when he attended. you may have heard the bells. the lincoln chimes. they were a gift of the robert litan family. when composites son -- lincoln's son. it is the only memorial to the president given by the president's family. we're plaid to have that here -- we are proud to have that here. we have those items preserved along with numeral personal items to the president and first lady. link imposter death that on display downstairs. -- lincoln's death bed on display downstairs. a document written and signed by him 1862, right after he would've signed d.c. emancipation.

that document describes a come and save -- compromise emancipation plan, his last ever to get slaveholding border states to sell their slaves to the federal government so that they could be out of that is this. when he rejected that, he began to discuss the process of the emancipation proclamation. we believe, as ron white points out, that pastor girly's relationship with mr. lincoln helped mr. lincoln develop a higher understanding of his relationship with his god and allowed him to think through clearly from a religious perspective, how vehement patient proclamation can best be described and encompassed. with that, we are ready to begin

the program. i would like to introduce edna green medford. history professor and chairperson at howard university. shields degrees from hampton institute and the university of illinois and her phd is in history from the university of maryland. dr. medford specializes in 19 country united states history and teaches courses on the jacksonian era and civil war and reconstruction. she frequently does c-span productions. that is what the character -- what the camera is here for. featured in several smithsonian documentaries. member of many advisory boards for the study and promotion of

history. she is a member of the executive committee of the lincoln forum. her many honors include the 2013 professor of the year award at howard university. in 2012 lincoln award for the district of columbia and a bicentennial edition of the order of lincoln granted to 30 international recipients by the state of illinois. she is never hated -- she is never hesitated to help group projects. it is with great pleasure that i introduce her to you today. dr. edna green medford. [applause] >> good afternoon. can you hear me? ok.

i would like to thank john o'brien and the members of the lincoln group of the district of columbia for the opportunity to participate in this special program, commemorating the 13th amendment. shortly before abraham lincoln took his first oath of office as president, congress passed a resolution that ought to guarantee that the federal government could never impose its will on the states in regards to slavery. his action had resulted to concerns of already left the union and it was feared that more would follow. peace conference was convened under the leadership of john tyler of virginia. john tyler was from my home county in virginia, charles city county.

i don't let that pass without pointing that out. he may not have been the most popular president, but he was resident. -- he was president. the delegates from 21 states settled on resolutions that were recommended to congress and adopted the corwin amendment. the measure prohibited congress from an acting any law that would allow it to abolish or interfere with the domestic and touche's of any state. within three weeks of the president taking office, he performed his official duty by sending the resolutions of the state for resolution. only ohio and maryland approved. four years later congress

approved another resolution which was later ratified as the 13th amendment. rather than protecting slavery in perpetuity, it prohibited the institution brought the nation except as punishment for crime. this reversal of sentiment reflected the changes brought about a war. try as he might, the new president could not convinced southerners that there property and slaves was faith under his best was safe under his administration his hope -- his

hope was that the associated states would realize their number would never increase to beyond where it currently stood. and hence, would give up their bid for independence. when none made an effort to rid itself of slavery, he issued a proclamation of emancipation based on military necessity. lincoln and supporters recognized that his decree might not be sustainable once the war had ended. moreover, he understood that its provisions were limited by his authority as commander-in-chief. affecting only those enslaved by state still in rebellion it's provisions were withheld. more than 3 million people were promised freedom to the proclamation.

how to eliminate slavery throughout the country and for all time became the subject of debate. the adoption and ratification of a constitutional amendment however obvious it may appear to us today, was not a foregone conclusion. with the exception of the bill of rights, the constitution have been amended only twice. no new amendment had been ratified 1804 and many believed no for the revision was indicated. the political climate and public sentiment encourage support for an amendment as casualties mounted. northerners became convinced that the divisiveness caused by slavery's presence anywhere in the country was too great a cost to bear. swayed by the argument that emancipation was dealing solution tuber -- northern

residents sent petitions to congress, calling for action. indicative of this effort was the women's national loyal league which under the leadership of elizabeth 80 stanton -- elizabeth cady stanton, collected signatures and collected -- and presented them for delivery to the senate. by summer, the number of signatures had reached 400,000. in the border states, growth in the ranks of anti-slavery democrats pressed the cause of perpetual freedom for all. in the meantime, in december 1863, republican senator james ashley proposed a bill that would quote amend the national costs touche and hitting slavery

-- the ashley proposals followed by another from iowa republican congressman james wilson. when the blended hill reached the floor, and encountered opposition. kentucky owes said problems any issue involving removal -- the removal of slavery from the nation. it was a thorn in the side of the north in terms of how it protected slavery. the subsequent vote failed to meet the necessary two thirds majority needed to have it passed. in the senate, john brooks henderson of missouri introduced joint resolution.

