Emancipation Proclamation

“[T]he 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.”

Lincoln continues with the citation from the preliminary announcement by discussing the importance of the US government and the military upholding and carrying out this abolition order. Specifically, Lincoln urges that these two entities must not prevent formerly enslaved peoples’ escape or other actions related to exercising their right to freedom. This example is one of many that demonstrate Lincoln’s demanding and direct tone throughout the proclamation.

“[A]nd 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 State 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.”

Once again, the repetition of the previous announcement emphasizes that this information was previously announced. Lincoln includes this section to illustrate that states within the Confederacy had the opportunity to rejoin the Union through congressional representation. He uses political jargon to demonstrate the specific process for rejoining to ensure there is no confusion for the reader.

“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.”

Lincoln uses the first person to affirm his authority and power not only as president but especially as commander-in-chief. He includes his title to clarify that these actions are within his power because they are a military decision that was “necessary” to win the war.

“Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, 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 Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.”

Lincoln explicitly lists the states that are in rebellion to clarify which states this proclamation affects. Because this is a legally binding document, Lincoln includes explicit detail to ensure there is no confusion about which areas are impacted. This rhetorical tactic also works to directly address and intimidate the Confederacy.

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

Lincoln uses active voice to make his sentences concise and clear. In this case, he specifically addresses the formerly enslaved people to stress that he wants emancipation to occur without violence. He makes it a point to clarify that if violence does occur, it is because of self-defense. In doing so, he acknowledges that emancipation will not be easy, especially considering the Confederacy was created to uphold slavery. In the last line, he encourages Black Americans to work for a wage, which suggests the start of officially recognizing their freedom and rights within the United States.

“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.”

This passage provides another example of active voice used to clearly outline the proclamation’s aims, including granting formerly enslaved people the freedom to join the military. Lincoln lists the potential areas they may serve, which makes it clear that they can hold a higher position of authority within the service. This implicitly suggests the steps toward equality and how authority helps justify those actions.