The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-09-25
Important proclamation by the
President.
THE SLAVES OF REBELS PRO
,CLATMED FREE.
By THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA:


], Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States Of America. and Command
er-in-chief Of the army aud navy thereof,
do hereby proclaim and declare that here
after, as heretofore, the war will be pros
ecuted for the object Of practically restoring g
the constitutional relations between the
United States and each of. the States and
the people thereof, in which States that
relation is or may be suspended or
disturbed.
That ii is my purpose, upon the next
meeting of Congress, to again recommend
the adoption of practical measure, ten
derins pccuniary aid to the free acceptance
or rejection Of ali the slave States, so
called, the people whereof may not then
be in rebellion against the United States,
and which States maJ then have volunta-
rily adopted, or thereafter may voluntarily
adopt, the immediate or gradual abolish
ment of slavery within their respective
limits and that the effort to colonizc per-
sons of African descent, with their con-
sent, upon this continent or elsewhere,
with the previously obtained consent of
the Governments existing there, will be
continued.
That en- the 1st day of January, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sixty three, all persons held
as slaves within any State, or designated
part Of State, the people whereof shall
then be i'll rebellion against the United
States, shall be then, thenceforward and
forever free; and the Executive Govern
ment of the United States, including the
military and naval authorities thereof, will
recognize and maintain the freedom of
such persons; and will do no act or acts to
repress such persons, or any of them, III
any efforts they may make for their actual
freedom.
That the Executive viii, on the lst day
Of January aforesaid, by proclamation,
designate the States or parts of States, Z
any, in which the people thereof respect
ively shall then be in rebellion against the
State, or the people thereof. shall, on that
day, be in good faith represented in the
Congress OF the United States by members
chosen thereto at elections, wherein a
majority of the qualified voters Of such
State shall have participated, shall, in the
absence of strong. coumteryailing testimo-
ny, be deemed conclusive evidence that
such State and the people thereof are
not then in rebellion against the United
States
That attention is hereby called to an
act OF Congress, entitled AN Act To make !
an additional Article Of war;" approved /
March 18th, 1862, and which ACT is in /
the words aud GSuIvs fyllo-~:.-.
''Be 1t enacted Gy ate Senate and House /
IF Representatives, ct IL United .Stutes of
IN Congress assembled. That here /
after the following shall bc promulgat /
as an additional article of war for the .
government Of the army of the United .
States, and shall be observed as such
"ARTICLE.-All officers or persons in !
the military or naval service of the United .
States are prohibited from employing any .
Of the forces of their respective commands /
for the purpose of returning tdgitlves |
from service or labor who may have es-
capped from any person 10 whom such SER
vice or labor is claimed to be due and |
any officer who shall be found guilty By .
court martial OF violation of this article
shall be dismissed from the service.
.'SEC. %. .An be 1t further enacted, +
That this act shal. ia K c effect from and after .
its passage"
Also, to the 9th and 10th sections Of !
an act entitled ''An act to suppress insur
rection, to punish treason and rebellion,
to seize and confscate the property of /
rebels, and for other purposes approved !
July 10Th, 1862, and which sections arc /
in the words and figures following
"SEC. 9. And be IL further eaurted, That |
ali slaves of persons who shall hereafter
be engaged in rebellion against the Gov /
Of the United States, or who shall /
IN any way give aid or comfort thereto, /
and escaping from such persons and Ia
King refuge within the lines Of the army,
ind all slaves captured from such persons.
,r deserted by them, and coming under
he control Of the Government of the /
United States, and all slaves of such per-
IONS found on or being within any place
occupied by rebel forces, and afterwards
occupied by the forces of the United
states, shall be deemed captiycs of war.
md shall be forever free of their servitudc
md not again held rs slaves.
CSC. 10. Aad be Il further eHacted.
That no slave escaping into any State,
Territory, or the district of Columbia.
rom any olncV otate, snait De delivered
Ip or in any impeded or hindered OF his
liberty, except ior crime or some offence
gainst the laws, unless the person claim
ng the said fugitive shall FIRST make oath
hat the person to whom the labor or ser
ice of such fugitive is alleged to be due
his lawful owner, and has not borne
rms against the United States in the
resent rebellion, nor in amy way given aid
r comfort thereto"