henderson represented the kind of leadership on the destruction of slavery that lincoln had fought -- sought in the first year of war. on february 10, chairman of the committee reported the revised measure to the entire senate. the bill incorporated features of the proposals that have been submitted for consideration in both houses of congress. absent from the revised measure was a proposal by senator sumner and have been more radical than his fellows in congress could abide. stimulation that all persons are equal before the law so that no person can hold another as a slave, aimed to guarantee equality as well as abolish slavery.

the senate opened debate on the amendment in late march. if the amendment was, he argued we are forever free this question. we accomplish what the statesman of this country have been traveling to accomplish for years. we take this question away from the politics of the country. we relieve congress of sectional strife and what is that are then all, we restored to a whole race that freedom which is theirs from the gift of god but that we have wickedly denied them for generations. he urged fellow legislators to outlaw slavery in order to

ensure a prosperous and permanent he's. when the senate voted on april 8, it approved the amendment 38-6. support for a constitutional amendment from border state senators and representatives such as johnson, did not imply that there was a lessening of objections to extending rights to african-americans. in response to suggestions that abolition would lead to clinical rights for the newly emancipated, henderson argued we give the slave no right except his freedom and leave the rest to the state. few were naive enough to believe that any of the state in the confederacy or in the unions play folding states -- union slave holding states what extend rights to free people. there were many states in the north that were denying black

men certain rights. black women -- women nowhere were given the right to vote so it was about mostly the issue was about voting rights for black men. as the debates unfolded in the house and senate in early 1864, the president inflamed -- reframed from expressing any opinion on the merits of a constitutional amendment. when congressman isaac arnold pressed him to use the occasion of his message to congress in december 1863 to recommend such an amendment, lincoln declined apparently because he continued to favor state-controlled abolition. john did freeze of indiana suggested that he send a message to congress endorsing an amendment that would prohibit slavery forever. it would be your measure, he stressed.

if not done soon, the proposition will be presented by the democracy and claimed by them as their proposition. lincoln offered a terse reply our own friends have this under separation now and will do as much without a message as with it. he would not offer public support for such an amendment to june, after the senate had approved the measure but before it fell to defeat in the house. aware of the opposition to slavery and eager to maintain preeminence as the anti-slavery party, the republicans used the occasion of their national convention to remind the electorate that their policies had the best chance at success. while meeting in baltimore and now calling themselves the national union party they

adopted a platform that blamed slavery for the current state of affairs. argued that justice demanded its destruction and called for a constitutional amendment that would "terminate and forever prohibit the existence of slavery within the limits of the jurisdiction of the united states." despite concern that the president might not be to win pre-election, hughes nominated on the first ballot. he expressed gratitude for the party's continuing competence and him and would officially accept renomination after he read the platform. he wanted them to know he approved the declaration favoring a constitutional amendment. he recalled that the seceded states had been given 100 days to return to the human and promised no harm would come to slavery. when the state ignored a notice

-- he urged union men everywhere to give legal form and practical effects. he was on board by this time. there are suggestions that before this, he was on board encouraging the convention attendees to say more about this issue of constitutional amendment. when the democrats met in chicago now the three month later, they ignored the shift in public opinion. rather than endorse constitutional amendment, they reverted to condemnation of the lincoln administration. the platform declared the parties aim was to reserve the

federal union and the rights of the states. it demanded immediate effect -- efforts to be made for secession of has five buddies and -- of hostilities. the presidential election was far from one. although opposition from john c fremont had fizzled, the traditional democratic party candidate, george b maclennan remained a serious threat. mcclellan ordered by the east democrat and those who apparently leave state rights should triumph over human rights , at least in regard to african-americans. cleland's willingness to

negotiate -- in contrast to lincoln's insist that these could be had only if slavery were destroyed made resident's reelection last likely -- less likely. despite pessimistic forecasts lincoln prevailed, winning with a stunning electoral college victory of 212-21. 50 -- aided by the support of union soldiers and sailors who were allowed to cast absentee ballots or were for load home. -- furloughed home. he could play the game as good as any of them could. when the election -- with the

election behind him, he can return attention to the house of representatives where the debate over the 13th amendment was underway. the struggle in the house differed significantly while the republican dominated senate, the party's numerical strength was not as great in the house. 102 republicans sat among 75 democrat. lincoln proposed that the current members who had already voted the bill down in june reconsider before the new congress convene. in his annual message to congress, he suggested that the recent election had signaled public support for the constitutional amendment and that almost certainly will be congress would approve the bill if a body failed to do so.

