At no point in the proclamation did Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane mention the words slaves or slavery, but this was clearly his intention. Runaway slaves had already been coming out to British ships to gain freedom.
This was a two-fold attempt at weakening the Americans.
First, these slaves could be enlisted to serve on British warships who were always in need of more crew members as well as the Colonial Marines.
Plus, the loss of slaves hurt the American economy.
With British ships in the Chesapeake Bay area, it was hoped that slaves would get out to the ships in vast numbers from the numerous plantations.
Essentially, this document could be read to be as an instrument of freedom.
The Free Black settlement at Willow Grove in New Brunswick Province in Canada was a result of the proclamation.
I'd definitely call this an early Emancipation Proclamation.
--Brock-Perry
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