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
15 comments:
Things I'm thankful for today.
1. family and friends
2. my good health
3. that I make a good living
4. that I'm not the owner of Au Bon Pain
from wiki:
Thanksgiving in the United States was observed on various dates throughout history. From the time of the Founding Fathers until the time of Lincoln, the date Thanksgiving was observed varied from state to state. The final Thursday in November had become the customary date in most U.S. states by the beginning of the 19th century. Thanksgiving was first celebrated on the same date by all states in 1863 by a presidential proclamation of Abraham Lincoln. Influenced by the campaigning of author Sarah Josepha Hale, who wrote letters to politicians for around 40 years trying to make it an official holiday, Lincoln proclaimed the date to be the final Thursday in November in an attempt to foster a sense of American unity between the Northern and Southern states. Because of the ongoing Civil War and the Confederate States of America's refusal to recognize Lincoln's authority, a nationwide Thanksgiving date was not realized until Reconstruction was completed in the 1870s.
On December 26, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a joint resolution of Congress changing the national Thanksgiving Day from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday. Two years earlier, Roosevelt had used a presidential proclamation to try to achieve this change, reasoning that earlier celebration of the holiday would give the country an economic boost.
Does anyone know if the shunster's cigar emporium is open for the games today. I gotta get out of the house and away from my wife.
Rumpy,
Must you have the anit robot thing on. Half the time no human with 20/20 vision can read those letters and numbers.
I forgot it was on. As soon as the plane lands I will get my laptop and turn it off. Sorry.
Ok i turned it off. We got attacked by bots a week ago so I needed to do it for a bit, but I agree, it sucks.
Just got the go ahead R. Salisbury Steak is a go. Repeat- Salisbury Steak is a go.
Reading your twitter page, why do keep comparing the US to Europe. You're not even European and yet you pretend to act like you are. Is there any European in you? By blood? By birth?
So what if we have Black Friday?
So what if there are those who line up for sales? It doesn't mean we're doomed society and as for people in Europe lining up for the museum and theatre, oh puh-leeze! There maybe a few but the majority of kids in Europe are into music, movies concerts just like any red blooded American teen and they crave the American culture. Even Prince William listens to rap music!!
Say what you what about the USA but I wouldn't want to live any other place in the world.
Land of the free. Home of the brave.
Play ball!
Friends, family, drinks, and good conversation. Hey I got to admit the briefcase drill team was amusing.
~AM~
9:02 pm: I find the spectacle of americans lining up to get into a Walmart- a Walmart of all things-disgusting. This is not about poor people saving money for food. This is about the desire to save, what, five bucks on a thousand dollar TV. And for that these idiots wait three days. It is actually very depressing. i was in London at the theatre recently and saw Hamlet and a young woman, about 16 was behind me on the way out comparing this Hamlet to the others she had seen. And she was sixteen. What percentages of people lining up to save a few bucks on a TV for their bathroom or to get the newest Call of Duty Massacre series video game have seen Hamlet or know anything about any Shakespeare play?
I am just saying this business of frenzied shopping is a sad commentary on our culture. It bothers me.
And as to European blood, Rule Britannia mi amigo, Britannia rules the waves...
I hate you and your sanctimonious crap. I hate your blog. I hate everything you stand for. I will crush you and expose you you phony fake fraud.
It's always nice to hear from mother over the holidays.
Well I love you Rumpole, and I know for a fact how sexy you are.
Rump on my way to see Paul Mooney. Btw I can't stand black friday, neanderthal's fighting to save. $10, it's the American version of the running of the bulls.
AM
Rumpole, I've done the math six ways from Sunday. Cash out, machinery, stake claims, profit per square yard mined, and I have puled the trigger. I am buying six claim stakes for next summer, purchasing the equipment, hiring crews and foremen: I am going into the Alaskan Gold mining business!!! Wish me luck.
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