The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-01-10
THRPRoCLAMAT1oN FREEDOM.


4 BRIGHT ERA IN THE WORLDS HISTORY
WASHINGTON, January l, 1868.
Whereas, On the 22d day of September.
in the year of our Lord, 1862, proclama-
ton was issued by the President of the
United States, containing among other
thing. the following, towit: That on the
1st day Of January, in the year of our
Lord, 1868, all persons held as slaves with
in any State or designated parts Of State,
the people thereof shall then be in rebellion
against the United States, including the
naval and military authority thereof, will
recognize the freedom of such persons, and
will do no &C: or acts to repress such persons
or any of them in any effort they may
make for their actual freedom. That the
Executive would, on the 1st day of January
aforesaid, issue a proclamation designating
the States and parts of States, if any, in
which the people therein 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
represented in the Congress of the United
States by members chosen thereto at an
election wherein majority of the qualified
voters shall have participated, and shall, in
the absence Of strong conntervailing testi-
mony, be deemed conclusive evidence that
such State and the people thereof are not in
rebellion against the United States;
Now, therefore, 1, Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States, by virtue of
the power in me vested as Commander-in.
Chief of the army and navy in times of
actual armed rebellion against the authority
of the Government of the United States, as
fit and necessary war measure for sup
pressing said rebellion, do on this 1st day
of January, in the year Of our Lord, 1863,
and in accordance with my purpose SO to do,
publicly proclaim for the full period of one
hundred days from the date of the first
above mentioned order, and designate as the
States and parts of States wherein the peo.
pie thereof respectively are this day in
rebellion against the United States, the
following, to.wit: Arkansas, Texas, Lou
isiana Except the Parishes of La Bernard,
Plaquemine, Jefferson, St. Johns, Sachas,
St. James, Ascension, Assumption, Terre
Bonue, La Forche, St. Mary's, St. Martin.
and Orleans), Mississippi, Alabama, Florida
Georgia. South Carolina, North Carolina,
and Virginia Except the 4S counties desig'
mated as Western Virginia, and also the six
counties Of Berkley, Accomac, Northamp-
ton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann,
and Norfolk, including the cities of Nor.
folk, and Portsmouth), which excepted
parts are for the present left precisely as if
this proclamation were never issued. And
by virtue of the power and for the purpose
aforesaid, l do order and declare that all
persons held as slaves within the designated
States, are and henceforward shall be free,
and the Executive Government OF the
United States, including the military au-
thorities, thereby will recognize and main.
tain the freedom of said persons, and l
hereby enjoin upon the people SO declared
to be free, to abstain from all violence, un-
less in necessary self-defence, and / recon-
mend to them that in al cases when allowed,
they labor for reasonable wages. l further
declare and make known that such persons,
of suitable condition, will be received in the
armed service of the United States, and
other places, to man vessels of all sorts in
said service. And upon this, as it is be-
lieved to be an act Of justice, warranted by
the Constitution upon military necessity,
invoke the considcrate judgment Of mankind
and the gracious favor of Almighty God
In witness whereof have hereunto sci
nv hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed. Done at the city ol
Washington, this first day of January
1868, and of the Independence Of the
United States the S7th.
BY the President,
| ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
", II. SEWARD, Sec. of State.