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First African-American to speak at the Capitol...
First African-American to speak at the Capitol...
Item # 655307
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February 13, 1865
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Feb. 13, 1865
* Henry Highland Garnet - minister - abolitionist
* 1st African American to speak to Congress
* re. end of slavery during the Civil War
The ftpg. is filled with Civil War-related content, among which is are subheads including: "Great War Meeting in Richmond--Speech of Sec. Benjamin...He Advocates the Arming of Negroes--Fierce Denunciation of Yankees, but Very Little Comfort for Rebels".
Page 4 has an extremely significant item in Black history, being an inconspicuous report noting: "The Rev. Henry Highland Garnett, the well-known colored minister, preached in the hall of the House of Representatives yesterday morning by invitation...A large crowd of both white and colored auditors was in attendance...This is the first instance of a colored clergyman preaching at the Capitol, and occasions much comment in all circles." Actually Rev. Garnett was the first Black of any profession to speak in the Capitol. His sermon was concerning the abolition of slavery.
Also of note is a pg. 5 item headed: "The Freedmen in Georgia" "Report of the Conference between Secretary Stanton, Gen. Sherman and the Colored People of Savannah". And the back page has: "The Arming of Slaves in Congress" plus: "The Rebel General Lee on the Situation" as well as: "The Question of Arming the Negroes"
Complete in 8 pages in very good condition.
wikipedia notes: When the federal government approved creating black units, Garnet helped with recruiting United States Colored Troops. He moved with his family to Washington, DC, so that he could support the black soldiers and the war effort. He preached to many of them while serving as pastor of the prominent Liberty (Fifteenth) Street Presbyterian Church from 1864 until 1866. During this time, Garnet was the first black minister to preach to the US House of Representatives, addressing them on 12 February 1865 about the end of slavery.
Category: Yankee
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