there's only a question of time. as it is to go, at all events may we not agree that the sooner the better? talks in the confederacy surrounding the issue of freeing and enlisting black men could not have but had an impact on north america who had already been treated to the advantage the secession has had in the form of an enslaved labor force. black men served in every capacity as in voluntary military laborers. blacksmiths, teamsters etc.. what good would it do to continue to support an institution that even southerners were now having to reconsider? in addition, the border states of maryland and missouri had

decided to end slavery in their jurisdiction. the institution was coming to an end in the union slaveholding states. either by legislative action or the frictions of war. once the imagine some patient proclamation had been issued -- once the mission patient proclamation had been issued -- once the emancipation proclamation had been issued, order states joined the union army. opponents to the amendment offered a variety of reasons why it should not pursued, from arguments that it challenged state's writes to concerns over what would be done with the freed men and women. some were arguing you needed to colonize every one of those who is freed by the 13th amendment.

prominent among the concerns was the fear that such an amendment conferred inequality on the freed people or at the least encourage them to seek the same rights as white men and women. when the war is done for freeing the late -- the negroes, the war is to go on to give them the vote. that fear was not unwarranted. african-americans had taken the opportunity throughout the war to press for those rights enjoyed by other americans. once black men had been enlisted in the union army, black leaders such as fragrant douglas -- such as progress -- such as frederick douglass. throughout the north and in certain areas of the south as well african-americans sought voting rights for the abolition of black laws. protested segregated streetcars.

freedom would be defined as full citizenship, not simply the absence of slavery. in the house congressman ashley maneuvered his fellow representatives toward a favorable vote. among the representatives to the in favor of passage patty stevens of pennsylvania. the abolitionist delivered us each that reflected many years of service to the cause of freedom. we have suffered from slavery more than all the playing of egypt -- the plagues of egypt he declared. we still harden our hearts and refuse to let the people go. stevens warned that until proslavery men yielded to god's command and the demands of humanity and voted for abolition , the scourge of slavery would remain. while ashley used his political

skills win over the faint of heart, lincoln used his own powers of persuasion to reverse the votes of a half dozen or more democrats and to convince others to show up this time having declined to participate the first time around. on the floor of the house chamber and privately critical votes were secured in exchange for political favors and possibly other considerations. whether these were offered with the knowledge and approval of the president, we're still debating. i kind of hope he was because it makes him more human. i like that lincoln that is there with his sleeves up, negotiating with the best of them. the vote taken on january 31 1865 stood at 119 four and 56 against. securing the necessary two

thirds majority. lincoln signed the measure on february 1 and sent it the state for ratification. the first to do so was illinois. at the end of the year georgia supplied the required number to make the amendment a part of the constitution. several states ratified after the requisite number had been reached. three of them, delaware, kentucky and mississippi are late on how long it took them to do that. delbene find in 1901. kentucky in 1976, and mississippi in 1995. the passage of the 13th amendment to the house representatives did not elicit the response evidence by the emancipation proclamation.

the required number of states would have to ratify it before it became intimate. neither was it ignored. within days of its passage by congress, henry highland garnet is invited to deliver a sermon celebrating the event. he will not speak from their. garnet thus became the first african-american to speak in the capital building. titled "let the monster parish," his sermon outlines destructiveness of slavery on the nation. while he was pleased that congress had "save succeeding generations from the guilt of oppression and from the wrath of god," he suggested the struggle was not over. the champion of freedom must rest only when all unjust and

heavy burdens shall be removed from every man in the land, when all prescriptive distinctions shall be blotted out from our laws. when emancipation shall be followed by insert -- i in franchise meant. garnet reminded his audience that black soldiers, while sacrificing themselves on the field battle, or denied the right to a political voice and could not expect motion to the higher ranks. frederick douglas responded similarly on the occasion of the 32nd annual meeting of the anti-slave society. douglas suggested, whether this amendment is law or not, i hold that the work of the abolitionist is not done.

the south could make our liberty under that provision a delusion, a mockery and a snare. douglas argued that until the black man has secured the vote could testify in a court of law and has received the right to bear arms, slavery is not abolished. on march 4, the president delivered his second inaugural address. he makes reference to the previous anonymous -- inaugural address. although both sides -- lakin had turned his attention to the central theme. he suggested that the cause of the war was the powerful interest in the southern states in the form of enslaved people and the desire of the states to strengthen, perpetuate and extend the slaveholding interest. he declined to vilify the south

or to hold it singularly responsible for the war. instead, he chose to emphasize the con bonds between the two sections. both price and the same god in each invokes and if some folded strange but anyone -- thought it strange that anyone should ask god's assistance, lincoln cautioned them to drug cannot westward be charged -- george not lest they be gejudged. is it was god's will that we won't continue on so the -- teh he war continue until every drop of blood drawn by the lash be drawn by the sword, the

american people will have to wonder it. -- endure it. lincoln ended his address with a call to honor the debt owed to those who sacrificed themselves on the battlefield. he called for american unity and brotherhood with malice towards non where antagonisms will bee -- none where antagonisms will be resolved. while it was a call for reconciliation african-americans saw in the address opportunities for which they had so long struggled. later that evening, frederick drugdouglass made his way to the white house, fully aware that his presence would likely be received with disdain.

