By the end of the year it appeared that the Press, in holding up horrified hands and prophesying a servile war had "overshot the mark[943]." Soon the changing wind became a gale of public favour for the cause of emancipation, nor was this lessened--rather increased--by Jefferson Davis' proclamation of December 23, 1862, in which he declared that Lincoln had approved "of the effort to excite a servile insurrection," and that therefore it was now ordered "all negro slaves captured in arms be at once delivered over to the executive authorities of the respective States to which they belong, to be dealt with according to the laws of said State." This by state laws meant death to the slave fighting for his freedom, even as a regular soldier in the Northern armies, and gave a good handle for accusations of Southern ferocity[944].
Official opinion was not readily altered, Lyons writing in December that the promised January proclamation might still mean servile war.

He hoped that neither Lincoln's proclamation nor Davis' threat of retaliation would be carried into effect[945].

Russell regarded the January 1 proclamation as "a measure of war of a very questionable kind[946]." But the British anti-slavery public, now recovered from its fears of an "abolition war" was of another temper.

Beginning with the last week of December, 1862, and increasing in volume in each succeeding month, there took place meeting after meeting at which strong resolutions were passed enthusiastically endorsing the issue of the emancipation proclamation and pledging sympathy to the cause of the North.

The _Liberator_ from week to week, listed and commented on these public meetings, noting fifty-six held between December 30, 1862, and March 20, 1863.