Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-01-07
THE PROCLAMATION OF rREEDoM.

THE PROCLAMATION OF FkEkDoA.
WASHINGTON, Jan. /, ls6S.-By the Preei-
dent of the United States of America
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, On the twenty second day OF Sep
tember, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-two, Proclamation
was issued by the President of the United
States. containing, among other things, the
following, to wit:
"Thst on the FIRST day Of Janusry, In the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and sixty three, all persons held as slaves with.
in any State or designated part of State the
people whereof shall then be in rebellion a.
gainst the United States, shall be then, thence
forward and forever free, and thu 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 repress
such persons, or any of them, in any effort
they may make for their active freedom.
ssThat the Executive will, on the first day
of January aforesaid, by proclamation, desig-
nate the States and parts of States, if any, In
which the people therein, respectively, shall
then be in rebellion gainst the United States,
and the fact that any State and 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 majority of the qualified voters OF
such State shall have participated, shall, in
the absence OF strong countervailng testimo
nv, be deemed conclusive evidence that such
State and the people thereof are not then in
rebellion against the United States.''
Now, therefore, 1, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Pres
ident Of the United States, by virtue of the
power in ME vested as Commander in Chief
| of the Army and Navy of the United States in
time of actual armed rebellion against the au-
thority and Government of the United States,
and a fit and necessary war measure TOR
suppressing the said rebellion, do, on this the
first day Of January, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and sixty three,
and, in accordance with my purpose so to do,
l! publicly proclaimed, for the full period of one
hundred days from the day first above men,
| toned, order and designate as the States and
parts OF States wherein the people thereof
respectively are this day in rebellion against
the United States, the following, to wit:
Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana except the
parishes of st. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefier
son, St. James, Ascension, Assumption, Ter
rebonne, Lsfourche, St. Martin and Orleans),
Mississippi, Alabama Florida, Georgia, South
Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia except
the forty Eight counties designated as West
Virginia, and also the counties OF Berkeley,
Accomac, Northamfon, Elizabeth City, York,
Princess Ann and Norfolk, including the
cities of Norfolk, and Portsmouth. and which
excepted parts are for the present left precise
ly as II the proclamation were not issued.
And by virtue of the power and for the pur-
pose aforesaid, l do order and declare that
all persons held as slaves within the said des-
ignated States and parts of said States, are
and henceforward shall be free; and that the
Executive Government of the United States,
including the military and naval authorities
thereof, will recognize and maintain the free
dom of said persons.
And hereby enjoin upon the people SO de-
clared to be free to abstain from all violence.
unless in necessary self defence, and recon-
mend to them that in all cases, when allowed,
TedSOHaUIS wages. AM
further declare and make known that such
persons. of suitable condition, will be received
into the armed service of the United States,
to garrison forts, positions, stations and other
places, and to man vessels of all sorts in the
said service. And upon this act, sincerely
believed to be an act of justice, warranted by
the Constitution, upon military necessity,
invoke the considerate judgment of mankind
| and the gracious favor of Almighty God.
In witness whereof, have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the United States
to be affixed.
| r.. 8. Done at the city of Washington, this
the first day of January, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty
| three, and Of the independence of the
| United States of America the eighty
seventh. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
| By the President,
WM. II. SEWARD, Secretary of State.
AYERS AMERICAN ALMANAC for 1863 is now