Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-10-01
AN IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION.
BY THE PRESIDENT. /.


by proclaim and declare that hereafter, as
the object practically, of restoring the consti-
tutional relation between the United States
and each of the States and the people thereof,
IN which States that relation is or may be sus-
pended disturbed. That it is my purpose
upon the next meeting of Congress to again
recommend the adoption of practical meas
| ures rendering peouniary aid to the free ac-
ceptance or rejection of all slave States, so
called, the people whereof may not then be in
rebellion against the United States, and which
States may then have ,oluntarily adopted, or
thereafter may voluntarily adopt immediate
| or gradual abolishment of slavery within their
respective limits and that the effort to colo
nize persons of African descent, with their
consent, upon this continent or elsewhere,
with the previously obtained consent Of the
governments existing there, will be ccntin-
ued; that on the first 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 parts of state,
the people whereof shall then be in rebellion
| against the United States shall be then, hence
| forward ald forever free, and the Executive
| Government of the United States, including
the Military and Naval authority thereof,
will recognize and maintain the freedom of
such persons and will do no act or acts to re-
press such persons or any of them in any ef-
forts they may make for actual FIRE dom that
the Executive will, on the first day of January
aforesald,b by proclamation designate the states
and parts of states, if any in which the people
thereof, resp :ctiyely, shall then be in rebel
lion against the United States, and the fact
that any state, or the people thereof,-sh on
that day be in good faith represented in the
Congress of the United States by members
chosen thereto at elections wherein a ma
jority of the qualified voters of such state
shall have participated, shall in the absence
OF strong countervaling testimony, be deemed
conc lusive evidence that such state, and the
people thereof, are not then in rebellion a.
gainst the United States. That attention is
hereby called to an act of Congress-, entitled
act to make an additional article of war, ap-
proved. March l3, 1862, which act is in the
word and figures following
BE it eaacted By Me Senate and House of Rep,
Congress assembled that hereafter the follow
ing shall be promulgated as an additional ar
ticle of war for the government of the army
of the U. s., and shall be obeyed and observed
as such article
A IL officers or persons in the military or na- |
val service of the United States, are prohib
Ited from employing any of the forces und er
re- ntpHs far
returning fugitives from service or labor, who |
have escaped from any persons to whom such !
service or labor is claimed to be due and any |
officer, who shall be found guilty by court |
martial of violating this article, shall be dis.
missed from the service.
Section Second, And be it further enacted |
that this act shall take effect from and after |
its passage" Also to the ninth and tenth sec |
tions of an act entitled an act to suppress in |
seize and confiscate property of rebels, and |
for other purposes approved July 18th, 1862, |
and which sections are in the words and fig |
ures following:
Section Ninth, And be it further enacted, |
that all slaves of persons who shall hereafter |
be engaged in rebellion against the Govern
ment of the United States, or who shall in any
ing from such persons and taking refuge with
in the lines of the army, and all slaves cap
tured from such persons, or deserted by them
and coming under the control of the Govern.
ment of the United States, and all 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 captives of war, and shall be
forever free OF their servitude and not again
held as slaves.
Section Ten, And be it further enacted that
no slaves escaping into any state or territory
or the District of Columbia, from any other
States shall be delivered up or in any way im-
peded hindered of his liberty, except for
crime or some offence against the laws, unless
The person claiming said fugitive shall first
make oath that the person to whom the labor
Dr. service OF such fugitive is alleged to be due,
IS his lawful owner, and has not borne arms a.
,ainst us in the present rebellion, nor in any
way given aid and comfort thereto. No per-
ION engaged in the military or naval service
q the United States shall, under any pretense
whatever, assume to decide on the validity of
he claim of any person to the service or labor
# any other person, or surrender up any such
person to the claimant, on pain OF being dis
missed from the Sc rvice.
And do hereby enjoin upon, and order all
,ersons engaged in the Military and Naval
ervice of the United States to observe, obey ,