the approached and salted mission. -- he approached and sought admission. as providence would have it, a passerby observed the incident accepted douglass'request to inform lincoln of what was happening. the president greeted his guest quarterly and asked him what he got cordially -- cordially what he thought of the address. gone was the criticism. in the place was a hoax older dissipation of better times -- hope-filled anticipation of better things to come. the left hoping lincoln would bring to his people the freedom

he envisioned. lincoln said he hated slavery because of its monstrous injustice, because it deprives the republican example of just influence in the world, enabling the enemies of free institutions to taunt us as hypocrites, causes friends of freedom to doubt our sincerity. the 13th amendment would bestow on amount of the honorable name that lincoln on america the honorable name that lincoln -- on america the honorable name of that lincoln sought. the measure about the president championed during his journey through the house of representatives became the first of three reconstruction amendments. the other two gave meaning to

the freedom that have been declared by the first. a century and a half later, as recent events have tragically demonstrated, we find ourselves in need of a renewed commitment to freedom, one that feels american citizens of color from the continuing disabilities -- shields american citizens of color from the continuing disabilities. secured by the commitment of all americans to the justice and equality invoked by the 13th amendment. [applause] >> dr. medford, thank you for

those wonderful words. a perfect observation of the events and what they let up to. the next segment will talk about activities in the district of columbia that occurred up to and after the 13th amendment as to provide by key church that's typified -- typified by key church. es. an abolitionist said "i have no moderate. the constitution is a slaveholder document." it was the abolitionist movement that prompted a secessionist movement. the white man's support abolition is based on the believe that no man can own another. the pre-civil war narrative

of evolution was of white activists providing resources to help refugees escape oppression culminating in the throat for your of abraham lincoln as the great emancipator -- the figure of abraham lincoln as the great emancipator. without diminishing goes,rthothose, we can talk about free blacks. the organization of african american communities follow the one vehicle most commonly available to them in an oppressive and white dominated society in washington dc and that was the churches. in the city of washington, the power of the church community was quoted because of the interests that protect -- potent

because of the interests of congressman. those helps to drive legislative movements. among the most prominent of the african-american churches on the african-american methodist churches, 19th street baptist church, ashbury and 15th street presbyterian. it is good to have two of those churches with us today with the pastoral leadership and support to talk about some of the important activities of those churches prior to and during the civil war leading up to the 13th amendment. on the far left, the pastor of the metropolitan church, william. with him is so much, the church historian -- themla, the church historian. sitting next to me is robert bell, the pastor of 15th street

presbyterian. let's begin. >> good afternoon. it is an honor to be here, a part of this -- oh. [laughter] thank you, thank you. [applause] head and shoulders above everyone else. [laughter] again, good afternoon and thank you for this honor of making me a part of the 150th anniversary commemoration. for the next few minutes i will share with you some information about the history of the african methodist church.

the history of ame church in the district of columbia. and the history of the civil war ame churches,. . and the freely of those churches -- theprelate of those churches. the parent church grew out of an anti-segregation protest at the predominantly white st. george's methodist episcopal church in philadelphia in the late 1780's. one sunday, the black members of st. george were told they could no longer occupy pews on the main floor of the sanctuary. henceforth they would have to sit in the balcony.

upon hearing this directive, a group of the blacks from st. george's under the leadership overturned allen walked out and formed their own church which they called bethel methodist episcopal church. reverend allen and his group of followers purchased property and constructed a church in philadelphia. it was the first black methodist church in the city. in 1816, reverend allen called a conference of black methodists who were interested in forming an autonomous denomination. delegates came from delaware, new jersey, pennsylvania, and maryland to philadelphia. when the conference concluded the mae church had -- ame church had been organized and bishop allen had been consecrated the

first prelate. in the district of columbia, because of racial segregation black members withdrew from a church in 1820. in 1822, the petitioned to be a part of the ame. bus, the first -- thus, the first ame in the city, israel bethel was created in the city. a few years later they were worshiping at the help. -- hill. in 1838, members of israel bethel residing west and in georgetown organized an ame church in their neighborhood. they felt it was a hardship to

walk on unpaved muddy, snowy, cold streets from their homes the water two miles for services -- one or two miles to services at israel bethel on capitol hill. the new church was named union bethel ame. the presiding prayer -- prelate was the right reverend daniel payne. of the four churches under his charge, israel bethel and union bethel were the largest. israel bethel was an especially politically active church. the church pastor was involved in local and national politics. in the spring of 1862, the

