Peter Carl Frederik v. Scholten

The Emancipation Proclamation

Hans Kongelige Majestæts
Venders og Gothers, Hertug til Schlesvig, Holsteen, Stormarn, Ditmarsken, Launenorg og Oldenborg
Bestalter
Kammerherre, Storkors af Dannebroge og Dannebrogmand, Storkors af Isabella den Catholskes Orden, Storofficeer af Æreslegionen, Commandeur  af Guelphe Ordenen, Ridder af Ordenen du merite militaire, General Gouverneur over de danske vestindiske Öer,
I Peter Carl Frederik v. Scholten
Maketh known:

  1. All Unfree in the Danish Westindian Islands are from today emancipated.
  2. The Estate Negroes retain for three months from date the use of the houses and provision grounds, of which they have hitherto been possessed.
  3. Labour is in future to be paid for by agreement, but allowance is to cease.
  4. The maintenance of old and infirm, who are not able to work, is until further determination to be furnished by the late owners.

Given under The General Governments seal and my hand.
The General Government of the Danish Westindian Islands,
St. Croix, the 3rd of July, 1848.[L.S.] P. v. Scholten

Governor-General Peter von Scholten had this bilingual poster printed immediately on the night of July 3-4, 1848, publicizing his decision to abolish slavery effective immediately. The poster was put up everywhere in the Danish West Indies in the days to come. (The Danish National Archives).

Emancipation Proclamation