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.

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.

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.

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.

     In testimony whereof, I 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-seventh.

     By the President:  ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

     WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

It is stated that Lincoln gave the most earnest study to the composition of the Emancipation Proclamation.  He realized, as he afterwards said, that the proclamation was the central act of his administration and the great event of the nineteenth century.  When the document was completed a printed copy of it was placed in the hands of each member of the Cabinet, and criticisms and suggestions were invited.  Mr. Chase remarked:  “This paper is of the utmost importance, greater than any state paper ever made by this Government.  A paper of so much importance, and involving the liberties of so many people, ought, I think, to make some reference to Deity.  I do not observe anything of the kind in it.”  Lincoln said:  “No, I overlooked it.  Some reference to Deity must be inserted.  Mr. Chase, won’t you make a draft of what you think ought to be inserted?” Mr. Chase promised to do so, and at the next meeting presented the following:  “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.”  When Lincoln read the paragraph, Mr. Chase said:  “You may not approve it, but I thought this, or something like it, would be appropriate.”  Lincoln replied:  “I do approve it; it cannot be bettered, and I will adopt it in the very words you have written.”