Original Emancipation Proclamation Goes on View

NY Lawyer ^ | 2/18/05 | Carl Hartman

[Libloather]

Emancipation Proclamation Goes on View
New York Lawyer
February 18, 2005
By Carl Hartman
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation declaring the end to slavery goes on public view Friday as part of Black History Month celebrations.

The document will be on display at the National Archives, where visitors regularly see the original Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

The poor quality of the paper and ink on the final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation make it vulnerable to light, so it has been only occasionally brought out of storage. It was last seen on Jan. 19, 2004, the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.

The proclamation, issued in the midst of the Civil War on Jan. 1, 1863, said:

"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."

The proclamation, issued in the midst of the Civil War, applied only to areas under the control of the rebel Confederate States of America. So it had no practical effect on any individual. Slave states which had not joined the confederacy, and areas of others occupied by the Northern forces, were exempted.

But it served the military purpose of making trouble for the South. It asked blacks to refrain from violence but encouraged them to seek the protection of Northern armies. It eroded support of the South by European governments avid for southern cotton.

The proclamation was followed by state and federal action over the next two years until the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified after the collapse of the confederacy and Lincoln's assassination, ending two centuries of bondage in North America.

[Libloather]

The original Emancipation Proclamation sits in the Rotunda of the National Archives building on Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

This is an undated photo provided by the National Archives of the last page of the Emancipation Proclamation. President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation declaring the end to slavery goes on public view Friday as part of Black History Month celebrations. The document will be on display at the National Archives, where visitors regularly see the original Constitution and Declaration of Independence. The poor quality of the paper and ink on the final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation make it vulnerable to light, so it has been only occasionally brought out of storage. It was last seen on Jan. 19, 2004, the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. (AP Photo/National Archives)

Image provided by the National Archives of the first page of the Emancipation Proclmation. President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation declaring the end to slavery goes on public view Friday as part of Black History Month celebrations. The document will be on display at the National Archives, where visitors regularly see the original Constitution and Declaration of Independence. The poor quality of the paper and ink on the final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation make it vulnerable to light, so it has been only occasionally brought out of storage. It was last seen on Jan. 19, 2004, the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. (AP Photo/National Archives)

[writer33]

Now wasn't Lincoln a Republican? I'm having a little trouble with that.

[mass55th]

New York State has Lincoln's Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. It had originally been donated by Lincoln to help raise money for the Soldiers. A lottery was held and Gerritt Smith of Peterboro, New York, a noted Abolitionist, won the document for the sum of $1.00. He turned it over to the Sanitary Commission so they could sell it to raise more money. It was eventually purchased by the State Legislature for the New York State Library. Here's the link to the website:

Click Here

By the way, Peterboro is approximately a half-hour or less away from me. Smith was an early supporter of John Brown and provided monetary funds to his cause. After Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, fearing that he would be picked up as an accomplice of Brown's, Smith signed himself into the Utica Lunatic Asylum for a few months until the hoopla quieted down.

[utahguy]

Now wasn't Lincoln a Republican? I'm having a little trouble with that.

Why the trouble? The Republican party was founded on anti slavery. It was the demorats that were pro slavery. Simple truth.

[utahguy]

Interesting facts! Thanks for the memory load.

[southronbtgoG]

The first paragraph is pretty interesting.

[swmobuffalo]

It didn't free any slave and "protection" by the Northern army was a joke.

[writer33]

Why the trouble? The Republican party was founded on anti slavery. It was the demorats that were pro slavery. Simple truth.

I was being sarcastic.

[AmericanInTokyo]

What a beautiful and wonderful document.

Long live the United States of America.

I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America. And to the Republic, for which it stands, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank God (and He had something to do with it), that the United States of America won the Great Civil War.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Hey! Now THAT was a nice FR complement.

I know others' here probably hate my guts.

[savedbygrace]

We can spot that fake accent a mile away, yank.

[swmobuffalo]

You need to go back and do some serious historical research. You'll find that what you said ain't exactly so.