Hanson, John (1715-1783) Thanksgiving proclamation [with J. Trumbull printed note]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06420.02 Author/Creator: Hanson, John (1715-1783) Place Written: New London, Connecticut Type: Broadside Date: 1782/04/10 Pagination: 1 p. 33.3 x 21.5 cm Order a Copy
"The United States in Congress assembled... call upon the several states, to set apart the last Thursday in April next, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer." Printed by Timothy Green. This proclamation includes a printed note of Jonathan Trumbull (unlike 6420.01) Trumbull's proclamation states: "All servile labour is forbidden on said day."
[Draft Created by Crowdsourcing]
PROCLAMATION.
The Goodness of the Supreme Being to all his rational Creatures, demands their Ac-knowledgements of Gratitude and Love; his absolute Government of the World dictates, that it is the Interest of every Nation and People ardently to supplicate his Favour and implore his protection.
When the Lust of Dominion or lawless Ambition excites arbitrary Power to invade the Rights, or endeavour to wrest from a People their sacred and invaluable Privileges, and com-pels them, in Defense of the same, to encounter all the Horrors and Calamities of a bloody and vindictive War ; then is that People loudly called upon to fly unto that God for Protection, who hears the Cries of the distressed, and will not turn a deaf Ear to the Supplication of the oppressed.
Great-Britain, hitherto, left to infatuated Councils, and to pursue Measures repugnant to her own Interest and distressing to this Country, still persists in the Design of subjugating these United States ; which will compel us into another active and perhaps bloody Campaign.
The United States in Congress assembled, therefore, taking into Consideration our present Situation, our multiplied Transgressions of the holy Laws of out God, and his past Acts of Kind-ness and Goodness towards us, which we ought to record with the liveliest Gratitude, think it their indispensible Duty to call upon the several States, to set apart the last Thursday in April next, as a Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer ; that out joint Supplications may then ascend to the Throne of the Ruler of the Universe, beseeching him to diffuse a Spirit of uni-versal Reformation among all Ranks and Degrees of our Citizens, and make us holy, that so we ba an happy People ; that it would please him to impart Wisdom, Integrity, and Unanimity to our Counsellors ; to bless and prosper the Reign of our illstrious Ally, and five Success to his Arms employed in the Defense of the Rights of human Nature ; that he would smile upon our military Arrangements by Land and Sea; administer Comfort and Consolation to our Prisoners in a cruel Captivity ; protect the Health and Life of our Commander in Chief ; grant us Victory over out Enemies ; establish Peace in all our Borders, and give Happiness to all our Inhabitants ; that he would prosper the Labour of the Husbandman, making the Earth yield its encrease in Abundance, and give a proper Season for the ingathering of the Fruits thereof ; that he would grant Success to all engaged in lawful Trade and Commerce, and take under his Guardianship all Schools and Seminaries of Learning, and make them Nurseries of Virtue and Piety ; that he would incline the Hearts of all Men to Peace, and fill them with universal Charity and Benevolence, and that the Religion of our Divine Redeemer, with all its benign Influences, may cover the Earth as the Waters cover the Seas.
DONE by the United States in Congress assembled, this nineteenth Day of March, in the Year of Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and eighty two, and in the sixth Year of our Independence. JOHN HANSON, President. Attest. CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'ry
By His EXCELLENCY,
JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Esquire,
Governor, and Commander in Chief in and over the State
of Connecticut, in America.
PROCLAMATION.
ON Consideration of, and in chearful compliance with the foregoing Call of Con-gress on all United States,
I HAVE thought fit, by and with Advice of Council, to appoint, and do here-by appoint, the last Thursday of April Instant, as Day of Fasting, Humi-liation and Prayer ; requirnig and exhorting all Orders and Denominations of People within this State, to set apart and solemnize the same ; to offer joint Sup-plications to Almighty God, agreeably to the Proclamation of the United States in Congress assembled.
All servile Labour is forbidden on said Day. GIVEN under my Hand at Lebanon, this tenth Day of April, in the Year of our Lord one thou-sand seven hundred and eighty two, and in the sixth Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
JONATH. TRUMBULL.
NEW-LONDON: Printed by TIMOTHY GREEN, Printer to the Governor and Company.
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