Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-01-03
The Proclamation Of Emancipation.

By THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA-A PROCLAMATION Whereas, on
the twenty second day of September, in the
year Of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and six'y-two, a Proclamation was issued by
the President Of the United States containing
among other things the following, to wit
That on the First Day of January, in the
Year of oar Lord One thousand Eight Hun
! dred and Sixty three,a persons held as Slaves
within any State, Or designated parts of State,
the people whereof shall then be in rebellion
against the United States, shall be thencefor-
ward and FOREVER FREE, and the Executive
Government of the United States, including
the Military aud 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 efforts
they may make for their actual freedom
That the Executive wiIl on the first
day of January aforesaid, by Proclamation,
designate the States and parts of States, if
any, in which the people thereof respectively
| 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 n the Congress of ths Unit
ed States by Members chosen thetetc at elec
tCnS wherein majority of the qualified voters
OF such State shall have participa ed, shall, in
the absence OF strong countegvailiDg testmo.
ny, be deemed conclusive evidence that such
State and the people thereof are cot then in
Rebellion against the United States"
Now, therefore, |, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Pres
ident of the United States, by virtue of the
power in me vested as Commanderin 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
aud as fit and necessary war measure for
suppressing said Rebellion, do, on this first
day Of January, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight handred and sixty three, and
in accordance with my purpose so to do, pub
liciy 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 folio ling to wit -
Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Except Parishes
| of ST. Bernard Pl2qucmines Jefferson. ST.
Charles, St. James, Ascension. Assumption,
Terre Bonne, Latourche, St Marie, st. Mar
TN, and Orleans, including the City Of New
OreanS) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida,
" il.alt
| Virginia, (eXcept the iogty-cight counties Ges
ignated as West Virginia, and also the coun
ties OF Bcrkeiy, Ac, omac, NORTHAMPTON, Eliz
abeth City, York, Princess Aun and Norfolk,
Including the cities Of Norfolk and Ports
mouth, and which excepted parts are, for
the present, left precisely as if this procama
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 said designa.
ted States and parts OF States, are, and hence
forward shall be free, and that the Executive
Government OF the Uaited States including
the Military and Naval Authorities thereof,
will recognize and maintain the freedom of
said persons.
And hereby enjoin upon the people so de-
clared to be free to abstain from all violence,
unless in necessary self defense and recon
mend to them that in all cases. when allowed,
they labor faithfully for reasonable wares.
And further declare and make known that
such persons, CT suitable coudtion, will be
received into The armed service of the United
States to garrison forts, positions, stations,
and other places, aud to man vessels of all
sorts in said service.
And upon this act, sincerely believed to be
an act of Justice, warranted by the Consttu-
ton, upon military necessity, | invoke the
con>iderate judgement Of mankind and the
gracioas favor Of Almighty God
In testimony whereof l have hcreunto set
my hand and caased the seal Of the United |
States to be affixed
Done a the City of Washington, this first
day of January in the Year OF our Lord |
One Thousand Eight Hundred and Six !
L s. II three, and of the independence Of the |
United States of America the Eighty |
seventh.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN. |
By the presideHt-WM H. SEWARD
Secretary of State.