legislation to emancipate the enslaved in the district of columbia was working its way through congress and on to president abraham lincoln for his signature. reverend turner preached sermons and made israel bethel available for meetings supportive of the legislation. bishop payne went to the white house in mid april, met with the president, and spoke in support of the legislation. the sunday after president lincoln signed the manumission bill, there was a citywide service to celebrate . bishop payne preached a celebratory sermon, "welcome to the ransom." he stressed that liberation brings the responsibility of good citizenship. the following year, reverend

turner was a lead in the campaign to allow blacks to serve in the union army. he also held recruiting dri ves at union bethel. reverend turner joined his recruits when he became the first black union army chaplain. union bethel ame church was the scene of several historic event in 1862, 1863, and 1864. in 1862, a white clergymen described as the commissioner of immigration convened a meeting of prominent black men. the topic was the proposal to transport free blacks and the

formerly enslaved out of the united states. at the meeting, five men were selected to meet with the president. although none of the men were union baptist members, the union bethel members -- union bethel members, the return on the day of the meeting and walked from the church to the white house. you can find details of the meeting in the digitized lincoln papers at the university of michigan. after slavery was abolished in the district of columbia, thousands of blacks came into the city, mainly from virginia and maryland. most of them were destitute and in dire need of food and clothing and shelter. in october of 1862, reverend james handy helped form the union relief association.

the association was one of many organizations created to alleviate a crisis in the community. the union relief association gathered contributions of money, food, and clothing, and how fundraising events at the church -- held fundraising events at the church. donations came to the association from ame members across the northern part of the united states. the dressmaker for mary lincoln was a member in the early years of the civil war. in late 1862, she was president of the contraband relief association. she obtained donations of money and clothing from the lincoln family for the association.

reports of the fundraising am speaking tours in philadelphia and new york and boston made front-page news. union bethel held a meeting to recruit men for the first colored regiment. the church followed up the meetings with meetings about caring for those who enter military service and their families. one unusual meeting in september of 1864 discussed raising funds for procuring a substitutes for black dress thes -- dafties. 1 -- drafties. one provision of the 13th amendment was not a part of the final legislation. it passed the house of representatives in 1865.

i conclude with post-civil war events. most methodist denominations meet as a delegated group every four years in a convention called the general congress. the 1868 general congress was held in washington at israel bethel near the capital. when the conference convened in may, the representative was ill. he had been the last member of the u.s. house to speak on behalf of the 13th amendment. to show the appreciation of his nomination for that speech and for all that stevens had done on behalf of black americans, an ame delegation visited him in his home. he died a few months later. thank you. [applause]

>> reverend robert bell of 15 street presbyterian. [applause] >> thank you. and again, we appreciate the opportunity to say a few words about 15 street's role and the invitation and some of his research which has been diligent, very wonderful. as john said at the beginning, a couple of things hoped in the district of columbia -- hel ped in the district of columbia, the number of free blacks, which was to-one -- tw-one. from the black leadership side, it made a difference in moving

us towards this legislation. a couple of things in a couple of names about 15 street -- and a couple of names about 15 street and how they helped. in october of 1851, john carter, who was the minister -- cook, who was the minister, petitioned the presbyterians. they were one level up in the levels of heaven. to become a minister of the presbyterian church. he came under the care of the minister from the fourth presbyterian church at that time, john smith. following his approval to get licensed as a presbyterian pastore the first black pastor in the district of columbia, there was a notice issued inviting all black members and persons, an open notice, to join

a new church. this meeting to inform the church was held at the home of david carol in november of 1841 and they were formally recognized by the presbytery in may of 1842. i assure you, our presbytery does not act that fast in today's world. gathered were prominent black and other citizens from a series of churches, first church, second here, fifth church, even down from new york city. reverend cook, as you may know, was a great educator in the district of columbia. he had to take a leave of absence during the snow riots and all that calm down. they met -- until that calm down. they met and eventually build a church in 1852 on mcpherson

square. reverend cook, john cook who is well known, another name from 15 street not as well known william slade. mr. slade was president lincoln's valet. he was also a ruling elder at 15th presbyterian and at the white house, more than a valet it would take dispatches for the president and deliver them -- he would take dispatches for the president and deliver them. his children played with the lincoln children. he was a force in the movement as well. one of the things -- and i attribute this to john o'brien's good research year -- but i was unaware of is that we him slated -- william slade and cook helped form the fscsa, an organization

working together black businesses and church leaders so they could coordinate and improve the opportunities for the district citizens, african-americans, advocating suffered for male blacks. -- silver ridge for male blacks -- suffrage for male blacks. they did their homework well and as an example rieverand cook compile statistics on taxes paid by black businesses to refute the idea that public funds should not be used to educate black children in the district. they work through these organizations and institutional mentality. reverend code went to the white

