a state paper issued by President Lincoln, Jan. 1, 1863, by which all slaves in the states or parts of states actually engaged in rebellion and unrepresented in Congress, or not in possession of the Union armies, were freed. It was justified as a "fit and necessary war measure" and had been contemplated by Lincoln for many months. On Sept. 22, 1862, after the victory at Antietam, he had made a preliminary announcement of his intention. The proclamation aroused intense interest and was denounced by many as an unwarranted, unconstitutional and tyrannical act.