, 1863-01-17
Emancipation Proclamation.

By the President of the United States, etc
WHEREAS, On the 22d day of September 1862.
a proclamation was issued by the President of the
United States, containing among other things The
following g-to-wit That on the 1st dav of Janu-
airy, 1868, all persons held as slaves within any
States or designated part of State, the people
whereof shall be in rebellion against the Uni
ted States shall, henceforlh and forever, be fee.
and the Executive Government of the United
States, including the Military and Naval author
tiles thereof will recognize and maintain the free
dom OF such person, 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; and
that the Executive will on the lst day of JANUARY
aforesaid issue a proclamation designating the
STATES and parts OF States, if any, in which the
people therein respectively shall 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 Congress by members
chosen thereto by majority of the qualified vo
ters IN such States, shall, in the absence of strong
countervalllng testimony, be deemed conclusive
evidence that such State or the people thereof are
not in rebellion against the United States.
Now, THEREFORE, |, Abraham Lincoln Presi-
dent of the United States, by virtue of the power
in me vesed as Commander-in- Chief of the Army
and Navy in time of actual rebellion against the
Government of the United States, as a fit and
necessary war measure for suppressing the rebel
lion, do, on this lst day of January 1868, and in
accordance with my purpose to publish my proc
lamation after period of 100 days from the date
OF the first aforementioned order, designate the
States and parts of States therein, the people
whereof respectively are at this day in rebellion
against the United States, to be the following to-
wit:
Arkanaas, Texas, Louisiana, (excepting the
parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemne, jefferson,
ST. John, ST. Charles, Ascension, Assumption,
Terrebonne Laiourche, St. Mary St. Martin, and
New Orleans, including the city Of New Orleans,)
Missis ipp, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South
Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Except 4S
counties, designated as "Western Virginia, and
he other counties of Berkley. Accomac North
hampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Anne,
including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth,)
which excepted parts are for the present left
precisely as if this proclamation were not is
sued.
And by virtue of the power and for the purpose
aforesaid, do order and declare that all persons
held as slaves within these designated States, and
parts of States, and henceforth shall be free ;
and that the Executive Government of the Uni.
ted States, including the military and naval au-
thorty will recognize and maintain the freedom
OF such persons
And hereby enjoin upon the people so declar
ed to be free, to abstain from all violence, unless
in necessary selfdetence; and l 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 he received
into the armed service of the United States, to
garrison the forts, positions, stations and other
places, and TO man vessels of all sorts, in said
service
Upon this, which is sincerely believed to be an
act Of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon
military essty invoke tie confederate iudg-
ment of mankind and the gracious favor Of Al
mighty 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 on the 1st day
of January, A. d.. 1868, and of the Independ-
ence of the United States of America the S7th
year.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President.
WIN. II. SEWARD, Secretary of State.