house to meet with president lincoln in august of 1862. they did not get all they asked for, the faux enfranchisement and -- full and franchise might and black citizenship, but one writer put it this way. -- in the franchise meant and black -- enfranchisement and black citizenship, but one writer put it this way. the blacks that worked at the white house were the cream of the crop and many of them went to the 15th street church. let me mention the names john rock of boston delivered a speech in may of 1862. a plea for my race, it was entitled, to a biracial audience. it was the brother of charles sumner would be the first -- he

was the brother of charles sumner who would be the first black man to argue a court. frederick douglass gave a speech in 1964 after john cook ended his tenure in 1855. seceding ministers that help the cause, william cato and john martin. following him, francis grimke. anecdotally, reverend grimke performed in second wedding of frederick douglass, not at the church but very close to the church. reverend grimke was pastor for 15 years from 1877 -- 50 years. the wanted a couple of years off for good behavior but basically

-- there were a couple of years off for good behavior but basically for 50 years. reverend grimke was a charter member of the forerunner of the naacp. not all members of 15 street church were committed to a legal and nonviolent methods to obtain their freedom -- strictly legal and nonviolent methods to obtain their freedom. a printmaker was one of five blacks who participated in john brown's raid on harpers ferry. he was one who escaped with a white colleague. he later wrote an account of that called a voice from harper ferry. it was published in canada to set the record straight about the amount of support the raid had in the black community which

i understand was being diminished, being careful not to identify anyone. and now i will conclude very humbly by mentioning a couple of words about henry highland ona rness. if you will bear with me and correct any mistakes. this is certainly a very prominent player from 15 street that helped with the cause. he was a great abolitionist and educator he decided to become a preacher as that was the most effective way to carry the cause. also enter totally about his life, he walked with a limp -- and totally about his life -- antecdotally about his life, he walked with a limp due to an accident when he was a child. i joke at my church in a sermon

that i can never say anything at 15th street that will be more audacious, wild, or radical. frederick douglass thought he was too radical at times and disassociated himself from him. he had made some comments about armed insurrection, unfortunately 20 years before the civil war. he was no pacifist, he was a great believer, different from reverend code and others -- cook and others in immigration and colonization. he believes mexico was a possibility as well as africa -- believed mexico was a possibility as well as africa. finally, the speech that dr. medford spoke about. an invitation came from lincoln at the prodding of other

ministers to address a joint session of congress. in reading descriptions, it was a packed house with both blacks and whites on that february 12, 1865 a couple of weeks after the house had passed it but before the senate confirmation. and before it was ratified by the states. two months before lee surrendered at appomattox. one writer put it this way. "he entered with a choir from 15 street presbyterian church, made his way on crutches -- because of his lip -- through the speakers -- limopp -- through the speaker's nostrum.

these direct listening to his choir sang. -- the student he racked listening -- he stood erect listening to his choir sing.:" " " they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them." they proceeded to denounce the institution of slavery encouraging the lawmakers telling of his first experiences with slavery as a child. another quote from that speech "great god, i would as soon attempt to enslave the angels gabriel and michael as enslave a man made in the image of god for whom price guide. -- christ die d." quoting constantine, leon the

10th. the words, if not the deeds, of washington and jefferson and franklin. i will end with another quote if i could from that speech. he stated "honorable senators, and representatives illustrious rulers of this great nation, i cannot refrain this day from invoking upon you in god's name the blessings of millions who were ready to perish but for whom a new and better life has been opened by your humanity, justice, and patriotism. you have said let the constitution he so amended that slavery shall -- be so amended that slavery shall no longer exist in the united

states. truly an act so sublime cannot escape divine notice, and doubtless the deed has been reported in the archives of heaven." concluding "favored men and honored of god, speedily finish the work he has given you to do. emancipate, and franchise, educate, and give the blessings of the gospel -- ine nfranchise educate, and give the blessings of the gospel to every american." [applause] >> the newspaper reported that henry ward beecher was in the white house visiting with the president and appeared at the window of the white house. said "in my wildest dreams i never expected that i would one day stand in the window of the white house in washington and

aggressive crowd that had come to congratulate the president on the passage of an act proposing the abolition of slavery and particularly this president, abraham lincoln." we are going to move the program, we want to get to the next piece, but i know the pastor would want you to know that frederick douglass did regularly attend metropolitan ame and was buried from that church. thank you all very much, i appreciate this, and i will begin to introduce frederick douglass. thank you. [applause] >> there are two excellent books about washington d.c. and the suffrage movement and the underground railroad. published in 2003, stanley herald published a book called "subversives."

