all slaves of persons who shall hereafter be engaged in rebellion against the Government of the United States, or who shall in any way give aid or comfort thereto, escaping from such persons and taking refuge within the lines of the…

on the 1st day of January, A. D. 1863, all persons held as slaves within any State the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free

it is my purpose, upon the next meeting of Congress, to again recommend the adoption of a practical measure tendering pecuniary aid to the free acceptance or rejection of all slave States

all officers or persons in the military or naval service of the United States are prohibited from employing any of the forces under their respective commands for the purpose of returning fugitives from service or labor

the war will be prosecuted for the object of practically restoring the constitutional relation between the United States and each of the States

no slave escaping into any State, Territory, or the District of Columbia from any other State shall be delivered up or in any way impeded or hindered of his liberty except for crime or some offense against the laws

My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.

Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.

Ordered, That the general-in-chief, Major-General Halleck, immediately commence, and proceed with all possible despatch; to organize an army, for active operations, from all the material within and coming within his control, independent of…

By direction of the President, all the clerks and employees of the civil Departments and all the employees on the public buildings in Washington will be immediately organized into companies, under the direction of Brigadier-General…

It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong.

If the old regiments should not be filled up by volunteers before the 1st day of September, a special draft will be ordered for the deficiency.

The draft for 300,000 militia called for by the President will be made on Wednesday, the 3d day of September, between the hours of 9 a. m. and 5 p.m., and continue from day to day between the same hours until completed.

No citizen liable to be drafted into the militia shall be allowed to go to a foreign country.

All marshals, deputy marshals, and military officers of the United States are directed to arrest and detain any person or persons about to depart from the United States in violation of this order.

The writ of habeas corpus is hereby suspended in respect to all persons so arrested and detained.

Any person liable to draft who shall absent himself from his county or State before such draft is made will be arrested.

I know General McClellan wishes to be successful, and I know he does not wish it any more than the Secretary of War for him, and both of them together no more than I wish it.