Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-09-26
By che Pseslaen, Of the Uni,sd states OF
America.
A OCLAMATION.

l. ABRAHAM LiNCUkN. President on the
United States OF Amer,cs, and Commander
in-ehiei OF the Army and Navy thereof. do
hereby proclaim aud declare that hereafter.
a. heretofore, tho war will be prosecuted
for the obect OF practically restoring the
constitutional relation between the United
States aud the people thereof. ~ which
State. that relation is or may 10 suspended
or disturbed: that 10 10 my purpose, upon
the meeting OF the next Ccnerc-s, TO again
recommend the adoption OF practical meas
ure, rendering pceunisry aid 10 the free ac'
cer,anee OF rejection Of all the slave States
so.c.ll q. the people whereof may not then
be IN rebellion against the United State.
which States may then have voluntarily
adopted, or thereafter may voluntarily a.
dopt. Imne'iiste or gradual Adjustment OF
slavery within their respective limits. aud
the ,dtis 20 cOlonlle persons OF African
descent with their consent, upon the conil'
nent or elsewhere. with the previously OBJ
tanned consent Of the government existing
there, will be continued. that on the First
day Of January. eighteen hundred and sixty
three, all persons held rs SLAVES within any
State or Any designated part OF State. the
people whereof shall there he in rebellion
against the United States, shall be then,
thencrforward. and forever free. and that
the executive government OF the United
States. including the military and naval
authority thereof. will rcccsuite aud main
tain the freedom Of such persons. and will
DO no act or acts % rerress such persons, or
any Of them. IN any eGIrs they may make
f1T their actual freedom; ,ha, the executive
will GA the d., day OF January aiarc-aid.
by proclamaiior. designate the States. II
Any, in which the people thereof respectively
then - IN rebellion against the United
States. aud the tact that any State or people
thereof shall on that day be IN good faith
represented IN the Congress OF the United
State. by member. chosen thereto at cleo
tious Wherein a pspu,y OF the qualified vo'
icrs Of such Stats shall have participated.
shall. IA the absence OF strung counierSail'
IN: testimony. 10 deemed conclusive e''.
dence that such State and the people thereof
have not been in rebellion against the Unit
tel S,ate.; that attention is hereby called to
an Act Of Congress. entitled an act 10 make
an additional article Of sar, approved Mar
IL, lS61. aud which act 3. ia the word. aud
hsury- iollowins'-
BE {, enacted by the Senate and llou."
ol Representative. q, the United States ot
America. In Congress assembled, that hero.
after th, following shall be promulgated a.
an additional .irticle u War for the govern.
mcnt oi the army OF the United States. and
.hall 30 o,.eycd and observed a. such ar,'-
Gle Al officers or Icr-on. IN the military
or naval s-t,,ce ~ the United State are
rroh,bitri from emrloyin: any Of the forces
under their respective commands Tor the
rurpos' oi returning iuei,ircs escaped irom
any persons 70 whom such service ~ labor
i claimed to 10 doe: ami any ohccr Nho
hall hc louni guilty by court martial ct
yi1l,'ins tits article. shall Dc dismissed iron
Ihc service.
sc = Ard be /, further enacted. that
tbs act .hall take elect aud DO IN force
iron anl after it, passage.
A., o. The ninth and tenth section. Of an
act cnu,ici an at o. .urrr :. insurrrcti'n.
o. punish treason AID rebellion. 20 .eiz' ami
canfsrAie The property of rrhrls. and lur
other purpa-,.. approved July L.. lSG2. and
which c,ious are IN che words and figure.
following.
sect .. And hc u further enacted, that
al ,ltse. D: Jer.nn- VII, shall hereafter -
euc,.rl in RIB Hon e,insi the government
oi the Uniird States. or shall ia any Nay
gave sii ~ cJmi,rt thereto, escaping FROM
such prisons aud t.s'uc refuge with the
line. 81 the army. aud all slave. captured
lrum such I~r.on.. or deserted and comm :
under the control % the government OF the
Uui,-i States. and all slave. Of such persons
i1uni on. or hsin: within any place occu.
ped ~ r-b-l 'orc.- sni aftcrsard. occupied
iy tn ljrcy- OF the United States. shall b.
deemed capture. ofWsr. anl shall be forever
Tree 1T thcir sciyiiuie. aud 10; again held
az slave.
Scyt 10. And be II further enacted that
no slave c.cipin: INTO any State. Territory,
or the District Of Columbia from any OF TIE
states. shall hc delivered up. or in any way
imVci-l ~ Kindred OF hi. lihcriy eIctp, ior
crinie. ~ s1me og,nc. against the law, IN.
J.. the person cla'min: such iu:iiiyCs shall
lrst make oath that the psr-on u whom the
labor or service n such fugitive - alleged 20
Dc due y he lasidl owner. and has not teen
m arms uslin., tie United States in the
present REBELLION, nor ia any way given AID
and eomisri thereto. and 10 per-in engaged
in the military or naval service of the Uni.
tel Stats. shall. under auy pteicnco what.
ever, assume e. decide On the validity 81 ihc
claim o. any r,rson 20 the service or labor
OF any other pcr.on. or surrender up any
such person 20 the claimant on piin VI be-
iog dismissed from the service.
And 10 hereby enJpin upon and order
all persons engaged IN the military and na-
val .ervic, Of the United States. 60 observe.
obey and enforce within their respective
sphere. OF service the above reci,ei. and tie
executive will ia due time recommend that
all citizens Of tho United State. who shall
have remained loyal thereto throughout the
rebellion. shall upon the restoration ct the
constitutional relation 'c:wern the United
Stats and their respective States and people
Al the relations shall have been suspended ~
disturhed, - compensated Tor all losses by
acts of the United States. including the los,
of slaves.
Ia witness whereof have hereun,o set my
hand, aud caused the Sal OF the United
States 10 be affixed. Done at the city OF
Washington, this 2ad day Of September.
A. u lS6e. and Of the Independence OF
the United States. the eighty seventh.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Dy the President.
". II. SEwsEp. See'y OF State.