Chapter 29: Chapter 27: The Emancipation Proclamation (Begone Slavery!)

"And the protests?"

Thomas Jefferson was not an intimidating man, per se. Even though he stood tall at six feet two, his posture and presence made him seem significantly smaller than he actually was. However, when he spoke, everyone around him became attentive towards him. His articulate speeches and natural intellect made people gravitate towards him. This was especially evident when Congress was gathered for its regular meetings.

Benjamin Franklin, a close colleague of Jefferson, answered the Virginian's questions, "It's fairly under control, though we have received reports of slave owners being attacked on the streets. The people are visibly outraged at the atrocities committed by the Loyalists in South Carolina. Along with the drawings of the slaves that we received from General Kim being printed on the newspapers, the public's opinion has swung significantly towards supporting independence and abolition."

Jefferson nodded his head as he took in the sight of the room. The atmosphere of the room was tense, especially so since some of the representatives in the room were slave owners. The recent publications about Major Marion's atrocities and the brutal treatment of slaves have done wonders to boost the Patriot cause. The people were angry at the British, and rightfully so. Any thoughts of making peace with the British were already out the window as the support for independence grew stronger and stronger. The news was also sent overseas to Spain and France, in hopes of pushing the two European nations into war against Britain. While Congress did not know the direct impact of their actions, they were going to discover the results soon enough.

Normally, this would have made the members of Congress ecstatic. The war was going well, the people were behind their Declaration, and they were building the foundations of a new nation, one that would one day be one of the strongest on Earth. Yet the letter they had just received from General Kim turned the entire Congress on its head.

The document that they had in front of them was a piece of text written by General Kim himself. After securing Orangeburg from the British, General Kim made this document public and enforced the content of it throughout the liberated parts of South Carolina. Although the Declaration was more impactful, this document was revolutionary in itself.

The Emancipation Proclamation.

People outside of the southern states were beginning to warm up to the idea of abolition, despite protests in Maryland and Virginia. However, they were in favor of a more gradual abolition after the war ended.

But the Emancipation Proclamation was an announcement, a proclamation that all slaves that were within the Loyalist parts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida were now free. While it didn't directly free any slaves in the other colonies, the representatives of the slave-holding colonies were worried that it may affect the slaves in the Patriot held lands and make them restless. It was a valid concern, but the Proclamation was already being enforced by General Kim and even General Washington if words were to be believed. In fact, General Washington also endorsed the Proclamation and was spreading it to the other units fighting in the Southern Theater.

"As we all know, despite General Kim's rather bombastic way of making his point, he was not exaggerating when he revealed the crimes committed by the Loyalists in South Carolina," Samuel Chase, a Maryland representative, stated, "However, this Proclamation was made without our consent and may result in instability throughout Maryland and Virginia, amongst other states."

"And leave the slaves to rot and be enslaved by the Loyalists?" John Adams retorted, "His actions may be extreme, but his words are not wrong. The Loyalists in South Carolina have betrayed us in the name of slavery and have done everything they can to maintain this abhorrent practice. This Proclamation will not only sap their strength but turn any Freedman or slaves against them."

"Even so, he is getting far too political and too independent from our affairs."

Adams' eyes narrowed, "Are you suggesting something, Representative Chase?"

The opposition silenced themselves immediately. While General Kim was still a mystery and a non-white to boot, there was no doubt in his abilities and his success. And to an extent, many of the representatives agreed with the Proclamation's intent. The Loyalists in South Carolina could not go unpunished for their actions.

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"Perhaps it will be helpful to read the content of the document once again. After all, there is a reason why this document was sent to us first before it was to be sent to other groups outside of South Carolina." Jefferson cleared his throat and read the document that was placed in front of him,

"That on the twentieth of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, all persons held as slaves within any Colony or designated part of a Colony, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion and a state of war against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Continental Army will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, 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.

"That Lieutenant General Samuel Kim and Commander in Chief George Washington will, on this day, designate the Colonies and designated parts of the Colonies, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in a state of war against the United States; and the fact that any Colony, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Continental Congress of the United States by members chosen to represent their respective Colony shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such Colony, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States."

Now, therefore we, Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief George Washington, by virtue of the power vested to us by the Continental Congress in time of actual armed rebellion and war against the authority and assembly of Congress, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing threats to our security, do, on this twentieth of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the Colonies and parts of Colonies wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in armed rebellion and hostilities against the United States, the following, to wit:

The occupied territories of the colony of South Carolina under allegiance to the government in Charles Town and the British Crown, the colony of Georgia under the allegiance of the British Crown, the colony of West Florida under the allegiance of the British Crown, and the colony of East Florida under the allegiance of the British Crown

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, we do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated Colonies, and parts of Colonies, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the leadership of the Continental Army will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

And we hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defense; and we recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

And we further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the Continental Army to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Declaration of Independence upon military necessity, we invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God."

"Elegant, yet powerful. Nowhere in this document does General Kim or General Washington declare themselves acting above our authority, but merely using the powers bestowed upon them to carry out the war against the Loyalist and British. I believe we should allow this Proclamation to stand and see the war through."

"Here here!" The representatives in favor of abolition, which numbered a fair amount more than those that opposed the radical Proclamation, cried out.

"Order!" Hancock banged his gavel as he presided over the room, "We shall have a vote on this at a later date after we discuss and debate the matter thoroughly. And the next item on our agenda is a medal in honor of Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. I believe there were motions to name a medal for valor after the general..."

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