Proclamation By The President

It has pleased Almighty God to hearken to tho supplications and pray ers of an afflieted people, and to vouch safe to tho army and navy of the TJni ted States on the land and on the sua victories so siglal and so eflective as t furnish reasonable ground for augtnen ted confidenco thatthe Union of these States vvill be maintained, their conetitution preserved, and their peace and prospority permanen'ly preserved ; but these victories have been accorded not without sacrifico of liie, limb, health and liberty, incurred by brave and pat riotic and oyal citizens. Domestic affliction in every part of tho country folio ws in the.train of these fearfui bereavements. It is meet and right to recognize and confesa the presence of the Almighty Father, and the power of His hand equally in these triumphs and these sorrows. Now, thorelore, be it known, that I do set apart Thursday the sixth day of August next, to be observed as a day of naüonal thansksgiving, praise, and prayer, and I invito the people of the United States to assemble on that occasion in their customary places of worehip, and in the form3 approved by their own conscience, render the homage duo tothe Divine Majestv for the wonclerfu! tbings He has done in the nation's hehaW, and invoke the influonce of His holy spirit to subdue the aoger whioh has produced and so long sustained aneedlessand cruel rebellion; to change the hearts of the insurgents ; to guide the counsels of the governrcent with wiadora adequaie to so great a national emergency; and to visit with tender care and "consolatioa thro'out the longth and breadth of the land, all those who, through tho vicissitudes of marches, voyages, baltlés and sieges, have been brought to sulfer in mind, body, or estáte, and finally to lead the whola nation through paths of repentance, and submission to the Divino will, to the perfect enjoyment of uaion and fraternul peace. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seul of the United States to be afflxed. Done at tho city of Washington, tbie fifteenth duy of July, in tho year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and eixty-threo, and ot the independenoe of the United States of America the eiffhtv-eia-hth.