April 10, 1862.

By the president of the united states of America: 

A Proclamation

It has pleased Almighty God to vouchsafe signal victories to the land and naval forces engaged in suppressing, an internal rebellion, and at the same time to avert from our country the dangers of foreign intervention and invasion.

It is therefore recommended to the people of the United States that at their next weekly assemblages in their accustomed places of public worship which shall occur after notice of this proclamation shall have been received, they especially acknowledge and render thanks to our Heavenly Father for these inestimable blessings, that they then and there implore spiritual consolation in behalf of all who have been brought into affliction by the casualties and calamities of sedition and civil war, and that they reverently invoke the divine guidance for our national counsels, to the end that they may speedily result in the restoration of peace, harmony, and unity throughout our borders and hasten the establishment of fraternal relations among all the countries of the earth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this tenth day of April, A.D. 1862, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-sixth.

Abraham Lincoln.

By the President: 
William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

ABOLISHING SLAVERY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Message to congress.  April 16, 1862.

Fellow-citizens of the Senate and house of representatives:  The act entitled “An act for the relief of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia” has this day been approved and signed.

I have never doubted the constitutional authority of Congress to abolish slavery in this District, and I have ever desired to see the national capital freed from the institution in some satisfactory way.  Hence there has never been in my mind any question on the subject except the one of expediency, arising in view of all the circumstances.  If there be matters within and about this act which might have taken a course or shape more satisfactory to my judgment, I do not attempt to specify them.  I am gratified that the two principles of compensation and colonization are both recognized and practically applied in the act.

In the matter of compensation, it is provided that claims may be presented within ninety days from the passage of the act, “but not thereafter”; and there is no saving for minors, femmes covert, insane or absent persons.  I presume this is an omission by mere oversight, and I recommend that it be supplied by an amendatory or supplemental act.