The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-10-08
By the President Of the United States
"A Proclamation.
The following is Lincoln's proclamation
freeing The slaves:


The following is Lncolu's proclamation
freeing the slaves
WAsnrSoToN, Seps. %, 1862.
|, Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States Of America, and Comman-
der.n Chief of the army ard navy thereof,
do hereby proclaim and declare that here
after, as heretofore, the war will be pros
ecu,ed for the object Of practically restor
ing the constitutional relation between
the United States and the people thereof
in which State that relation is, or may he
suspended, or disturbed that it is my
purpose, upon the next meeting OF Con
gress, 10 again recommend the adoption
Of practical measure rendering pecunia
ry aid 10 the free acceptance or rejection
of all the slave States, SO called, the peo
pie whereof may not then be in rebellion
against the United States, and which
States may then have voluntarily adopt
ed, or thereafter may voluntarily adopt,
the immediate or gradual adjustment Of
slavery within their respective limits; and
that the efforts to colonize persons Of Ar
rican descent, with their consent, upon
the continent or elsewhere, with the pre-
viously obtained consent "f the govern.
men,s existing there, will be continued
on the first day Of January, in the year
Of our Lord one thousand eigh, hundred
and sixty.three all persons held as slaves
within any State. or any designated State
the people whereof shall then be in rebel
lion against the United States, shall be
| tEenceforward and forever fee; and the
executive Government Of the United
States, including the military and naval
authority thereof, will recognize and main
tain the freedom Of such persons, or any
of them, in any efforts they may make
for their actual freedom ; that the Execu.
tive will. on the first day Of January
aforesaid, by proclaim alton, designate the
States and parts Of States, il any, in which
the people thereof respectively shall then
be in rebellion against the United States;
and the fact tha, any State, or the peo
pie thereof, shall on that day be iu 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 countervaiIing testimony, he deem
ed conclusive evidence that such State
and the people thereof have no, been 10
rebellion against the United States.
And | do hereby enjoin upon, and or
der all persons engaged in the military
and navai service Of the United States to
observe, obey, and enforce within their
respective spheres Of service, the act and
sections above recited.
Aud the Executive will in due time re
commend 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 u. S. and their re.
spectiVe States and people, if the relation
shall have been suspended or dslurbed)
be compensated for all losses by acts OF
the United States, including the loss of
slaves.
In witness whereof, have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal Of the
United States to be affixed.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Done at the Cl:y Of Washington, this
twenty ty.second day Of September, in the
year Of our Lord one thousand eight hun
dred and sixty two, and OF the indepen.
dence Of the United States the eighty
seventh. BY the President
WILLIAM Ii. SEWARD,
Secretary Of State.
Commenting upon this proclamation,
the New York Herald says:
The President has issued a proclama
lion TO the people Of the rebel States. II
is one OF the most important documents
that has emanated from the Executive
Department Of the Republic since the
adoption Of the Federal Constitution.
On the 25th Of July las, the Presiden,
in accordance with the ac, Of Congress
approved on the l7th Of that month, gave
sixty days notice to those in rebellion
that the property Of all rebels would be
confcsted, and their slaves made free, il
they persisted in their suicidal course
The notice eqpires to day, the 2sd inst,
and the proclamation now issued presents
the case in its new and significant aspect.
The gravity Of this proclamation will
strike every one. 1t has been forced upon
tbe naiinn hv Tho Ah,I;,ion;.,. ~ A. |