And this from the "Father of the Constitution":
By The President Of The United States Of America.
A Proclamation.
Whereas the Congress of the United States, by a joint resolution of the
two Houses, have signified a request that a day may be recommended to
be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnity
as a day of public humiliation and prayer; and
Whereas
such a recommendation will enable the several religious denominations
and societies so disposed to ofier at one and the same time their common
vows and adorations to Almighty God on the solemn occasion produced by
the war in which He has been pleased to permit the injustice of a
foreign power to involve these United States:
I
do therefore recommend the third Thursday in August next as a
convenient day to be set apart for the devout purposes of rendering the
Sovereign of the Universe and the Benefactor of Mankind the public
homage due to His holy attributes; of acknowledging the transgressions
which might justly provoke the manifestations of His divine displeasure;
of seeking His merciful forgiveness and His assistance in the great
duties of repentance and amendment, and especially of offering fervent
supplications that in the present season of calamity and war He would
take the American people under His peculiar care and protection; that He
would guide their public councils, animate their patriotism, and bestow
His blessing on their arms; that He would inspire all nations with a
love of justice and of concord and with a reverence for the unerring
precept of our holy religion to do to others as they would require that others should do to them; [As was stated by Jesus; Matthew 7:12]
and, finally, that, turning the hearts of our enemies from the violence
and injustice which sway their councils against us, He would hasten a
restoration of the blessings of peace.
Given at Washington, the 9th day of July, A.D. 1812.
[SEAL.] JAMES MADISON. [The same James Madison that is also known as “the Father of the Constitution“.]
By the President:
JAMES MONROE,
Secetary of State.
[A
Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents By James D.
Richardson A Representative From The State Of Tennessee (With Additions)
Volume 1 Published By Bureau Of National Literature And Art 1910 Pg.
498]
More quotations can be found here: