Happy Emancipation Proclamation Day!
That on the first day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any state, or designated part of a state, the people whereof thenceforward, and forever free; and the executive government of the United States [including the military and naval authority thereof] will, during the continuance in office of the present incumbents, recognize [and maintain the freedom of] such persons, as being free, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.
Unsurprisingly, Wikipedia has a good article on the Emancipation Proclamation.
[Quick update: Bryan Carter has a great photo [link no longer works] he mentioned in the comments.]
Great minds think alike.
Surprised me how little I heard about it.
http://blog.carterphotodesign.com/emancipation-proclamation/