it is about the underground railroad and ddc players and that movement --the the d.c. players in that movement. kate wrote "forevermore," describing african-american groups that moved forward on suffrage after emancipation. the book is proclaimed throughout the land. kevin was born and raised in d.c.. he is an award-winning actor who is started plays such as "dream girls," "keep the faith," and "the meeting," where he portrayed mathematics and martin luther king -- malcolm x and martin luther king. the is currently based in chicago where he is leading a project to create a batch to frame your -- to train young men

in the acting profession. he has done some big-time conventions as well. william lloyd garrison would introduce frederick douglass as excelling in what and use of language -- wit and use of language. the compares favorably with patrick henry for historic revolutionary speech -- his stirring revolutionary speed. may he continue to grow that he may be of service in people. i have the honor of presenting mr. frederick douglass. [applause]

[humming] ♪ >> ♪ oh freedom oh freedom woah freedom

ohver me and before i be a slave i will be buried in my grave and go home to my lord and be free ♪ modified -- through you mind if i sing that again? ♪ oh freedom woah freedom

woah freedom over me and before i be a slave i will be buried in my grave and go home to my lord and be free ♪ oh freedon. -- freedom. sweet freedom. how good it is to sing a free song. the melody that was better in my

bondage case of sweet honey and next-door in my freedom -- vector in my freedom -- nectar in my freedom. i am frederick douglass. i was born a slave in calvert county on the eastern shore of maryland. many were the atrocities that i witnessed their. at the age -- there. at the age of seven, i was sent to live with my brother in the city of baltimore. and against my objections, i learned to read. and as i read the very thing that he feared came through because now i saw the roots of all slavery. i was ready to argue with any man who argued for slavery because you see, whether he was

kind or whether he was cool, the -- cruel the slaveholder was a slaveholder. with every hour that he robbed a man of their rights, he was sharpening the knife of revenge. and speaking of the principles for which our country was founded, he spoke the very reasons that gave the slaves a right to rebel. i could not stop thinking of freedom and liberty. i heard freedom in every sound and saw it in every object. freedom shone from every star, it reads in every wind, the -- breathed in every wind. although i found a better life

in baltimore, i did not find happiness because crew happiness in slavery can never coincide -- true happiness and slavery can never coincide. on a monday, the third day of september, 1838, i boarded a train to philadelphia. i arrived at afternoon in philadelphia and new york city the next morning free, lack, and 20 years old -- black, and 20 years old with my slave days behind me. i have heard of the abolitionist movement as a child in baltimore but i did not know of the work that they did until i read my first copy of "the liberator." is paper found a place in my heart second only to the bible. for the writers of "the

liberator" hated slavery. they demanded the complete freedom of my race. i love that newspaper and its editor, mr. william morean garrison. -- lloyd garrison. shortly thereafter, i heard mr. garrison speak. i heard his words, mighty. i did not know it then but a new life was beginning for me. i became a lecturer and aged 40 massachusetts anti-slavery's -- agent for the massachusetts anti-slavery society. i spoke so well and elegantly that many thought i was never a slave at all so to prove that i spoke the truth i wrote a book about my life. names, dates, and places to prove that i was still the

frederick barry october county -- oh colbert county. i changed my name to the character of sir walter scott's "lady in the lake." i became frederick douglass. to become independent, i added an additional s on the end. [laughter] when i wrote the book, i had to flee to england, where i stated 22 months -- stayed 22 months. i spoke so well and elegantly there that they treated me as a diplomat. the anti-slavery society in england about my freedom. -- bought my freedom. i returned to the united states officially a free man. are you with me?

let me try again. are you with me? >> yetah. >> i settled in rochester, new york and started a newspaper called "the north star." truth is of no color. god is the head of a soul. -- us all. and we are all brother. -- brethern. when the war broke out with the north and the south, i predicted that this form would not before entirely -- be fought entirely by white men. every months experience during these early years has confirmed -- month's experience during these years has confirmed this

opinion, war carried out for the perpetual enslavement of black men called loudly colored men do hope suppressive -- to help suppress it. the arm of the slave was the best defense against the arm of the slaveholder. ♪ when [indiscernible] let my people go across our heart -- oprah underscore heart, they could not stand -- oppress outr heart

they could not stand let my people go go down, moses way down in egypt lay tell old pharaoh let me people go -- let my people go ♪

[humming] ♪ let my people go ♪ [humming] ♪ let my people go ♪ [humming] ♪ i hope you do not mind if facing for a while -- i sing for a

while. i sure would appreciate it if you would join me along with the choir. ♪ myra's have -- my eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord is trampling out the places where the grapes of wrath are stored the faithful lightning -- he has loosed the faithful lightning of his terrible sword the truth is marching on ♪ come on, everybody. ♪ glory glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah

glory glory hallelujah his truth is marching on ♪ give your a round of applause -- yourselves a round of applause. [applause] when first the rebel canon shot at the walls of fort sumter and drove away the starving garrison i predicted that the war then and there inaugurated without be fought entirely by white people -- won't not be fought entirely -- would not before entirely by white people. war undertaken and brazenly carried on for the perpetual enslavement of colored men calls

