The National tribune., 1900-05-24

| stAtl
! tram OF men and women who pressed for
ward TO greet tim. The exhausting
ceremonial being endef, the proclamation
which abrogated. finally and forever, the
institution of slavery in the United States,
was handed to himefor his signature. 'Mr.
! Seward" remarked the President. i have
| been shaking hands all day, and my right
hand is almost paralyzed. If my name
ever gets into history, il will be for this act,
and my whole soul is in il. If my hand
! trembleS when [ sign the proclamation,
| those who examine the document hereafter
arm a moment. lie turned to the table.
| took up the pen, and slowly and firmly
wrote. Abraham Linc0ln. He smiled as,
handing the paper to Mr. Seward, he said,
That will do" A few hours after, he
remarked: The signature looks a little
| tremulOuS, for my hand was tired; but my
resolution was firm. told them in Septem-
Der, if they did not return TO their allegi-
ance, | would strike at this pillar of their
strength. And now the promise shall be
kept, and not one word of it will L ever
recall"
The wording of the momentous measure
is as follows:
Whereas, on the 22d day of September,
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation
was issued by the President of the United
|
the following, 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 States or de-
signated part of . State, the people whereof
shall then be in rebellion against the
United States, shall be then, thencefor-
ward and forever free; and the Executive
Government of the United States, in
Guiding the military. and naval authority
thereof, will recognize and maintain the
freedom of such persons, and will do no
act or acts to repfess such persons, or any
of them, in any IlTOrtS they may make for
their actual freedom.
THAT the Executive will, on the first day
OF January Aforesaid, by proclamation,
designate the Sta,es and parts of States,
If any, III which file people thereof respect
lively shall then l.; in rebellion against the
United States; ana the fact that any State,
or the people thereof, shall on that day be
IN good faith REPRESENTED in the Congress
of the United States, by members chosen
thereto at electioyES wherein a majority OF
the qualified voters Of Such State shall have
participated, shall, in the absence Of strong
countervailing testimony, be deemed con-
elusive evidence that such State, and the
people thereof, are not then in rebellion
against the United States.
Now, therefOrr, !, Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States, by virtue
Of the power in me vested as Commander
ln-Chief of the Army and Navy of the
United States i'll iime of actual armed
rebellion against the authority and Govern
ment of the United Safes, and as fit and
necessary war measure for suppressing
said rebellion, do, bn this first day of Janu-
ary in the year % our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-three, and in
accordance with my purpose SO to do,
publicly proclaimed for the full period of
100 days, from the day first above mem
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, Plaque
mines, Jefferson, st. John, st. Charles,
st. James, Ascension, Assumption, Terre
Bonne, Lafourches Ste Marie, St Martin,
and Orleans, including the city of New
Orleansl Mississippi. Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina,
and Virginia Except the 43 Counties de
signated as West Virginia, and also the
Counties Of Berkeley, Accomac, Northamp-
ton, Elizabeth City. York, Princess Anne,
and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk
and PortsmOuth), and which excepted
parts are for the ptcsetit left precisely as if
THIS proclamation Were not issued.
And by virtue OF the power and for the
purpose aforesaid, L do order and declare
that all persons held as slaves within said
designated States and parts of States are
and henceforward Shall be free; and that the
Executive Government of the United States,
including the militia. Y and naval authorities
thereof, will recognize and maintain the
freedom Of said persons.
"And | hereby enjoin upon the people
so declared TO be free to abstain from all
violence unless in necessary self-defense;
and | recommend to them that, in all cases
when allowed, they labor faithfully for
reasonable wages.
7 i
that 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 act, sincerely believed
to be an act Of Justice, warranted by the Con-
stltution, upon military necessity, l invoke
the considerate Judgment of mankind and
the gracious favor of Almighty God.
In testimony whereof, | have hereunto
set my name, and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed.
Done at the City Of Washington, this 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 the eighty-scyenth.
By the President:
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
WILLIAM II. SEWARD,
Secretary Of State"
PARTICULARS OF THE GREAT DOCU-
MENT.
1t is stated that Mr.. Lincoln gave the
most earnest study 10 the composition of
the Emancipation Proclamation. He real
lied. as he afterwards said, that the proc
lamation was.the central act of his Admin
istration, and the great event of the 10Th
century. When the document was com
pleted, a printed copy of it was placed
in the hands Of each member of the Cabinet,
and criticisms and suggestions were in
vited. MIR. Chase remarked: This paper
is Of the utmost importance, greater than |
any state paper ever made by this Govern |
ment. 4 paper Of so much importance, |
and involving the liberties of so many
people, ought, think. TO make some refer |
ence to Deity. | do not observe anything |
Of the kind in it," Mr.. Lincoln said: No, |
overlooked il. Some reference to Deity |
must be inserted. Mr.. Chase, won't you |
make draft of what you think ought to |
be inserted?" Mr.. Chase promised 70 do so, |
and at the next meeting presented the |
following: "And upon this act, sincerely |
believed 10 be an act of justice, warranted by /
the Constitution, upon military necessity, |
invoke the considerate Judgment of man
kind and the gracious favor of Almighty |
God" When Mr.. Lincoln read the para
graph, Mr.. Chase said: You may not |
approve it, but thought this, or something
like it, would be appropriate" Lincoln |