Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Use of the term "Emancipation Proclamation" in March 1862

I realize that Abraham Lincoln sent a message to Congress on March 6, 1862, recommending compensated gradual emancipation of slaves in states that were willing to have slaves in their states gradually emancipated, but this is the first time I have seen the term "Emancipation Proclamation" used in reference to that message (or any message besides the preliminary and official proclamations Lincoln issued September 22, 1862 and January 1, 1863.

This is from the Covington Journal of March 15, 1862 and is a brief story entitled "Almost a Secessionist."

The Cincinnati Commercial's Washington correspondent says that on Thursday in the Senate Garrett Davis made "almost a secession speech" on the President's Emancipation Proclamation."

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It seems like a year later that term would carry much more meaning to anybody reading it.

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