logically and loudly for colored men to help suppress it. only a moderate share of agsagacity was required to see that the arm of the slave was the best defense against the arm of the slaveholder. i have implored this imperiled nation to unchain against her foes her powerful black hand. slowly and reluctantly that the is beginning to be heated. -- appeal is beginning to be headed. it may not have been best and that it should not, that is not the time to discuss this question. leave it to the future. when the war is over, peace is

established, and the black man's rights are secured as they will be history, with an impartial hand, will dispose of the questions. action. action, not criticism is the duty of this hour. words are notable only as they stimulate the blows. the office of speech is only used to point out when where and how to strike. there is no time to delay. from east to west, from north to south, the sky is written all over. now or never. are you still with me? >> yes. >> liberty won by white men would lose half its luster.

better to die free than live slaves. this is the sentiment of the brave colored men amongst us. they are weak and there are cowardly men amongst us. the tell you that this is a white man's war, but you will be no better off after than before the war, that the getting of you into the army is a sacrifice. cowards themselves, they do not wish to have their cowardice shamed by your brave example. i have not thought lightly of the words i am now addressing you. the council that i give comes of close observation and with the deep conviction that this is

your hour. after the best deliberation, i now for the first time during this war feel that liberties have called and counseled you to arms. every consideration that binds us with enslaved countrymen and the piste and wealth -- peace and welfare of your nation. for the freedom and equality of yourself and your children. by all that ties the blood that makes us one group of brief colored men fighting in louisiana and south carolina, i urge you to rise up and smite with the power that will bury

the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave. are you still with me? >> yes. >> i wish i could tell you that new york calls you to this high honor. for the moment she is silent but she will speak by and by. the constitutional authorities are silent but they will speak on the right side. we are not compelled to wait. we can get to the throat of treason and slavery through the state of massachusetts. she was first in the war of independence, first to break the chains of her slaves, first to make the black man equal before her laws, first to admit colored children in her common schools. and she was first to answer the

call with her blood with its capital within minutes of rebels. you know charles sumner. need i say more? massachusetts now calls you to arms and soldiers. she has but a small population, so we need your google quickly -- view to go quickly and become the first black regiment from the north. more than 20 years of unswerving devotion to our common cause may give me some humble claim to be trusted in this momentous crisis. i will not argue. to do so implies hesitation and doubt, and you do not

hesitate, you do not doubt. it is given to you to end in a day the bondage of centuries. the morningstar is right upon the horizon -- morning star is right upon the horizon. millions of our brothers and sisters will march out into liberty. we can win for ourselves the respect from common people from all varieties of men. you remember plessey of charleston? do you remember nathaniel turner

of southampton? copeland, who followed mobile john brown and died as a martyr -- noble john brown and that is a martyr. remember that the almighty makes no attribute to take sides with the oppressor. this is our golden opportunity. let us win for ourselves the respect of the country and the best blessings of all posterity. there is no time to delay. not hesitate. do not doubt. men of valor, to arms. ♪

♪ she has sounded out the front t -- trumpet that she'll never sound retreat. the swift mine -- be swift my soul to answer him, beatable and my feet -- be jubliant my feet his truth is marching on glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah

his truth is marching on glory, glory hallelujah ♪ i wish i could hear you ♪ glory glory hallelujah glory glory, glory hallelujah his truth is marching on ♪ [applause]

>> kevin, ladies and gentlemen. >> republican herbert he was best remembered first time in the white house. he served as commerce secretary under coolidge. join american tv on monday for a conversation with herbert hoover , a 19 60 hour-long abc interview which covered his life. it is a film from the stanford university library. it is all here on c-span3 american tv. >> you are watching american history tv, all weekend, every weekend. to join the conversation, like us on facebook at c-span history. all this month, the presidency,

we will be focusing on the life and legacy of george washington to mark the anniversary of his birth on february 22. next, author hugh howard talks about portraits of george washington. it explores the works of gilbert stuart and john trumbull, focusing on how the artist captured the spirit of the first president and how modern audiences can learn from washington. mr. howard is the author of "the painter's chair." george washington's mount vernon hosted this hour-long event. >> good afternoon. my talk will be a little shorter than his introduction, i think but thank you. [laughter] my thanks to susan, the invitation for the miscellaneous arrangements. michael and stephen.

and coming to mount vernon is always a joy. i feel like i have lots of friends here starting with mary and through carol and on and others. this is a uniformly welcoming place for scholars. and i have spent time in using the archives here. and coming here has been able to meet to write all of the significant portions of several books i have done concerning the general. i have also wanted to join such travelers of the past, -- who will follow me today and ellen tomorrow. you have a list of them. almost all of these folks, i know their work and admire their work. and when you write books like this one you can only do them because other people have closed the first