"All Persons Held As Slaves Shall Be Forever Free"
Happy Emancipation Proclamation Day!
On Sept 22, 1862, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation:
“…all persons held as
slaves within any State or designated part of a State the people
whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall
be then, thenceforward, and forever free;
Now, like many government proclamations, there was more to read in the fine print. This is a good summary, but essentially, Lincoln knew that his powers as President, even during wartime, were limited, and he was only able to free slaves in the confederate (rebellious) states.
Regardless, a great day for human freedom. Raise a glass to Abe Lincoln tonight.