Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-08
THE UNITED STATES PLEDGED
TO MAINTAIN FREEDOM OF
LIBERATED SLAVES.
THEY ARE ENJOINED TO ABSTAIN
FROM VIOLENCE,


Washington, Jan. Ito the people Of
the United States Of america Whereas,
on the 22d Gay of September, 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 fol-
lowing, to wit: 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 States, the people
of which shall then be in rebellion against
the United States, shall be thenceforth
and foret er free and the Executive Gov
eminent of the United States. including
the military and naval authority thereof,
will recognize aud maintain the freedom
of such persons, and will do no act nor
acts to repress such persons or any
of them in any effort they may
make for their actual freedom
That the Executive will on the first day of
January aforesaid issue proclamation
designating the States and parts of States,
if any, in which the people therein respec-
lively shall then be in rebellion against the
United States, and the fact that any State
or the people thereof shall on that day be
in good faith represented in the Congress
of ho toI tota Nv bor ri,
thereto at elections wherein a majority of
qualified voters of such States shall nave
participated, shall in the absence of strong
counteraetiDg testimony be deemed con-
elusive evidence that such State and the
people thereof are not in rebellion against
the United States.
Now, therefore, |, 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 time of
actual armed rebellion against the author
ity of the Government of the United
States, as fit and necessary war measure
for suppressing said rebellion doson this
first day of January, in the year of our
Lord 1868, having publicly proclaimed for
the full period of 100 days from the date
of the first above mentioned order, desig-
nate the following states and parts Of
states, the people whereof respectively
are this day in rebellion with the q. S. to-
wit: Arkansas. Texas, Louisiana, except the
parishes of St. Bernard, Plagnemine, La
Fourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, New Or
leans, including the city of New Orleans,
Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
South Carolina, N orth Carolina, and Vir.
ginia, except the 4S counties designated as
Western Virginia, and also the counties OIL
Bermuda, Portsmouth, &c, which except.
ed parts are for the present LETT precisely
as if this proclamation were not issued
and by virtue of the power and for the
purpose aforesaid, order and declare that
all persons held as slaves within the de-
signated States and parts of States, are
and henceforth shall be free; and that the
executive government of the United
States, including the military and naval
authorities thereof will recognize and
maintain the freedom of said PERSONS
And hereby eDjoin upon the people so
declared to be free to abstain from all vio-
lence, unless in necessary self defense,
and recommend to them that in all cases
when allowed they labor faithfully for
reasonable wages. And 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 said service.
Sincerely believing this to be all act of
Justice warranted by the necessity, in
woke the considerate judgment OF man
kind, and the gracious favor of Almighty
God.
In witness whereof, have hereunto set
nv hand and caused the zeal of the United
States to be affixed. Done at the City of
Washington this 1st day of January, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight humid.
red and sixty three, and of the Indepen-
dence of the United States of America. the
eighty-seventh.
By the President.
[signed, /, ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
VIM. H. SEWARD, Sec'y of State.
New York, Jan. 2.-Gen. Butler has is.
sued a proclamation in which be says he
leaves with the proud consciousness of
carving with him the blessings of the
humble and loyal under the cottage roof
and in the cabin of the slave, ard is quite
content to incur the sneers of the saloons
or curses of the rich. He concludes by
saving: "months of experience and OBJ
servaIion have forced the conviction that
the existence Of slavery is incompatible
with the safety Of yourselves or of the
Union.
The steamer Empire, leading sugar at
Marengo plantation was fred into by guer.
rillas, killing @. Magill, assistant engineer,
seriously iljuring ". J. Reed, New York
merchant, and wounding three others.
On the oath, Gen. Banks issued an ad-
dress, appended to which is the Presl-
dents Proclamation. In his address, Gen
Banks, after reporting the objects and eff
fects of the Presidents proclamation, says
it is manifest the change does not take
place at any period, and Banks calls upon
persons, citizens Or slaves, to govern them.
selves accordingly. ALI unusual public de-
monstrations will be for the present sup.
pressed, and Provost Marshals are eDioined
TO prevent any disturbance of tue public
neace. Slaves are advised to remain upon