The line “ And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaveswithin said designated States, and parts of the States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government ofthe United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons”best characterizes the document because it shows how the slaves were set free only if they fought in the war on the side of the Union.
¨all persons held as slaves within any States, or designated part of the State, the people whereof shall be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.¨
