The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-01-03
Proclamation of Freedom.
WASHINGTON, January |, 1Sf


Proclamation By the President Of the
United States Of america:
WHEREAS, On the ODD day of Septem-
Der, in the year of our Lord 1862, proc
lamation was issued by the President of
the United States, containing, among
other things, the following, to-wit: That
on the lst day of January, in the year
of our Lord 1868, all persons held as
slaves within any State or designated
part Of State, the people whereof shall
then be in rebellion against the United
States, shall be then, henceforth and for
ever free, and the Executive Govern
ment 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
actual freedom. That the Executive will
on the LIST day of January aforesaid, issue
a proclamation designating the States
and part 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 the peo-
pie thereof SHALL on that day, be in good
faith represented in the Congress of the
United States by members chosen there
to at elections wherein majority of the
qualified voters of such States shall have
participated, SHALL in the absence of
strong countervailing testimony, be
deemed conclusive 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 the
power in me vested, as COMMANDMENT
Chief of the Army and Navy Of the Uni
ted States in time of actual armed rebel
lion against the authority of the govern
ment of the United States, and as fit
and necessary war measure, for suppress
ing said rebellion, do on this 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 publicly proclaimed for the full period
ofone hundred days from the date of the
first above mentioned order, and desig-
nate 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, Plaquimine,
Jefferson, ST. John, ST. Charles, St.
James, Ascension, Assumption, Terre
Bonpe, Lafourche, St. Mary, St Martin
and Orleans, including the City of New
Orleans,) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina
and Virginia, except the As counties
designated as Western Virginia; and
also the counties of Berkeley, Accomac,
Northampton, Elizabeth City, York,
Princess Ann and Norfolk, including the
cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, which
excepted parts are for the present
left precisely as if this proclama-
ton were not issued; and by virtue of
the power and for the purpose
aforesaid. | do order and declare that all
persons held as slaves within the desig-
mated States and parts of States are, and
from hencef0rward and forever shall be
free, and that the Executive Govern
ment of the United States, including the
military and naval authorities thereof,
will recognize and maintain the freedom
Of said persons, and hereby enioin upon
the people so declared to be free to alb
stain from all violence unless in neces-
sBry self-defence, and l recommend to
them that in all eases when allowed, they
labor faithfully for reasonable wages.
And | further declare and make known,
thFt such persons of suitable condition
will be received into the armed service of
the United States to garrison forts, posi-
tons, stations, and other places, and to
man vessels Of all sorts, in said service,
and upon this, sincerely believed to be
act oil justice, warranted by the constitu-
ton, upon military necessity. l invoke
the considerable 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. Done at the
city of Washington, this lst day of jan
uary, in tho year Of our Lord 1868, and
Of the Independence of the United States
of America the S7th.
(Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
BY the President
W. H. SEWARD, Sec'y of State.