New York Times
Autumn Hines
Change is Advancing with Announced Proclamation
In despite of our country's position, President Abraham Lincoln has issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The Proclamation declares "that all persons held as slaves "within the rebellious states" are, and henceforward shall be free." This only applies to the states that withdraw from the Union. In other words, slavery is untouched In the loyal boarder states. The Proclamation is exceedingly wordy, but the importance of the promised freedom upon Union military victory is great.
Proclmation doesn't Grant Freedom to All
The Proclamation does not grant freedom to all slaves in United States however, only to those living in states not under our Union's control. "We show our sympathy with slavery by emancipating slaves where we cannot reach them," comments secretary of state William Seward, "and holding them in bondage where we can set them free." President Lincoln doesn't want to provoke loyal slave states by setting free their slaves.
Soldiers are desperately needed in the Union. The Proclamation allows black soldiers to fight. Gen. John C. Fremont, in Missouri , and Gen. David Hunter, in South Carolina, issued proclamations that freed slaves in their regions and allowed them to enlist, their superiors strongly repel their orders. President Lincoln believes without a doubt all slaves should be emancipated. It will be a gradual change for a nation. The Proclamation was just one step in many toward freedom.