
1T has seemed to me fit and pro-
per that they should be solemnly, re-
,verently, and gratefully acknowledged
as with one heart and one voice by
the whole American people. / do,
therefore, invite my fellow citizens in
every part of the United States, and
also those who are at sea or who
are sojourning in foreign lands, to set
apart and observe the last Thursday
OF November next as day of Thanks
giving and praise to our beneficient
Father who dwelleth in the Heavans.
And I recommend to them that while |
offering up the Inscriptions justly due
to Him for such singular deliverance
and blessings, they do also, with hum |
Die penitence for our natural perver-
sences and disobedience, commend to !
His tender care all those who have
become widows ornhans rY10llrnarsI
or sufferers in the lamentable civil |
strife in which we are unavoidably !
engaged, and fervently implore the i
interpretation of the Almighty Hand to |