Abraham Lincoln Swears He Shall Not Modify The Emancipation Proclamation, Or Return To Slavery Any Person Freed By It

Abraham Lincoln Swears He Shall Not Modify The Emancipation Proclamation, Or Return To Slavery Any Person Freed By It

Slavery
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln
California
abolition

This is a handwritten letter by President Abraham Lincoln to Henry Wright, a member of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery society. Lincoln vows in 1863, not to revoke or modify the Proclamation, or return any slave to their former bonded labour. Although it is not directly linked to California, the source is significant because there was national concern that Lincoln passed the Proclamation under duress from Abolitionists and slaves themselves. If he was coerced, there was the possibility that slaves could become legally enslaved again.
Immigrants and other bonded labourers in California were reassured by this handwritten letter, as it meant that they could join trade unions like regular workers. They were counted as part of the normal working population, although some still faced racial discrimination in the labour market.

Abraham Lincoln, Washington

Shapell Manuscript Foundation, American Civil War Collection

http://www.shapell.org/manuscript/lincoln-emancipation-proclamation-1863

1863

Leah Guy

Shapell Manuscript Foundation

English

Textual - handwritten letter

19th century California