The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-09-26
A PROCLAnGAT1ON.

I, Abraham Lincoln, President Of the United
Safes Of America, and commander-in-chiefo OF
the army aud navy thereof, do hereby proclaim
and declare that hereafter As heretofore, the
war will be prosecuted for the object OF practi-
cally restoring the constitutional relation be-
tween the United States and the people thereof,
In which States that relation Is or may be sus-
pended or disturbed, that II is my purpose up
ON the next meeting of Congress to again rec
oInmend adoption Of practical measure, ten
dering primary aid and the free acceptance or
rejection Of all the slave States so called. the
people whereof may not then be in rebellion
against the United States, which States may
voluntarily adopt immediate or gradual estab-
lishmcnt OF slavery within their respective lin
its, and that the effort to colonize persons OF
African descent, with their consent, upon this
continent or elsewhere, with the previously OBJ
tanned consent Of the government existing there
will be continued. That on the first day OF
January In the year 81 our Lord, one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-threc, oil persons held
as slaves within any State, or any designated
part Of State, the people whereof shall then
be in rebellion against the United States, shall
be then thepceforward free, aud that the Exec
utiye Government Of the United States, includ-
ing the military and naval authority thereof
will recognize and maintain the freedom ofsuch
persons, and will do no act or acts to suppress
such persons, or any OF them, In any Efforts
they may make for their actual freedom. That
the Executive will on the LIST day of January
Aforesaid. by proclamation, designate the States
II any, which the people thereof respectively
shall then be In rebellion against the United
States, and the fact that any State or people
thereof shall on that day be IN good faith rep
resented, in the Congress Of the United States,
by members chosen thereto Mt elections wherein
a majority Of the qualified voters OF said State
shall have participated, shall In the absence OF
strong counteryailing testimony be deemed con-
elusive evidence that such State and the people
thereof have not been In rebellion against the
United States. that attention is hereby called to
an nct of Congress, entitled can act to make
an additional article Of war;" approved March
10, 1862. and which act Is In the words and fig
urcs following:
Be II enacted, &C., That hereafter the follow
ing shall be promulgated rs an add itional arti.
Gle Of war for the government of the army OF
the United States, and shall be obeyed and OBJ
served as such:
Art. /. All officers or persons In the milit-
airy or naval service Of the United States, are
prohibited from employing any OF the forces
under their respective commands for the pur-
pose Of returning fugitives nom service or la
Dor, who may have escaped from any persons
due, and any officer who shall be found guilty
by court martial Of violating this article shall
be dismissed from the service.
Sect. 2. find be Il further enacted, That
this act shall take effect from and after Its pass
age; also to the 9th and 10th sections Of an act
entitled An act to suppress Instruction, to
punish treason and rebellion. to seize and con-
fiscate property Of rebels, and for other pur-
poses, approved July II, 1852, and which Sec
tons are In the words and figures following:
"SEcr. 0. Ind be Il further enacted, That
oil slaves Of persons who shall hereafter be en-.
gagged In rebellion against the government OF
the United States, or who shall In any way give
aid or comfort thereto. escaping from such per-
sons and taking refuge within the lines OF the
army, and oil slaves captured from such per-
sons, or deserted by them, and coming under
the control OF the government OF the United
States, and oil slaves Of such persons found on
or being within any place occupied by rebel
forces and afterwards occupied by the forces
Of the United States. shall be deemed captures
of war, and shall be forever free Of their seryi-
tude, and not again held as slaves.
SEcr. 10. .and be 10 further snacted, ihat
no slave escaping into any State. Territory,
or In the District Of Columbia, from any OF the
States, shall be delivered up or In any way i'm
peded or hindered Of his liberty except tor
crime or some offence against the laws, unless
the person claiming SAID fugitive shall first
make oath that the person to whom the labor
or service of such fugitiveis alleged to be due is
his lawful owner, and has not been In arms
against the United States in the present rebel
lion, nor in any way give aid and comfort there
10, and no person engaged in the military or
naval force of the United States, shall under
any pretence whatever assume to decide on tile
validity Of the claim Of any person to the SER
vice, OF labor OF any other person, or surrender
up any such person to the claimant on pain OF
being dismissed from the service, and do here
By enjoin upon and order all persons engaged
| in the military and naval service of the United
States, to observe, obey and enforce within
their respective spheres OF service the acts and
sections above recitcd, and the Executive will
in due time recommend that all citizens Of the
United States who shall have remained loyal
thereto throughout the rebellion, shall upon
the restoration OF the constitutional relation
between the United States and their respective
States and people. IL the relations shall have
been suspended or disturbed, be compensated
for all loss by acts Of the United States, includ-
ing the loss VI slaves.
In witness whereof. have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal Of the United States
to he affixed. Done at the City of Washing
ton, this 22d day Of September, 10 the year
Of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-two, and OF the Independence Of the
United States the eighty.seventh.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
n, Al n-o.iJont.