By the President of the United States, a Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving proclamation of 1863:
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No 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 remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State
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Comments :
Oct '10
Re: By the President of the United States, a Proclamation
A Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!
Dec '10
Re: By the President of the United States, a Proclamation
What is so striking about both Lincoln's Thanksgiving address and Washinton's Thanksgiving address (posted by Mollie) is the tacit assumption of both 18th century America and 19th century America that Gd is of central importance to the well being of this country. Only in the 20th century did hyper-secularism become the norm. The two most significant Presidents who created and sustained the Nation through it's most difficult challenges are emphatic on this point.
Are we missing something?
Jul '10
Re: By the President of the United States, a Proclamation
This was during his sanctioning of the massacre of U.S. citizens, no?
Regardless, the sentiment is understood.
Happy Thanksgiving Peter and all the Ricocheteers.
May '10
Re: By the President of the United States, a Proclamation
I'm not sure. Did not the people you refer to as citizens start a war of rebellion with the intent of creating their own sovereign nation through territory seized by marshal conquest and, is it not the duty of the executive to defend the territory of the nation? Also, I think one would be hard pressed to find any official position of the period that expressly sanction the massacre of non-combantants.
Edited on Nov 24, 2011 at 7:04pmJul '10
Re: By the President of the United States, a Proclamation
Kervinlee
I'm not sure. Did not the people you refer to as citizens start a war of rebellion with the intent of creating their own sovereign nation through territory seized by marshal conquest and, is it not the duty of the executive to defend the territory of the nation? Also, I think one would be hard pressed to find any official position of the period that expressly sanction the massacre of non-combantants.
Spoken like a true [edited] Federalist. You should read about the history of Lincoln. Lincoln waged war against the (what he believed) the citizenry of the United States. Hence, he would have never fomented war at Sumter by fortifying it with troops. [Edited] Lincoln sanctioned Sherman's march to the South, which was rife with rape, pillaging, and massacre of what Lincoln believe to be "citizens of the United States."
[Edited]
Now go read history instead of hagiography.
Lincoln was America's second Dictator besides John Adams.
[Edited]
Editor's note: Nothing at all forbidden about this opinion, but please express it with gentleness and respect.
Edited on Nov 24, 2011 at 10:36pmMay '10
Re: By the President of the United States, a Proclamation
Michael Tee
Kervinlee
Spoken like a true [edited] Federalist. You should read about the history of Lincoln. Lincoln waged war against the (what he believed) the citizenry of the United States. Hence, he would have never fomented war at Sumter by fortifying it with troops. [Edited] Lincoln sanctioned Sherman's march to the South, which was rife with rape, pillaging, and massacre of what Lincoln believe to be "citizens of the United States."
I take it you're not a big fan of Lincoln, Michael. I looked at your link to Walter Williams' piece on DiLorenzo's book and, while I haven't read any hagiographies on Lincoln ( or anyone else, I don't think) I don't think I'll read DiLorenzo in spite of Dr. Williams' endorsement. I'm aware of Dr. Williams' and other's arguments in favor of the south's right to secede from the union, and they may be correct on many points. That said, I'm still glad slavery was ended and the Union preserved in spite of the terrible war and, I don't think saying so makes me a true [edited] Federalist, whatever that is.
Edited on Nov 25, 2011 at 11:43am