Wednesday, 5 October 2011
An Agreement for Change
When Lincoln delivered his Second Inaugural Address, he sought out to "articulate the meaning of the war and to lay the groundwork for peace, reconstruction, and reunification" after the Civil War was drawing to a close. Likewise, when Henry Garnet was invited by President Lincoln to deliver a sermon at the House of Representatives, he could possibly have been in agreement and conversation with Lincoln. Garnet was "urging legislators to go even further, erasing all distinctions based on race from the laws and Constitution of the United States." Besides the fact that the two were conversational in reality, their views on "the next step" for the United States after the close of the Civil War were identical. Garnet is pushing legislators to understand that demands by abolitionists and reformers will dwindle once "the unjust and heavy burdens shall be removed from every man in the land." The Emancipation Proclamation may have been issued, but slaves in areas not controlled by the federal government continued to be burdened by slavery. Therefore, Garnet is speaking for the eternal justice of every African American in the United States "to make his own way in the social walks of life." Both Lincoln's Inaugural Address and Garnet's Discourse to the House of Representatives took place in 1865, when Lincoln wanted the United States to achieve "malice toward none...to do all which may achieve peace and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves and with all nations." The two leaders were in agreement at this thought. The American Dream for both is for peace and unification as one country, where people of any color can pave their own paths and determine their own destiny. The war was drawing to a close, and it was time to reconstruct the way of life in the North and South. Although Lincoln's powerful position in politics may have added to his persuasive tone, both verbal announcements of sentiments were powerful claims received by many - a claim that pressures the United States to reunify and reconstruct to regain peace.
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Olivia,
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with your statements in that Henry Garnet and Lincoln's speeches were geared towards not only addressing the issue of slavery and the inequality they have received, but the much needed motion of the "next step," to advance into a country founded on freedom, justice and true devotion towards religion. America was established for multiple reasons, however, religion distinctly set the foundations and paving of America's laws and historical beliefs today. Garnet's specifically relates to God and his powerful authority over all, stating that we should "let slavery die. It has had a long and fair trial... Its death warrant is signed by God and man (p.1378)." Using that dignifying relationship with God ultimately created value and purpose for an end to slavery: because God wanted it to end. The authoritative figure that people devote their lives to was wanting to abolish slavery, and those who believed in his teachings (which were a lot of citizens during this time) should also believe similar desires to him. Lincoln, in his Second Inaugural Address, uses a simple yet significant statement in order to grasp religious citizens, declaring that "both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God (p.1374)." Not even religious differences played a role in discrimination against African Americans, only the exterior of their body, the color of their skin, that tormented and differentiated them from white people. By using references to God and the Bible, Lincoln and Garnet were not only trying to connect with their religious citizens, but were using these references to proclaim an advancement towards "the next step" of freedom and justice for all; one nation, under God.