City of New York, October 3, 1789
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence 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
Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the
People of the United States a day of
public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with
grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by
affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of
government for their safety and happiness."
Now therefore I do
recommend and assign Thursday the 26th 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 Nation, for the
signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his
providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the
late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which
we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner in which we
have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our
safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately
instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are
blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful
knowledge and in general for all the great and various favors which he
hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then
unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great
Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and
other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private
stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and
punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the
People, by constantly being a government of wise, just and
constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to
protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have
shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace,
and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and
virtue, and the encrease of science among them and Us, and generally to
grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone
knows to be best.
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