Details
[WASHINGTON, George.] United States Chronicle, Thursday, 22 October 1789. Providence, RI: Bennett Wheeler. 4 pages, folio, 3-column format, complete issue. The Proclamation printed on first column of page one. Provenance: S. Hurst (signature along top edge).
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS
“I do recommend and assign Thursday the twenty-sixth day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to be…a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer…” The idea for this first Federal Thanksgiving holiday originated with the Congress, which asked Washington to issue a proclamation, which he did on 3 October, so that the people might, “with grateful hearts” acknowledge “the many and signal favours of Almighty God , especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” Washington’s eloquent text asks Americans to give “sincere and humble thanks” to God, “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…”
He asks “the great Lord and Ruler of Nations” 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,” and to “promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase 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.”
The issue also contains the equally important printing of the proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution, ten of which would become the "Bill of Rights." Our present-day First Amendment was the third one proposed here. The first-page is rounded out by the text of the Act establishing the Treasury department.
A fascinating survival from the earliest days of our Republic. The United States Chronicle published weekly, between 1784 and 1804.
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS
“I do recommend and assign Thursday the twenty-sixth day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to be…a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer…” The idea for this first Federal Thanksgiving holiday originated with the Congress, which asked Washington to issue a proclamation, which he did on 3 October, so that the people might, “with grateful hearts” acknowledge “the many and signal favours of Almighty God , especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” Washington’s eloquent text asks Americans to give “sincere and humble thanks” to God, “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…”
He asks “the great Lord and Ruler of Nations” 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,” and to “promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase 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.”
The issue also contains the equally important printing of the proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution, ten of which would become the "Bill of Rights." Our present-day First Amendment was the third one proposed here. The first-page is rounded out by the text of the Act establishing the Treasury department.
A fascinating survival from the earliest days of our Republic. The United States Chronicle published weekly, between 1784 and 1804.