Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 154
image_0 image_1
A. Lincoln's July 1864 Proclamation for a National Day of Humiliation & Prayer
A. Lincoln's July 1864 Proclamation for a National Day of Humiliation & Prayer
image_0 image_1
Description:

Lincoln Abraham



President Lincoln Proclaims a National Day of Humiliation and Prayer in July 1864

 

Broadside dated July 28, 1864 issued by Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew, reproducing President Abraham Lincoln's July 7, 1864  “A Proclamation for a Day of Humiliation and Prayer.” Featuring a large Massachusetts state seal at top, and 40+ lines of text in Gothic, serif, and fancy fonts with italicized, shadowed, silhouetted, and floral decoration and effects. Docketed twice verso. In near fine condition, with expected paper folds and isolated chipped edges. Professionally restored and currently protected under Mylar plastic. 18.25" x 27.75".

 

Governor Andrews relayed Lincoln's proclamation to the people of Massachusetts, that August 4, 1864 would be reserved for reflection, contrition, and prayer, some three weeks after it was originally issued from Washington, D.C.

 

What prompted such reflection? The Civil War was still dragging on, with horrifying losses on both sides. Two months earlier, at the Battle of Cold Harbor, Grant had lost some 7,000 Union troops in the span of just 20 minutes. The siege of Petersburg was just six weeks old. Meanwhile, Confederate General Jubal Early's armies menaced Washington, D.C. While the threat of a raid proved short-lived, the Union Army scrambled to mobilize enough defenders to protect the Nation's Capital. No end to the conflict seemed in sight, so Lincoln turned to God.

 

Complete Transcript

 

"Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

By His Excellency

John A. Andrew,

Governor:

A Proclamation.

 

Whereas, The President of the United States of America did by his Proclamation, Dated at Washington on the 7th day of July, last, “appoint the first THURSDAY of August next to be observed by the People of the United States as a day of National Humiliation and Prayer;” requesting the solemn and religious observance of that day on the part of all the people of the United States, by abstaining from secular pursuits and by acts of devotion and of public worship:

 

 I do, therefore, direct and request that this Proclamation of the Chief Executive Magistrate of the Nation be published and promulgated to the people of Massachusetts in the same manner in which the Governor of Massachusetts is accustomed to be promulgated, concerning the annual Fast observed in the Commonwealth.  And I especially invoke the attention of all ministers of the Gospel, as well as of all the good people of Massachusetts, in order that the day thus devoted as a National Sabbath to the special services and duties of penitence, prayer, and the worship of God, may be duly observed throughout our Commonwealth.

 

John A. Andrew.

Executive Department, July 28, 1864.

By His Excellency the Governor:

Oliver Warner, Secretary.

 

God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

 _________________________________________

 

By His Excellency

Abraham Lincoln,

President of the United States of America:

A Proclamation for a Day of Humiliation and Prayer.

 

Whereas the Senate and House of Representatives, at their last session, adopted a concurrent resolution, which was approved on the second day of July instant, and which was in the words following, namely:

 

'That the President of the United States be requested to appoint a day for humiliation and prayer by the people of the United States; that he request his constitutional advisers at the head of the Executive Departments to unite with him as Chief Magistrate of the nation, at the city of Washington, and the members of Congress, and all magistrates, all civil, military, and naval officers, all soldiers, sailors, and marines, with all loyal and law-abiding people, to convene at their usual places of worship, or wherever they may be, to confess and to repent of their manifold sins; to implore the compassion and forgiveness of the Almighty, that, if consistent with His will, the existing rebellion may be speedily suppressed, and the supremacy of the Constitution and the laws of the United States may be established throughout all the States; to implore Him, as the Supreme Ruler of the World, not to destroy us as a people, nor suffer us to be destroyed by the hostility or connivance of other nations, or by obstinate adhesion to our own counsels, which may be in conflict with His eternal purposes, and to implore Him to enlighten the mind of the nation to know and to do His will, humbly believing that it is in accordance with His will that our place should be maintained as a united people among the family of nations; to implore Him to grant our armed defenders and the masses of the people that courage, power of resistance, and endurance necessary to secure that result; to implore Him in His infinite goodness to soften the hearts, enlighten the minds, and quicken the consciences of those in rebellion, that they may lay down their arms and speedily return to their allegiance to the United States, that they may not be utterly destroyed, that the effusion of blood may be stayed, and that unity and fraternity may be restored, and peace established throughout all our borders.'

 

Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, cordially concurring with the Congress of the United States in the penitential and pious sentiments expressed in the aforesaid resolution, and heartily approving of the devotional design and purpose thereof, do hereby appoint the first Thursday of August next to be observed by the people of the United States as a day of national humiliation and prayer.

 

I do hereby further invite and request the heads of the executive departments of this Government, together with all legislators, all judges and magistrates, and all other persons exercising authority in the land, whether civil, military, or naval, and all soldiers, seamen, and marines in the national service, and all the other loyal and law-abiding people of the United States, to assemble in their preferred places of public worship on that day, and there to render to the Almighty and Merciful Ruler of the Universe such homage and such confessions, and to offer to Him such supplications, as the Congress of the United States have, in their aforesaid resolution, so solemnly, so earnestly, and so reverently recommended.

 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United Stated to be affixed.

 

Done at the city of Washington, this seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-ninth.

 

Abraham Lincoln

By the President:

William H. Seward, Secretary of State."

 

In issuing proclamations of fasting or thanksgiving, President Lincoln was following in the footsteps of presidential predecessors Washington, Adams, and Madison. Lincoln issued at least eight such proclamations during his presidency. His most famous of these proclamations, issued on October 3, 1863, established the tradition of the Thanksgiving holiday as we know it.

 

In 1864, Congress could not have known then that Cold Harbor would be Lee’s last major victory. On July 2, 1864, Congress passed a joint resolution requesting that Lincoln call for an additional day of “national humiliation and prayer.” Lincoln set the first Thursday in August 1864 as a day to pray for a speedy end to the war. It would be another eight months before that prayer was answered.

 

Ulysses S. Grant, appointed by Lincoln in March 1864 as General-in-Chief of the Union Armies, relied on the North’s superior resources to attack relentlessly, wear down, and destroy Lee’s army, but the cost in lives was horrific.  In the Virginia Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor in May and June of 1864, the Union army suffered 65,000 casualties. Despite the toll, Grant refused to back down. At Spotsylvania, he wrote a dispatch that summed up his attitude: “I propose to fight it out along this line if it takes all summer.”

 


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

***Please contact our office for information on third party shippers***


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item.Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000