“President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation — courageously declaring that on January 1, 1863, 'all persons held as slaves' in rebellious areas 'shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free,'” President Obama stated today. An anniversary marked by the nation's first black president.
President Barack Obama issued a proclamation marking the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued January 1, 1863.
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WASHINGTON — President Obama issued a proclamation on Monday recognizing Tuesday as the 150th anniversary of one of the most well-known presidential proclamations, the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Lincoln in the midst of the Civil War that freed Southern slaves.
"As the weariness of an old year gave way to the promise of a new one, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation — courageously declaring that on January 1, 1863, 'all persons held as slaves' in rebellious areas 'shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free,'" Obama wrote.
The fact that Obama, the nation's first black president, is leading the nation at the anniversary is seen as one of the most tangible signs of the long road the nation has traveled on race relations. Yet the anniversary comes even as the Supreme Court continues to wrestle with issues of affirmative action and voting rights for black Americans.
Regarding the Southern states, Lincoln wrote in his proclamation, "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."
Noting the questionable basis for the proclamation, Lincoln only wrote at the time, "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."
Of Lincoln's actions then, Obama this week proclaimed, "He knew that in these United States, no dream could ever be beyond our reach when we affirm that individual liberty is served, not negated, by seeking the common good."
Referencing the amendments to the Constitution that followed, as well as ongoing efforts to advance equality, Obama added, "It is that spirit that made emancipation possible and codified it in our Constitution. It is that belief in what we can do together that moved millions to march for justice in the years that followed. And today, it is a legacy we choose not only to remember, but also to make our own."
The Emancipation Proclamation
Via: archives.gov
Via: archives.gov