Emancipation Proclamation

by the President of the United States of America: A Proclamation

January 1, 1863

1. Whereas on the 22nd day of September, A.D. 1862, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

Translation: The President of the United States issued this proclamation with the following provisions:

2. That on the 1st day of January, A.D. 1863, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then thenceforward, and forever free; and the executive government 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 efforts they may make for their actual freedom.

Translation: All persons held as slaves in the rebellious states are now and forever free. The executive branch, army and navy recognizes and protects the slaves and will not prevent them from gaining their freedom.

3. That the executive will on the 1st 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 in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a 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 then in rebellion against the United States.

Translation: Also, the President identifies the rebellious states as those that do not have representatives in the U.S. Congress who were chosen by election by majority.

4. Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States in  time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this 1st day of January, A.D. 1863, and in accordance with my purpose so to do, publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days from the first day above mentioned 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:

Translation: President Lincoln is doing what he said he would do 100 days ago by presenting the Emancipation Proclamation on this day, January 1, 1863. Further, he will identify the rebellious states by name, and again, and state that they are in rebellion against the U.S. and the U.S. is trying to end the conflict.

5. Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana (except the parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James, Ascension, Assumption, Terebonne, 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 forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkeley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Anne, and Norfold, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth), and which excepted parts are fro the present left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

Translation: The rebellious states are named above with exceptions noted within their borders. Note the mentioned of West Virginia, which became a state by breaking away from the state of Virginia. West Virginia residents supported the North, whereas Virginia residents supported the South.

6. And by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid, I 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 military and naval authorities thereof will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

Translation: The president as commander-in-chief of the army and navy uses his authority to order that all persons held as slaves in the states previously mentioned are free now and in the future. And the president, army and navy recognizes and protects their freedom.

7. And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defense; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

Translation: Lincoln asks that the freed slaves refrain from violence except in self-defense and recommends that wherever possible that they find jobs paying a wage.

8. And I 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.

Translation: Lincoln declares that freed persons that are physically able can join the military.

9. And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

Translation: Lincoln believe this action to be an "act of justice" made legal by the U.S. Constitution and supported by military action. He asks mankind and God to find favor in this proclamation.

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