On Tuesday, December 6, 1864 President Abraham Lincoln sent his annual, State of the Union, address to Congress where it was read to the members. The president reported on the state of the Union war effort, noting that the national government’s finances were strong with the Treasury showing a balanced budget through July 1863 but requesting increased taxation. Optimistic as he was, Lincoln cautioned “The war continues.” Promising to pursue the war to ultimate victory, Lincoln noted, “I mean simply to say that the war will cease on the part of the government, whenever it shall have ceased on the part of those who began it.” As to the possibility of peace, Lincoln noted that if the insurgent South “cannot voluntarily reaccept the Union; we cannot voluntarily yield it. “
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.