Debate in the U.S. House of Representatives over slavery continued, with Democrat Moses Odell of New York on Monday, January 9, 1865 changing his position and now supporting the abolition of slavery through the proposed Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Odell would later receive an important political position from Lincoln as a reward for his changing views. However, on the following day, Democrat Fernando Wood of New York stubbornly opposed the abolition amendment, noting, “The Almighty has fixed the distinction of the races; the Almighty has made the black man inferior, and sir, by no legislation, by no partisan success, by no revolution, by no military power, can you wipe out that distinction. You may make the black man free, but when you have done that what have you done?”
00000174-b11b-ddc3-a1fc-bfdbb1a20000The Schreiner University Department of History is honoring the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War with a series of short vignettes focusing on events from 1861 through 1865. The Civil War was the most destructive conflict in American history, but it was also one of our most defining moments as a people and as a nation. Let us know what you think about "This Week in the Civil War." E-mail your comments to Dr. John Huddleston at jhuddles@schreiner.edu.Airs: Weekdays at 5:19 a.m., 8:19 a.m., 4:19 p.m. on KTXI and 4:49 a.m., 9:29 p.m. on KSTX.